Warriors favored for title

The Golden State Warriors are much more likely to win the 2017-18 NBA title than the other 29 teams combined, according to Las Vegas bookmakers. At odds of minus-220, you’d have to bet $220 to win $100 on the Warriors to repeat as NBA champs.

Or at the Westgate Superbook, you can take the other 29 teams and get plus-180, which means a $100 bet would pay $180 if the Warriors don’t win the title.

“We have some experience with this team based on last year, so we figured they’d be a heavier favorite than they were last year,” said Westgate NBA oddsmaker Jeff Sherman. “We have a year of showing how much they dominated last year.”

The Warriors are by far the heaviest preseason favorite ever posted at the Westgate, Sherman added. Following the Warriors are the Cleveland Cavaliers at 4-to-1, the Boston Celtics at 10-to-1, and the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets, both at 15-to-1 to win the NBA title. The Oklahoma City Thunder, after acquiring talented forwards Paul George and Carmelo Anthony, are 16-to-1.

Oddsmakers foresee another Finals rematch between the Warriors and Cavaliers, with Cleveland the favorite to win the Eastern Conference, Sherman said.

Naturally, the Warriors are forecast to win the most games of any team. The Westgate’s over/under is 67 victories. Last year the number was 67.5, and the Warriors ended up winning 67.

Conversely, the Sacramento Kings’ over/under for wins is 27.5. Two of Golden State’s Western Conference rivals, San Antonio and Houston, each have an over/under of 55.5, while Oklahoma City is 53.5.

In the Eastern Conference, Cleveland has the highest over/under figure at 54.5, with analysts viewing their blockbuster trade with Boston as a win for the Cavaliers.

“When the trade was first announced, we didn’t adjust the odds on either team,” Sherman said. “But overall it looks like Cleveland is a little bit stronger,” especially if guard Isaiah Thomas returns to full health by midseason. But Boston’s over/under is close: 54 wins.

In the race for the NBA’s Most Valuable Player, the Cavs’ LeBron James is a slight favorite at 4-to-1, with reigning MVP Russell Westbrook of the Thunder, the Warriors’ Kevin Durant and the Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard following at 9-to-2.

Houston’s James Harden, the runner-up in the MVP race last season, and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo are both 8-to-1 to win the MVP, with the Warriors’ Stephen Curry at 10 to 1. Curry has won the award twice.

For the Rookie of the Year award, Philadelphia’s Ben Simmons is the favorite at 5-to-2, followed by the Los Angeles Lakers’ Lonzo Ball at 11-to-4.