in NBA Props

With the start of the NBA betting season, just one day away, it’s time to take a look at the odds on the candidates to win the 2007/2008 NBA Championship.

This article will separate the pretenders from the contenders and those teams that have no realistic chance at all, (get real). With that said, let’s get started the regular season tip-off is just around the corner.

The Contenders

 +350

The Spurs are the clear-cut favorites but have yet to win back-to-back titles in the Tim Duncan era.

 +400

Speaking of going back-to-back, the Mavericks are making a habit out of their annual postseason collapse and need someone besides the mild-mannered Dirk Nowitzki to take over as the team’s go-to player.

 +400

I love the go-go Suns and believe this season may finally be the year they reach – and win – the NBA Championship title.

 +450

While the Boston Celtics can certainly reach the NBA finals in the weak eastern conference, winning it all over more experienced teams that have been together longer may prove to be too tall a task.

 +1000

Lets we not forget about the Pistons, this team still has all-star caliber guards in Chauncey “Mr. Big Shot” Billups and Richard Hamilton as well as a pair of talented forwards in Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace. Add in a sprinkle of youth and the Pistons could find themselves champs again.

 +1200

“Bron-Bron” single-handedly carried the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals last season, but will have an even tougher road – with the same mediocre teammates - to reach the Finals in 2007-08.

 +1000

The addition of veteran head coach Rick Adelman – and the addition of several free agents and a happy Bonzi Wells, could be enough to help the Rockets get over their first round playoff hump.

 +1200

They’re small in the backcourt, but talented everywhere. Yes they’re still young, but the ‘Baby Bulls’ are still a threat to reach the NBA finals.

 +1200

As long as Dywane Wade, Shaquille O’Neal and Pat Riley are all joined at the hip, the Heat will have a shot to win it all, no matter how slim.

 +2500

No one is really talking about the Nuggets, but George Karl has already proven he can take a team with two superstars to the NBA Finals. Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony give the Nuggets an excellent chance.

 +2500

The Jazz reached the Western conference Finals last season and could go even further with another season of experience under their collective belts – and the best young point guard in the game in Deron Williams.

The Pretenders

 +3000

No defense and no low post player equal no NBA title.

 +4000

The Raptors are an up-and-coming young team, but just a bit too young at the moment.

 +5500

I know I just wrote ‘no defense and no low post player equals no title’ so why am I writing it again? The Wizards have three great scorers, a matador-like defense and a big hole in the middle where the center is usually supposed to play.

 +4000

All I’ll say is that Vince Carter had 11 points on 3-for-11 shooting in the Nets’ final postseason loss last season. That’s not going to get it done on any team where you’re the supposed superstar.

 +4000

The Magic are headed in the right direction, but are a few years away at the least, from really contending.

Get Real

+7500

 +2200

 +5000

 +5000

 +5000

 +9000

 +9000

 +9000

 +9000

 +9000

 +9000

 +9000

 +9000

 +9000

And the winner is… Okay NBA bettors, the time has come to put up or shut up.

I think the reality of the 2007-08 NBA season is that there are three teams equally capable of winning the NBA title in the western conference and two teams at best, in the east that are capable of beating the west’s best.

With that in mind, I am going with the Phoenix Suns to win the 2007-08 NBA championship. The Suns are the best offensive team in basketball and may have reached the NBA Finals last season if not for some dubious officiating in the western conference semifinals that caused the team to lose Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw for a critical Game 5 matchup against the San Antonio Spurs.

Whether the Suns will be able to overcome their shortcomings, which aren’t many, remains to be seen, but I’m going with the Suns to win the 2007-08 championship over the Detroit Pistons in six games for better or worse.

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