2023 NBA Title Odds: Suns Down and Almost Out
Back on April 1, the Phoenix Suns were the second betting favorite, after the Boston Celtics, to win the NBA title this year and the favorite over the Denver Nuggets to win the West.
It certainly looks like many bettors were fooled on that day all the way to April 15, when the playoffs began.
Now?
Well, that’s all changed dramatically with the news that Suns star guard Chris Paul will likely miss the next three games of their series with the Nuggets. (Denver’s up 2-0 so there might not even be three more games).
That’s bad, bad news but hardly a surprise.
Here’s what I wrote back on March 30:
“I’m no longer looking at the Suns because I’m not sure Phoenix’s all-star-laden squad can stay healthy enough (looking at you Durant and Paul) to get there — and the same goes for the Clippers (George and Leonard) and Lakers (James and Davis).”
Hate to tell you I told you so but …
Meanwhile, suddenly the Lakers, who stole Game 1 against the Warriors thanks to a monster game from Anthony Davis, look resurgent and dangerous.
The Lakers were somewhere +1600 - +2000 to win the Finals (and around +900 to win the West) before the playoffs began.
So let’s look at where the odds stand now for the four teams still alive – for now – out West.
The odds I’m using are from FanDuel Sportsbook, one of our favorite gambling sites out there.
Here are FD’s latest odds for:
2023 NBA Western Conference Winner
Denver Nuggets +125
Los Angeles Lakers +240
Golden State Warriors +300
Phoenix Suns +650
And the odds on those four West teams winning it all:
2023 NBA Finals Winner
Denver Nuggets +380
Los Angeles Lakers +600
Golden State Warriors +650
Phoenix Suns +1300
In closing, don’t you even dare think about Phoenix rallying from down 0-2 to win the series and then eventually the West.
No way.
The Suns’ season is fading fast and the bright daylight will turn to disappointing darkness as the franchise looks up to the starry sky, as well as their roster, and ponders what might have been.
