NBA Power Rankings – March 4

Pour one out for LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Los Angeles Lakers were +450 to win the NBA Championship at the start of the season. Adding Russell Westbrook was supposed to improve their NBA title odds, but the Lakers are now 50-1 and might not even make the playoffs as they are eight games under .500 with 20 games to play.

The Chicago Bulls and Memphis Grizzlies are on the other end of the spectrum. Chicago was 100-1 last summer, but the Bulls are currently in third place in the Eastern Conference with a 39-24 record. As for Memphis, the Grizzlies are just a half-game behind Golden State for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Ja Morant has shined, so the Grizzlies NBA futures odds are down to 25-1 after being 100-1 at the start of the season.

1. Phoenix Suns

This Week’s Odds: +440
Last Week’s Odds: +450

Once again, the Phoenix Suns are favored to win the NBA Championship. The Suns are essentially guaranteed to finish with the league’s best record at this point, and they keep winning games even without Chris Paul in the lineup. This team is already just two wins away from hitting the over in its season win total, as the Suns’ rank second in effective field goal percentage on defense and fifth in offensive effective field goal percentage.

2. Golden State Warriors

This Week’s Odds: +450

Last Week’s Odds: +425

It’s getting a little more difficult to believe in the Golden State Warriors with each passing week. Golden State has won just three of its last ten games, as the return of Klay Thompson has not been the boon we were thinking it would be a few months ago. Draymond Green has been out for the last two months, and this team has suffered on defense without its leader.

3. Philadelphia 76ers

This Week’s Odds: +650
Last Week’s Odds: +700

More people are buying into the Philadelphia 76ers after their blowout wins over Minnesota and New York after the All-Star Break. Philadelphia was able to sign DeAndre Jordan on Thursday after he cleared waivers too, but the Sixers aren’t the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. There are real concerns about the durability of Joel Embiid and James Harden in the playoffs, and Philly dealt its best perimeter shooter to add Harden.

4. Brooklyn Nets

This Week’s Odds: +700

Last Week’s Odds: +650

Ben Simmons had a setback during rehab in his bid to see some regular season time with his new team. There is no timetable on when he might return, but at least Kevin Durant is back in the lineup for Brooklyn. The Nets need to rally to avoid the play-in round for the playoffs, as they are currently five games behind Cleveland for the No. 6 seed.

5. Milwaukee Bucks

This Week’s Odds: +700

Last Week’s Odds: +650

Some people are pressing the panic button with the defending champions, but there isn’t a real reason to worry about Milwaukee just yet. The Bucks still have the most talented player in the league and a talented supporting cast. Brook Lopez is finally close to returning from a back injury too, as he has been cleared to practice with the team once again.

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