NBA Finals 2018 Odds: Warriors, Cavaliers, Celtics, Thunder Have Best Title Chances

For all of the trades and free agent signings made during a crazy offseason, the 2017-2018 NBA season is likely going to end the same way the previous three seasons have concluded--with the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers battling for the championship.

That’s how the oddsmakers see it at least. Golden State is the odds-on favorite to represent the Western Conference in the 2018 NBA Finals, while LeBron James and Co. are the odds-on favorites in the Eastern Conference.

With Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson all back for the Warriors, the defending champs are expected to successfully defend their title. The question regarding which team might be the biggest threat to Golden State in the West doesn’t have a simple answer.

The San Antonio Spurs were the second-best team a year ago, and they might very well be the West’s No.2 seed again. They no longer have the best odds to do so, however. That changed only recently when the Oklahoma City Thunder traded for Carmelo Anthony, adding him to a lineup that includes Russell Westbrook and Paul George.

The Houston Rockets could challenge for that No.2 spot. After winning more games than any team in the East, Houston traded for Chris Paul. Paul and James Harden give the Rockets a one-two punch that only the Warriors can match.

In the East, it’s still the Boston Celtics that post the biggest threat to Cleveland, even though the team’s roster has been overhauled. Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward have joined the team that had home-court advantage throughout the 2017 Eastern Conference Playoffs. Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley are no longer with Boston.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are the only other team with better than 50/1 championship odds.

Below is a look at the complete 2018 NBA Finals odds, as well as the odds each team has to win their respective conference, courtesy of Bovada.lv.

Golden State Warriors 5/8 (4/11)

Cleveland Cavaliers 9/2 (2/3)

Boston Celtics 8/1 (12/5)

Oklahoma City Thunder 12/1 (15/2)

San Antonio Spurs 12/1 (15/2)

Houston Rockets 16/1 (10/1)

Minnesota Timberwolves 28/1 (16/1)

Washington Wizards 50/1 (12/1)

Milwaukee Bucks 66/1 (16/1)

Philadelphia 76ers 66/1 (20/1)

Toronto Raptors 75/1 (20/1)

Los Angeles Lakers 100/1 (66/1)

Miami Heat 100/1 (28/1)

Los Angeles Clippers 125/1 (66/1)

Denver Nuggets 150/1 (66/1)

New Orleans Pelicans 150/1 (66/1)

Portland Trail Blazers 200/1 (100/1)

Utah Jazz 200/1 (100/1)

Detroit Pistons 300/1 (75/1)

Memphis Grizzlies 300/1 (150/1)

Charlotte Hornets 500/1 (100/1)

Dallas Mavericks 500/1 (200/1)

Indiana Pacers 500/1 (250/1)

New York Knicks 500/1 (250/1)

Phoenix Suns 500/1 (300/1)

Sacramento Kings 500/1 (300/1)

Chicago Bulls 1000/1 (250/1)

Atlanta Hawks 1000/1 (300/1)

Brooklyn Nets 1000/1 (500/1)

Orlando Magic 1000/1 (500/1)