2021-22 NBA Championship Futures Update
After rolling through the month of March, the Phoenix Suns are once again the favorites to win the NBA championship.
In the latest NBA championship futures odds at Bovada Sportsbook, the Suns are +280 favorites, up from the +425 odds they were getting a month ago. That should come as no surprise after the Suns dominated in March with a 13-2 record. That included wins over potential future playoff matchups in the New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors, and the top team from the Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat.
Following the Suns on the odds list at Bovada are the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks, both at +550, and the Warriors at +650.
Nets, Bucks second to Phoenix in title odds
The Nets are slowly moving up the odds now that Kyrie Irving can finally play home games again. However, the Nets are still waiting for Ben Simmons to make his season debut, and since they’re currently in eighth place in the East, they’re likely headed for the play-in tournament. Brooklyn has only six games remaining in the regular season, which doesn’t give Simmons much time to return and find his game after a 10-month absence.
The defending champion Bucks have had a solid March with a 10-3 record that includes a win over Phoenix. They get an interesting matchup Thursday night against the Nets that could be a playoff preview. Prior to that game, Milwaukee had taken two of three from Brooklyn this season.
Golden State is falling down the futures odds after sitting as the co-favorite a month ago. Stephen Curry’s foot injury might have something to do with that. The Warriors have lost their last four games and are 1-7 since Curry’s injury. It’s pretty clear that Curry’s status will determine how far Golden State goes in the playoffs.
Boston, Memphis climbing up the oddsboard
Two big gainers in the NBA championchip odds that bettors will want to keep an eye on are the Boston Celtics and Memphis Grizzlies.
In a month, Boston has gone from +2800 to +800 in the futures odds. Before losing their last two games, the Celtics had won 11 of their previous 12, which included wins over Brooklyn, Memphis, Golden State and the Utah Jazz.
Memphis quietly has the second-best record in the NBA right now after winning six straight and 11 of its last 12. That has moved the Grizzlies from +2800 on the odds to their current position at +1600. During that run, the Grizz have beaten both the Nets and the Bucks. While he is currently sidelined due to a knee injury, Ja Morant has elevated himself to sit among the league’s best and could carry Memphis far in the playoffs.
Bulls, Lakers tumbling due to recent woes
While Boston and Memphis are rising, the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers are falling.
Chicago has dropped from +3000 to +7000 on the futures board. The Bulls continue to have trouble against the league’s top teams, with a combined record of 0-10 against Milwaukee, Phoenix, Miami and Golden State.
The Lakers are barely clinging to a spot in the Western Conference play-in right now, which has caused their futures odds to crater from +4500 to +20000. The Lakers are 4-11 in March even with LeBron James leading the league in scoring.