With tip-off of the 2006-07 basketball season taking place next week, Pinnacle Sportsbook has announced updated odds on all 30 NBA teams winning the league championship. The largest sports betting site on the Internet, Pinnacle Sportsbook currently lists Mark Cuban's Dallas Mavericks as a 4/1 favorite to avenge last year's loss in the NBA Finals and capture the franchise's first ever championship.
With Amare Stoudemire returning to the lineup along side reigning two-time league MVP Steve Nash, the Phoenix Suns should be even more explosive this year and are currently listed at 11/2 to win the NBA title. Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs begin the season attempting to become the next NBA dynasty and are also listed at 11/2 to win their third championship in five years. Although they return nearly every key player from last year's team, Dwayne Wade, Shaquille O'Neal and the rest of the reigning NBA champion Miami Heat are listed at just 6/1 to repeat this season. Pinnacle Sportsbook believes that the New Jersey Nets (9/1), led by the trio of Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson, will emerge as solid title contenders from the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the sportsbook lists LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers at 10/1 to ascend to the NBA throne, while the Detroit Pistons are 11/1 to bring a title back to Motown.
After landing four-time Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace in the offseason, the Chicago Bulls (19/1) mix of young talent and veteran leadership should help make them a contender in '07. While not in the limelight like the Lakers, the LA Clippers (22/1) were Hollywood's best team last year and are poised to make another playoff run. The oddsmakers at Pinnacle Sportsbook believe a healthy Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming will help return the Houston Rockets (24/1) to the playoff caliber team they were in 2004-05. Playoff teams a year ago, Washington Wizards (43/1), Sacremento Kings (49/1), Denver Nuggets (51/1), Indiana Pacers (64/1), Los Angeles Lakers (67/1) and Memphis Grizzlies (75/1) are on the outside looking in at the top title contenders according to the oddsmakers at Pinnacle Sportsbook.
Although there are hopes in the Big Apple that the Knicks will improve on last season's pitiful 23-win campaign, Pinnacle Sportsbook lists New York as huge 300/1 long shots to win the championship this year. The hopes appear even dimmer for the Portland Trailblazers and Charlotte Bobcats, who are both listed at 500/1 to win the NBA title at Pinnacle Sportsbook.
Bovada Sportsbook •
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