For the first time in recent memory, the race for the Eastern Conference Championship could be spread as wide as three teams after being dominated by just one team over the past seven seasons.
The Toronto Raptors went into the All-Star break as the top team in the standings at 41-16 after winning nine of their last 10 games, but they are still +350 second-favorites to win the East. The Boston Celtics are just two games back at 40-19, but they have been listed as +500 third-favorites to make a deep playoff run all the way to the 2018 NBA Finals.
The team that has been to the last three best-of-seven championship series is the clear favorite to make it four straight at -125 odds. At one point from late December until late January, Cleveland had lost 10 of 13 games. It has gone 6-3 since that point including a pair of recent wins following a complete makeover of its roster right before this week’s break. There are two words why the Cavaliers are perennial favorites to win the East; LeBron James. Even with all the fresh influx of talent into this team, I still think the race in the East this season is much tighter than the odds might suggest.
I would go as far as to add the Milwaukee Bucks to the mix at 32-25 in the standings and at +1600 odds to upset the field. I even think there is some value in the up-and-coming Philadelphia 76ers at 30-25 on the year and at +2000 odds to follow in the footsteps of the Eagles this season. Realistically, it would be a hard sell for any of the teams outside the top three to win the East this season, but there is enough talent out there to make things far more interesting for Cleveland’s playoff run back to the Finals.
2018 EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM ODDS AS OFFERED AT BOVADA SPORTSBOOK:
- Cavaliers -130
- Celtics +260
- Raptors +375
- Wizards +1800
- Bucks +2000
- 76ers +2500
- Heat +6600
- Pistons +6600
- Pacers +6600
- Hornets +20000
