As the NBA season tips off, there are two clear favorites to win the championship in Golden State and Cleveland. But if betting the favorites is too easy, what team is the next best in line for bettors looking to score a few bucks this season? The New York Knicks, apparently.
No team has seen their betting odds change as dramatically as the Knicks since the opening lines were first released by Las Vegas outlets. According to ESPN.com, the Knicks opened as a 100-to-1 shot to win it all this season, but those odds have already swung down to as low as 20-to-1. For a team that finished with a 32-50 record last season, that is quite optimistic. The Knicks have the same odds to win the title as the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers.
The Knicks added Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah to the roster this offseason with the hopes of establishing their own little dream team to go with Carmello Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis, and Rose is certainly trying to sell that concept to anyone who will listen. With the Warriors and Cavaliers the easy favorites, the roster the Knicks have assembled has become a trendy option for those looking for a bigger reward. So those who got the Knicks at 100-1 should consider themselves very fortunate if the Knicks do win their first NBA title since 1973.
The Warriors remain the most popular pick and still are the team receiving the highest wagers, but the number of bets coming in for the Knicks on a more moderate betting total continues to rise. As a result, the odds will continue to fall, if they still have room to be adjusted.
[ESPN]
