- The Phoenix Sun's betting odds are not reflective of their dominance.
- With Kyrie Irving back full-time, the Nets now have the second-best odds to win the championship.
PHOENIX – In most seasons in the NBA there seem to be a couple of teams that are the clear front runners to win the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, but this season has been different. At least according to NBA Finals betting odds.
Best Team In The League Not Getting Enough Respect
All-time great point guard Chris Paul just played in his first game since February 16th in last night's win against the Denver Nuggets. In the 15 games he missed, the Phoenix Suns only tied for the third-best win percentage in the league. That's disappointing for a team that has already clinched the best record in the NBA with eight games left.
The Suns have clearly been the best team in the league this season, but online sportsbooks are not buying it.
2022 Championship Winner
- Phoenix Suns +280
- Brooklyn Nets +550
- Golden State Warriors +600
- Milwaukee Bucks +600
- Philadelphia 76ers +900
- Boston Celtics +1000
- Miami Heat +1200
- Utah Jazz +2000
- Memphis Grizzlies +2200
The Suns have been dominant in the standings. They nearly have the same win percentage against teams above .500 as the Golden State Warriors do against teams below .500!
Phoenix's win percentage against teams at or above .500 is 73.5% (25-9!). The Warriors against teams below .500 have a win percentage of 76.5% (26-8).
Phoenix Sun's Record Against Western Conference Teams With Winning Records
| Seed: | Team: | Phoenix Sun's Record Against: | Point Differential This Season: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Memphis Grizzlies | 1-1 | +24 |
| 3 | Golden State Warriors | 1-2 | -19 |
| 4 | Utah Jazz | 2-1 | +10 |
| 5 | Dallas Mavericks | 3-0 | +23 |
| 6 | Denver Nuggets | 2-1 | +27 |
| 7 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 3-0 | +22 |
There are two important notes to take away from that data. One is that the Suns were missing Devin Booker for one game against the Warriors. The second is that there are only seven teams in the Western Conference currently with a winning record, which means the Suns may even play a team with a losing record in the first round.
With no other team in the Western Conference with odds shorter than +600, getting Phoenix at odds as long as +280 will not be available for long.
Lifting Of NYC Vaccine Mandates Causes Nets Championship Odds To Shorten
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Many things that Kyrie Irving has said and/or done have been controversial, but one thing not controversial about Irving is his ability on a basketball court.
Kyrie Irving has played in twenty games this season, and has scored less than ten points once. He has scored 50 or more points twice!
Kyrie Irving's Last Four Games
| Date: | Team: | Minutes: | Shot Attempts: | Made Shots: | Field Goal Percentage: | Points: | Rebounds: | Assists: | Steals: | Blocks: | Turnovers: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/8 | Charlotte Hornets | 37:30 | 19 | 15 | 78.9% | 50 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 3/10 | Philadelphia 76ers | 30:17 | 17 | 8 | 47.1% | 22 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 3/15 | Orlando Magic | 34:56 | 31 | 20 | 64.5% | 60 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 3/23 | Memphis Grizzlies | 43:49 | 27 | 15 | 55.6% | 43 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Averages | 36:38 | 23.5 | 14.5 | 61.5% | 44 | 3.8 | 5.8 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 2 | |
It's clear when looking at his recent games how impactful he is as a player. Known as an offensive juggernaut who is limited defensively, it is interesting to see that he has actually forced more turnovers per game than given up over his last four.
Kyrie Irving has played 730 minutes this season the Brooklyn Nets net rating with him out there is 4.2 points per 100 possessions better than league average. In the 2786 minutes without him on the court this season, that net rating falls to -0.2 points per 100 possessions worse than league average.
Betting on the Brooklyn Nets to win the NBA Finals this season has always been a bet on talent. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant are generational talents who are nearly impossible to guard over a seven game series.
With the New York City vaccine mandate lifted, it may even be surprising that the Nets don't have shorter odds to win the NBA Championship.
