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2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: Odds on Every Team to Win the NBA Championship
April 10, 20112011 NBA Playoff Predictions: Odds on Every Team to Win the NBA Championship
The second season in the NBA begins as the playoffs are ready to tip-off.
Only one team can be the NBA champions, and this year, the field seems to have more contenders than ever.
There are several teams this year that could surprise in each conference.
Here are the current odds and predictions on every team in the NBA Playoffs to win the championship.
LA Lakers
Odds to Win the NBA Championship: 2 to 1
The Lakers are the favorite to win the NBA Championship, as well they should be.
They have been the hottest team in the NBA since the All-Star break.
Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant have done this many times before and have the ability to breeze through the playoffs on their way to the NBA Finals.
San Antonio Spurs
Odds to Win the NBA Championship: 3.5 to 1
While the odds seem nice, the Spurs will have a very tough path to the NBA Finals.
If all the favorites were to advance, the Spurs would have to take down the improved Oklahoma City Thunder and the LA Lakers, just to get to the NBA Finals.
The veteran son this team will get the Spurs headed in the right direction, but it will be too tough of a hill to climb.
Miami Heat
Odds to Win the NBA Championship: 2.5 to 1
The Miami Heat are an amazing team. Every knows about the Big Three and LeBron James big move in the offseason, but this team is not even the best in the Eastern Conference.
Yet, they are the favorites to go to the NBA Finals out of the East.
That may inspire the Boston Celtics and the Chicago Bulls, and I would not be surprised if the Heat get upset early in the NBA postseason.
Chicago Bulls
Odds to Win the NBA Championship: 3.5 to 1
The Chicago Bulls are still underrated, although they locked down the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
They have the most valuable player in point guard Derrick Rose, and a coach in Tom Thibodeau that preaches a suffocating defense to win ballgames.
This team is for real. With home court on their side, they could make it to the finals.
Boston Celtics
Odds to Win the NBA Championship: 4 to 1
The Boston Celtics started the year as favorites to go to the NBA Finals, but things have changed.
The Celtics traded away their big man down low in Kendrick Perkins and are relying on old veterans to be healthy enough to play in the middle during the long grind of the playoffs.
Danny Ainge will be haunted by the trade that eliminated the Celtics from contention and awarded the team with an early exit in the 2011 NBA playoffs.
Atlanta Hawks
Odds to Win the NBA Championship: 200 to 1
At first glimpse, the high odds on the Atlanta Hawks look pretty tempting.
This team can score against anyone in the league, but they have one glaring problem.
The Hawks don’t have size down low and teams are killing them inside.
This has caused a meltdown in Atlanta that has been punctuated by a double-digit loss to the Washington Wizards.
The Hawks will be sent packing early in the playoffs.
Dallas Mavericks
Odds to Win the NBA Championship: 18 to 1
The Dallas Mavericks always get close to winning a championship, but find a way to lose it.
This year will be no different. The team is mired in a slump as the season ends and they are fighting with one another in the huddle.
The Lakers abuse them inside with Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol.
If the Mavericks advance to face LA, they will be ejected from the post season.
Denver Nuggets
Odds to Win the NBA Championship: 18 to 1
George Karl has done a magnificent job of getting the Denver Nuggets into the playoffs.
The Carmelo Anthony trade drained this team and they could have easily folded after he was shipped to the Big Apple.
Instead, the Nuggets are playing their best basketball of the season. They have quality wins over playoff teams, including the Lakers.
The Nuggets won’t win the championship, but they could play spoiler when the playoffs start.
Indiana Pacers
Odds to Win the NBA Championship: 1000 to 1
Wow! Look at those odds. This team has some talent that could lead them to the...
Ah, forget it—the Indiana Pacers don’t have a shot of advancing in the playoffs and would have been better off in the lottery.
Portland Trail Blazers
Odds to Win the NBA Championship: 75 to 1
The Portland Trail Blazers are one of the most unpredictable teams in the NBA.
They have a talented roster and a terrific home-court advantage, but seem to underachieve every year.
LaMarcus Aldridge can dominate inside and could be the difference in how far Portland advances.
Portland could upset in the first round, but going any farther is asking too much.
Philadelphia 76ers
Odds to Win the NBA Championship: 300 to 1
The Philadelphia 76ers deserve a pat on the back for a very successful season.
Sixers coach Doug Collins has this team believing and carrying around a winning attitude headed into the postseason.
Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand are a deadly duo that could upset someone in the playoffs, but it is highly unlikely they win the NBA Championship.
Memphis Grizzlies
Odds to Win the NBA Championship: 200 to 1
The Memphis Grizzlies are not going to win the NBA Championship, but they will make it tough on the San Antonio Spurs.
The Grizzlies have size down low, with Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph at the forward spot.
Tony Allen brings a veteran defensive leadership to the floor that will make it tough on the star on the opposing team.
The Grizzlies play well at home and have had success against teams in the playoffs.
They could easily pull off an upset in the postseason.
New Orleans Hornets
Odds to Win the NBA Championship: 200 to 1
The Hornets are in the playoffs for the third time in four seasons and Chris Paul is an excellent floor general.
However, the Hornets draw the defending champion Lakers in the first round, and that will lead to a first-round exit.
Emeka Okafor will be in the playoffs for the first time in his career.
He better enjoy it, because it won’t last long.
New York Knicks
Odds to Win the NBA Championship: 50 to 1
The Knicks will have a rested Amar'e Stoudemire and a veteran point guard with Chauncey Billups that will make them a tough draw.
Carmelo Anthony wants to prove that the Knicks made the right move by acquiring him via trade, by making the Knicks a title contender.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Odds to Win the NBA Championship: 18 to 1
The odds are high on the Oklahoma City Thunder because they would have to beat both the Spurs and the Lakers if they want to play for a championship.
But this team is built for a title run.
The Thunder got the better end of the deal when they traded for Kendrick Perkins. Now they have the size to match up against the likes of Tim Duncan and Andrew Bynum.
If a dark horse emerges from the West to win the title, this is the team that will do it.
Orlando Magic
Odds to Win the NBA Championship: 15 to 1
Stan Van Gundy will have the Orlando Magic ready for the playoffs, and Dwight Howard will be rested and ready to go.
The Orlando Magic are getting no respect with all of the talk surrounding the Celtics, Heat and Bulls.
The Magic have experience in the finals, veteran leadership and size inside. This is a perfect recipe to claim a NBA championship.
When the playoffs begin, it will be interesting to see who is left standing as the NBA champion.
Matt Regaw is a B/R Featured Columnist and the founder of BookieBlitz.com, your one-stop shop for sports articles, previews and predictions. Feel free to contact Matt at mregaw@gmail.com.