Odds to Win the NBA Title for Every NBA Team

One half of the 2011-2012 NBA season is in the books, and we've made it through an All-Star break that was at times incredibly exciting and at other times mind-numbingly boring.

Now it's time for the crucial second half of the season as teams jockey for playoff seeds and berths, all in an effort to win the final game of the year and take home the title as NBA champions. 

But which teams have the best shot at winning it all? 

You'll have to read on to find out. 

Charlotte Bobcats

Current Record: 4-28

Title Odds: 1,000,000/1

On principle, I refuse to write anything about the title odds of the junior varsity basketball squad known as the Charlotte Bobcats.

Let's move on.

Washington Wizards

Current Record: 7-26

Title Odds: 500,000/1

It's not like the Washington Wizards have any sort of realistic shot at winning the NBA title this year—or at any point in the near future.

This team does have some talent on it, but it's a completely dysfunctional squad.

New Orleans Hornets

Current Record: 8-25

Title Odds: 5,000/1

Maybe this would have been different if Eric Gordon had been healthy for the entire 2011-2012 NBA season, but as it stands now, the New Orleans Hornets have little to no shot at even making the playoffs in a tough Western Conference.

Jarrett Jack is having a surprisingly impressive season, but this team lacks the overall established talent to make a run in the second half of the season.

Sacramento Kings

Current Record: 11-22

Title Odds: 5,000/1

I'm giving the Sacramento Kings the same odds as the New Orleans Hornets, but for an entirely different reason.

Unlike the team on the previous slide, the Kings actually have a lot of impressive young talent. They just don't have any continuity in the coaching staff, and the playing styles of their best players, namely DeMarcus Cousins, Tyreke Evans and Marcus Thornton, really don't mesh together at all.

Toronto Raptors

Current Record: 10-23

Title Odds: 3,000/1

The Toronto Raptors have some intriguing young talent, and Andrea Bargnani is playing out of his mind this season—when he's been healthy, of course—but there simply isn't enough of anything to make that push into a final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

And as we all know, it's literally impossible to win a title without making the playoffs first.

Phoenix Suns

Current Record: 14-20

Title Odds: 2,500/1

It's a shame that Steve Nash has to waste one of the best seasons of his career during a year when there really just isn't any talent around him.

As good as the 38-year-old point guard is, he has arguably the worst roster in the NBA surrounding him. That makes his double-digit assists per game all the more impressive. But without another great player, how exactly are the Phoenix Suns supposed to win more than half of their games?

New Jersey Nets

Current Record: 10-25

Title Odds: 1,000/1

You have to feel bad for Deron Williams.

He's one of the absolute best point guards in the NBA, but he just doesn't have a Robin to his Batman. MarShon Brooks looks like he could become a great player, but he has a long way to go, and Brook Lopez is never going to develop into an All-Star-caliber big man, even in a center-deprived league (though he did blow up for 38 points Tuesday vs. Dallas).

D-Will has the ability to win games by himself, just not enough to make the playoffs in the East.

Detroit Pistons

Current Record: 11-24

Title Odds: 1,000/1

I'm still a bit intrigued by this young Detroit Pistons team.

Rodney Stuckey is a decent combo guard, and Brandon Knight is finally starting to show signs that he could live up to his lofty draft slot. Plus, Greg Monroe is one of the best big men in the game and really needs to be considered a bit of an All-Star snub in only his second year.

Detroit got off to a slow start this year, and that's going to end up keeping it out of the playoffs at the end of the 2011-2012 campaign. But if everything clicks all of a sudden, there's an outside shot that the Pistons could sneak in as a No. 8 seed.

Milwaukee Bucks

Current Record: 13-20

Title Odds: 500/1

Brandon Jennings has this Milwaukee Bucks team winning some games despite the absence of Andrew Bogut. The big man isn't likely to return for at least two or three more months, by which time the Bucks will likely be out of the playoff hunt.

While there's a chance that this team sneaks into the playoffs, it's not exactly a likely outcome.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Current Record: 13-18

Title Odds: 300/1

It's all about Kyrie Irving for this team. The rookie point guard from Duke has been absolutely sensational during his first year at the professional level.

