Despite all the fallout from the punching incident involving Draymond Green and Jordan Poole, the Golden State Warriors are still the clear favorites in the NBA futures markets to be NBA Championship winners in 2023.
Yes, the new NBA season is just underway. The futures betting markets haven’t changed much over the past few days, and if they are to be believed, there are currently five teams in with a chance of winning the NBA Championship this season.
The current betting shows the Golden State Warriors (+575) maintaining their position as favorites, with last season’s beaten finalists, the Boston Celtics (+650) not far behind. Also in the mix with the best betting sites to win the 2023 NBA finals are the LA Clippers (+700), the Milwaukee Bucks (+750), and the Brooklyn Nets (+800).
There is then a gap in the betting before we get to the rest of the contenders. Outside of the main five are the Philadelphia 76ers (+1200) and the Phoenix Suns (+1400).
| 2023 NBA Championship Winner Betting |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Golden State Warriors | +575 | +550 |
| Boston Celtics | +650 | +635 |
| LA Clippers | +700 | +700 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +750 | +750 |
| Brooklyn Nets | +800 | +800 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +1200 | +1400 |
| Phoenix Suns | +1400 | +1400 |
| Miami Heat | +1600 | +1600 |
| LA Lakers | +1500 | +1600 |
| Denver Nuggets | +1800 | +2000 |
| Dallas Mavericks | +1600 | +2500 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | +2500 | +2500 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | +3300 | +4000 |
| Toronto Raptors | +3300 | +4000 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +3500 | +2800 |
The odds in this article are from BetOnline, you can read more about this bookmaker here in our BetOnline sportsbook review.
The Warriors had a troubled preseason with the obvious incident between Green and Poole making most of the headlines. But away from all of that, the Warriors are an aging side that will have to be rotated.
At +575 to win the NBA Championship, I think they are a good call with the best NBA betting sites, but when it comes to the Western Conference, and the Pacific Division, I have recently come to the conclusion they might be best avoided.
Why? Aging legs. The Warriors only need to qualify for the playoffs, at that point they know they can beat anyone. The key is getting to the postseason with their older stars as fresh as possible.
I’m sure that will be Steve Kerr’s philosophy. If he can get Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green firing in the postseason, anything is possible. That may involve rotating towards the end of the regular season, and that may cost them a division or conference title.
After a summer of discontent, the Celtics started the new season with a decent win over the 76ers.
The Celtics were the original frontrunners in the betting over the summer period. But gradually, they started to drift in the betting down to a number of reasons.
Even though they got off to a good start, it remains to be seen just how well last year’s beaten finalists do. Their problems just continue to mount.
So far they’ve seen their head coach Ime Udoka banned for a year (although it looks highly likely he will ever return), and they’ve also been dealt a blow with Robert Williams III missing the start of the season after knee surgery. And now they’ve lost Danilo Gallinari for the season
To come back from all that and win a Championship finals would be some ask. Although I wouldn’t write it off myself, as I think they still have a great chance.
The Clippers have been a work in progress for a couple of years now. Since the signings of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, better things have been expected. But as of yet, they haven’t materialized.
Last season was disappointing. The Clippers only got as far as the play-in, where they lost to the New Orleans Pelicans. A third place finish 22 wins behind the Suns in the Pacific Division, and a ninth place finish in the Western Conference, fell below expectations.
The signing of John Wall is a step in the right direction. Although losing Isaiah Hartenstein doesn’t help. I expect better things from Tyronn Lue’s team this season, but I’m not sure they warrant third position in the betting.
The 2021 NBA Championship winners will need a big season from Giannis Antetokounmpo if they are to replicate their win over the Phoenix Suns and win a second championship in three years.
Last season they took the Celtics to seven games in the Eastern Conference semifinals, showing they’re not too far away. But a lack of recruitment in the summer won’t help, and as we all know in sport, standing still is the equivalent of going backwards.
The next drama only ever seems to be around the next corner for the Brooklyn Nets. They have the tools to be title contenders, that is not in doubt, and never has been. But that’s not the problem.
The cease-fire between Kevin Durant, Steve Nash, and Sean Marks, seems to be holding at the moment. But the next round of hostilities is probably inevitable at any moment.
If they can keep it together, then the Nets have a more than good chance. The problem is, that’s a big if.
I think the best bets are on the Warriors, Celtics, or Nets, the other two teams look lacking to me.
That said, it’s a long season, and things can change. Just look at the Phoenix Suns last season for example. They’re not in the top sides from a betting perspective (I have backed them at +1100 already), and at times last year, they looked like the best team on the planet. So it’s certainly not a closed book, and there is certainly nothing wrong with hedging our bets.
But when it comes to the crunch, I believe the Warriors have the know how in the postseason. It’s how much gas is left in the tank of the big players when they get there that is the question. And that’s where the Celtics come into the equation. They have the experience of reaching last season’s finals, and now have a good idea of what is required to win an NBA Championship, and they are a younger side.
Therefore, at this early stage, from the five top teams in the betting listed above, I believe that the Warriors or the Celtics have the best chance.
About the Author
Dean is primarily a fan of English football who regularly attends games, and combining his hobby with his job, he is now a full-time sports betting writer. Rather than going down the educational route into sports journalism, Dean learned his trade by writing for his English football betting website since 2009, where he now boasts nearly 15 years of experience. After writing about football daily for years, Dean has taken the skills he learned and now uses them to great effect writing for numerous affiliate sites across the internet. A general all-around sports enthusiast with a passion for English football and cricket, Dean is also well able to turn his hand to writing about golf, tennis, F1, boxing, snooker, darts, and North American sports. Combining his extensive knowledge and experience with British humor and wit, Dean has developed into a trusted voice within the sports betting industry.
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