The Case Against the NBA’s Top 10 Title Favorites in 2025 | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats & Rumors

What about the remaining franchises? Who has the best chance of beating the “favorites”?

Not the reconstruction teams with a quote of +10,000: Portland Trail Blazers, Detroit pistons, Chicago Bulls, Charlotte hornets, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards, Brooklyn Nets And Utah jazzThe Raptors are the best of the group, but not really title contenders.

The San Antonio Spurs (+15,000) jumped over the Atlanta Hawks (34,000) — It’s too early for Victor Wembanyama, and the Hawks have failed to repeat their early success with Trae Young.

The Post-George LA Clippers (+8,000) are no longer considered contenders, but the Houston Rockets (+8,000) have real talent and the bait to climb this season. If we take the Golden State Warriors (+4,500) with Stephen Curry seems opaque, and the Miami Headt (+5,500) seem to reach the final every season.

The Memphis Grizzlies (+4,000) hope for recovery after a lost year. The Magic of Orlando (+4,000), Cleveland Cavaliers (+5,000) and New Orleans Pelicans (+4.5000) are viable playoff teams. The Sacramento Kings (+5,500) just missed the playoffs.

But how are the Indiana Pacers (+5.500), who reached the Eastern Conference Finals this low? Yes, they got blown out by the Celtics, but after two hard-fought series against the Bucks and Knicks?

The Pacers’ 16th-place finish seems like quite an insult and will likely exceed bookmakers’ expectations.