The fans have spoken. Does it match up with the betting odds?
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Houston Rockets fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
As we head out of the NBA Trade Deadline and into the home stretch of the season, the contenders for the NBA title are starting to come into focus. As such, this week’s SB Nation Reacts national poll asked readers across the entire NBA network who they think would win the NBA Finals as of right now. Here are the results we received:
The Oklahoma City Thunder ran away with this poll, garnering 37 percent of the vote, or almost double of the second-place Boston Celtics. Surprising enough, the Golden State Warriors came in fourth with 4 percent of the vote, even though they currently sit in 11th place in the Western Conference. Fans must think really highly of the Jimmy Butler deal, though I certainly do not. Our hometown Rockets, currently in the midst of a season-long five game losing streak, do not appear on the leaderboard.
Our new friends over at Fanduel have some thoughts on the matter, and they currently have the Celtics as the top choice, coming in at +195. That means for every $100 you bet, you’ll make a $195 profit. The Thunder come in second over at Fanduel at +230, while the Cleveland Cavaliers are the third-best bet at + 850. Rounding out the top five in odds are the New York Knicks at +1300 and the Denver Nuggets at +1400.
The Luka trade really bumped up the Lakers, as they now carry the sixth-best odds in the NBA at +1900. If you’re feeling in a Luka mood, that could be an enticing bet. Our beloved Rockets squeaked in the top 10 right now, coming in with the 10th-best odds at +4800. Man, that’d be nice bet to come home with almost five grand for a Rockets title. If you would have talked to me before the five-game losing streak, I might’ve jumped on that. Now, it’s a little bit of a different story.
You can catch the full list of Fanduel odds here, make sure you pay them a visit.