NBA Betting – 2012 Championship Futures
The NBA Finals ended two days ago, so we should let the 2011-12 odds be for a bit, right? Wrong. The futures for next year’s NBA championship are already posted.
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Let’s have a look at the top 10 favorites.
1. Miami Heat (+250)
I can’t really fault the oddsmakers for this pick. Miami was two wins away from a title and, in theory, should be even better next season with more time to gel. But will the Big Three become a new Big Three? Will Miami trade Chris Bosh for another high-impact player?
2. Los Angeles Lakers (+550)
Not sure how I feel about seeing the Lakers slotted at No. 2. Sure, they won the 2009 and 2010 NBA titles. But Kobe is aging, Phil Jackson is gone as head coach and the champion Mavericks brushed them aside like nothing in round two of the playoffs.
3. Chicago Bulls (+600)
You could make a strong case for the Bulls at the favorite to win next year’s title. They have the reigning MVP, a deep, young team, and they’re unlikely to have the same bad luck with injuries. Given their physicality, Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer could get hurt again, but probably not both.
4. Oklahoma City Thunder (+800)
The Thunder join the Bulls as the big riser entering 2011-12. They pushed Dallas to the brink and they keep improving every year. It’s only a matter of time before Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and company win a title. The Kendrick Perkins trade worked out great.
5. Dallas Mavericks (+1000)
Just two days after they won the NBA title, talks of their demise have begun. I understand it. This is a veteran team. The key pieces of its Finals run – Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry, Shawn Marion – are all on the wrong side of 30. I think everything clicked in 2011 but it won’t again.
6. Boston Celtics (+1200)
The arrow will keep pointing down for the Celtics at this point. They had a great run but these guys are just really, really old. Unless they make a surprising move in the offseason, they could slip into tier-two contender territory next year. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
7. San Antonio Spurs (+2000)
It’s never a good sign when your star player tells a French newspaper that the window for another NBA championship has passed. But Tony Parker may be right. The Spurs look like the Celtics of the West to me: a great but aging team that will soon have to rebuild.
8. Orlando Magic (+2200)
I see the Magic as somewhat of a boom/bust pick for 2011-12. They took a step backward this past season but Dwight Howard made it clear that he wants some reinforcements if he’s to re-sign with Orlando. I expect D12 will be back – alongside a new big name that will make the Magic relevant again.
9. New York Knicks (+2800)
In theory, the Knicks should make more noise next year, as Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire’s chemistry should improve. But will the Knicks get better defensively? And will they make any more aggressive offseason moves?
10. Portland Trail Blazers (+3000)
I respect the oddsmakers for understanding Portland’s potential. This is still a deep, talented team with a high ceiling. Maybe Brandon Roy’s knees will heal up and he’ll become his old self again? He’s still young enough. LaMarcus Aldridge also took his game to a new level last season. Especially if Greg Oden can finally play some healthy basketball, the Blazers are an intriguing sleeper.