As impressive as his numbers are, his most impressive achievement thus far has been to actually get the Cleveland Cavaliers into contention for a playoff spot. As it stands right now, the Cavs are only trailing the Boston Celtics by a game and a half right now for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Current Record: 17-17

Title Odds: 250/1

It's hard to believe, but the Minnesota Timberwolves may actually make the playoffs in the Western Conference.

Kevin Love is undoubtedly the best power forward in the world, and rookie point guard Ricky Rubio has become a fan favorite while motivating the entire team to exert maximum effort at all times. As the games start dragging on, the T-Wolves will gain more of an advantage thanks to their young legs.

They may be able to make the playoffs this year, but the team is too young and inexperienced to make any noise in the playoffs this year. It is for that reason only that they lag behind the teams they may beat out for a playoff spot in these odds.

Golden State Warriors

Current Record: 13-17

Title Odds: 200/1

Much like the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Golden State Warriors are currently on the outside of a playoff spot looking in.

Unlike the Timberwolves, the Warriors have three dynamic scorers in Stephen Curry, Monta Ellis and David Lee, who can all get hot for prolonged periods of time. If that happens, this team is talented enough on the offensive side of the ball to hang with any team in the Western Conference.

Utah Jazz

Current Record: 15-17

Title Odds: 99/1

The Utah Jazz have one of the most talented frontcourts in the NBA, but their backcourt is absolutely terrible.

Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap are two of the better big men in all of the NBA, although both are largely unappreciated, and they have the ability to bang away with any other pair of towers in the NBA.

Unfortunately for the Jazz, though, Raja Bell and Devin Harris have almost completely canceled out all the benefits that Jefferson and Millsap have provided.

Denver Nuggets

Current Record: 18-17

Title Odds: 80/1

The Denver Nuggets are a very talented team full of intriguing players, but they lack the star power necessary to make true noise in the later rounds of the playoffs. That's assuming they even make it there in the first place.

In the Western Conference, something tells me that they'll fall just short of a postseason berth. But if they make it in, there's enough talent to at least pull off a first-round upset.

Boston Celtics

Current Record: 15-17

Title Odds: 75/1

It's going to be a struggle for this aging Boston Celtics team to even make it into the playoffs. There's too much talent to let it go to waste this season, but if the string of injuries continues, it could be bad news bears.

So far, Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett have all missed time, and the Celtics are sitting just below .500. It's a testament to the greatness of the aforementioned players that I have their odds this high.

Houston Rockets

Current Record: 20-14

Title Odds: 75/1

Kyle Lowry's breakout has spearheaded the ascent of the Houston Rockets. The point guard got off to a blazing start this year and is having a phenomenal season even though he's cooled off lately.

The rest of the Rockets aren't too shabby, but there's a reason that you don't really hear them talked about as true contenders in the Western Conference.

Portland Trail Blazers

Current Record: 18-16

Title Odds: 50/1

Even though the Portland Trail Blazers currently trail the Houston Rockets in the standings, I'm a slightly bigger believer in the former over the latter.

LaMarcus Aldridge is the second-best power forward in the game, and his ascent into both stardom and the All-Star game is possibly the biggest reason that the Trail Blazers are a team no one really wants to face in the postseason.

Atlanta Hawks

Current Record: 20-14

Title Odds: 45/1

As an Atlanta Hawks fan, it was almost impossible to decide where exactly to set the team's title odds. There's a tremendous amount of talent, mostly residing in the bodies of Josh Smith, Joe Johnson, the injured Al Horford and to a certain extent Jeff Teague.

As well as this team has played without Horford, arguably the best player on the team, it could be truly dangerous once he's healthy again.

But then again, can you remember a time when the Hawks haven't disappointed everyone? I can't.

Philadelphia 76ers

Current Record: 20-14

Title Odds: 40/1

Andre Iguodala may have made the All-Star team this year in the Eastern Conference, but that's not really what this Philadelphia 76ers team is about.

You'd be hard pressed to find a more balanced combination of depth and talent in the entire NBA, and that's exactly why no one wants to play this squad in the first round of the playoffs this season.

Memphis Grizzlies

Current Record: 19-15

Title Odds: 40/1

The Memphis Grizzlies have been able to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot without the services of Zach Randolph.

Just imagine how scary they're going to be once you have to worry about Rudy Gay on the perimeter and Z-Bo down in the paint. Actually, if you're a fan of another team out West, you probably don't want to imagine that.

