Golden State Warriors Betting Odds: With Kevin Durant On The Roster, What Are GSW's Chances Of Winning 2017 NBA Finals?

Kevin Durant Thunder — By joining the Warriors, Kevin Durant has increased Golden State's chances of regaining the NBA crown next season. Reuters

The NBA's balance of power has shifted in a highly contentious way. After surrendering a 3-1 series lead to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA finals, the Golden State Warriors were listed as 7-4 favorites to regain the league’s throne, but with former MVP and four-time scoring champion Kevin Durant headed to the Bay Area, Golden State is now listed a 5-7 odds to win it all next season, according to SuperBook.ag.

The now former Oklahoma City Thunder small forward agreed to a two-year, $54 million contract with the defending Western Conference champion Warriors and formed the NBA’s latest “Super Team” with two-time reigning MVP Stephen Curry, sharpshooter Klay Thompson, and All-NBA forward Draymond Green.

While shocking the league and its players by signing up with a team that just won a record 73 games in the regular season, Durant also worsened the chances of his former Thunder squad, the always looming San Antonio Spurs, and the defending champion Cavs.

In particular, Durant’s decision stymied the Cavaliers odds of repeating. LeBron James’ squad was listed at 5-2 to repeat but have slipped to 7-2. Cleveland is still favored to make the finals for the third consecutive season, but odds makers evidently don’t like its chances of defeating an expected Golden State offensive juggernaut.

The Spurs, who were also courting Durant in free agency, saw their odds cut in half from 6-1 to 12-1, while the Thunder and former teammate Russell Westbrook plummeted from 7-1 to 60-1 behind the

Durant, who owns a career scoring average of 27.4 points per game and an incredible shooting slash line of 48.3/38.0/88.2, joins a Warriors squad that led the NBA in points per game (114.9), point differential (10.8), three-point percentage (41.6), overall field-goal pecentage (42.5), and did suffer back-to-back losses throughout their record-setting regular season.

Sharing the ball between Golden State’s four All-Stars won’t be a problem either. The Warriors also led the NBA with 28.9 assists per game, three more than the next closest squad (Atlanta), and should keep the ball moving now even though Curry, Durant, and Thompson were ranked in the top 12 in scoring last season.

Odds To Win 2017 NBA Finals

Golden State Warriors 5-7

Cleveland Cavaliers 7-2

San Antonio Spurs 12-1

Boston Celtics 30-1

Los Angeles Clippers 30-1

Oklahoma City Thunder 60-1

Toronto Raptors 70-1

Minnesota Timberwolves 80-1

Atlanta Hawks 100-1

Detroit Pistons 100-1

Indiana Pacers 100-1