The NBA Playoffs are barely underway, but Chicago’s Game 1 meeting with Philadelphia altered, slightly, the odds makers interpretation of the league’s hierarchy. The Bulls lost MVP Derrick Rose to a torn ACL, a development which dropped the team on the NBA Championship leader board; however, as +600 moneyline play to win the NBA Finals, Chicago still ranks ahead of 11 of the 16 playoff teams. Miami, at -150, is the NBA Odds favorite to win the 2012 NBA Championship Title. The Heat are the only team in the field receiving negative odds at this juncture.
Miami Heat (-150): The Heat appear poised for another deep playoff run as the early returns on their opening series with New York would indicate. Miami, which should put the Knicks away in four or five games, benefits the most from Rose’s injury. The Bulls were, and still are, the biggest hurdle for the Heat to clear in order to secure a second consecutive NBA Finals appearance, but the hurdle got much shorter with Rose’s departure from the playoffs.
Oklahoma City Thunder (+250): The Thunder are up 2-0 on the defending champions, but both games have been tightly contested. Dallas may be able to pull out a game or two, but Oklahoma City looks as though it will power through and move on to face, most likely, the Lakers. Should the Thunder reach the Finals, there is no doubt they will have traveled a more difficult postseason road than whatever team emerges from the East.
San Antonio Spurs (+400): The Spurs are, perhaps, underestimated after last season’s first round collapse against the Grizzlies, but they remain a serious threat to reach the Finals. San Antonio, which posted a 28-5 home record this season, will enjoy home court advantage throughout the Western Conference Playoffs and, should they reach the NBA Finals, they will own the home court advantage over all East comers with the exception of Chicago. At +400 San Antonio probably represents the best value play on the board.
Chicago Bulls (+600): There is no debating that Chicago’s title chances took an unsuspecting shot, but the Bulls are by no means out of the chase. Chicago played well even when Rose was out of the lineup, and its defense and rebounding will be difficult for most teams to deal with, especially in a seven game series.
Los Angeles Lakers (+600): The Lakers were not the most consistent bunch during the regular season, but they still won 41 games. Los Angeles looked good in its Game 1 meeting with Denver, stomping the Nuggets 103-88 after a 31 point effort from Kobe Bryant and a triple-double from Andrew Bynum. If the Lakers get that kind of effort from their starting five the rest of the post-season, they could be a surprise finalist.
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Odds to win the 2012 NBA Championship Title: Provided by TopBet.com
Miami Heat -150
Oklahoma City Thunder +250
San Antonio Spurs +400
Chicago Bulls +600
Los Angeles Lakers +600
Los Angeles Clippers +1800
Boston Celtics +1800
Memphis Grizzlies +2200
Atlanta Hawks +3500
Indiana Pacers +4000
Dallas Mavericks +6000
Philadelphia 76ers +7000
Orlando Magic +8000
Denver Nuggets +10000
New York Knicks +10000
Utah Jazz +15000