Orlando Magic

Current Record: 22-13

Title Odds: 35/1

These odds are quite obviously dependent upon Dwight Howard remaining in an Orlando Magic uniform for the rest of the season. If he doesn't, they will drop drastically.

Howard is one of the few players in the NBA who's capable of leading a weak NBA roster deep into the postseason. He's done it before with the Magic, and this season may be no different.

Indiana Pacers

Current Record: 21-12

Title Odds: 30/1

A tough, physical, defensively oriented team like the Indiana Pacers is something that scares the hell out of the favorites in the Eastern Conference.

With Danny Granger picking his game up and first-time All-Star Roy Hibbert continuing to improve, this is yet another dangerous team that's currently a level below some of the favorites in the East.

Dallas Mavericks

Current Record: 21-13

Title Odds: 25/1

And now we've come to the defending NBA champions: the Dallas Mavericks.

Dirk Nowitzki struggled at the beginning of the season, but he's regaining his 2010-2011 level of play, and the Mavs are starting to win games accordingly. But as talented as Dirk may be, it's hard to imagine this veteran squad actually winning the title during a compressed season.

San Antonio Spurs

Current Record: 24-10

Title Odds: 15/1

The San Antonio Spurs have won 24 of their first 34 games despite the continuing injury problems of Manu Ginobili. If he gets and stays healthy, which there's obviously no guarantee of, this team becomes even more dangerous.

Tony Parker is having an MVP-like season, and he'd be No. 2 on my ballot right now, trailing only LeBron James. If he continues his run of success, this team can beat anyone in the league on any given night.

New York Knicks

Current Record: 17-18

Title Odds: 14/1

These odds show exactly how I feel about the sustainability of Jeremy Lin's success. He's passed the eye test and the numbers test with flying colors and truly makes this New York Knicks squad into a title contender.

The return of Carmelo Anthony is going to help the team in the long run. Melo is unquestionably a superstar, and he'll be able to adapt his game enough to work well with Lin.

This team is worth the hype, and it'll prove it throughout the second half of the season.

Los Angeles Lakers

Current Record: 20-14

Title Odds: 12/1

Don't bet against Kobe Bryant. Just don't.

The Los Angeles Lakers are struggling in the chemistry department right now, and they don't have the talent that previous title-winning teams in purple and gold have had.

But Kobe has his mind set on winning a sixth ring, and as long as he's working towards that goal, there's no telling what he could do.

Los Angeles Clippers

Current Record: 20-11

Title Odds: 10/1

Thanks to the play of Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, this Los Angeles Clippers squad is not only going to make the playoffs for the first time in years, but it's also going to establish its dominance as the best team to call the Staples Center home.

Now how weird does that sound?

Chicago Bulls

Current Record: 27-8

Title Odds: 6/1

The Chicago Bulls fell just short of having the best record in the NBA during the first half of the 2011-2012 season.

That was despite the prolonged absence of Rip Hamilton and the injuries to Luol Deng and reigning MVP Derrick Rose. This team really hasn't been able to hit its stride yet because it hasn't been able to play together for any consistent length of time.

And it's still 27-8 at the All-Star break!

That is terrifying.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Current Record: 27-7

Title Odds: 4/1

The prohibitive favorites in the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder have ascended all the way to the top of the NBA and should be considered either the second- or third-best team in the league, depending on whether or not you're a fan of the Chicago Bulls.

Kevin Durant is quite possibly the second-best player in the league right now, and Russell Westbrook isn't too far behind. Plus, James Harden is the best sixth man in the league, and Serge Ibaka is one hell of an interior defender.

The talent level for this young Thunder squad is simply off the charts. But since none of the stars have been deep into the playoffs too many times, can they overcome the inexperience and win it all?

Miami Heat

Current Record: 27-7

Title Odds: 5/2

The Miami Heat have compiled the best record in the league, and they're still managing to fly under the radar. It's hard to grasp just how dominant this team has been lately.

LeBron James is having a season for the ages, and Dwyane Wade has been superb. Any time you have the No. 1 and No. 2 players in terms of PER on the same team, chances are you're going to be one of the favorites for the title.

In my opinion, which has been formed both by watching tons of games and crunching the numbers, there's really no other choice for the top spot right now.