The NBA season is approaching its quarter point, and we can see the playoff picture beginning to take shape. By comparing the Don Best/Linemakers' power ratings with the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook's updated championship odds, we find profit potential for pro basketball bettors.
First, to provide a little background, the Don Best/Linemakers' power ratings are numerical values assigned to teams that intend to provide the basis for what the spread should be between two teams at a neutral site.
With that established, the Grizzlies (102.5 power rating, 14-to-1 odds to win title) and Mavericks (101.5, 14-to-1) stand out as potential value bets. The Western Conference is loaded, yes, but the Mavs and Grizz can make legit title runs.
Digging deeper, the Hawks (98, 50-to-1) and Nuggets (98, 100-to-1) are tied for 10th in the power ratings while owning long title odds. Denver warrants its dark horse status, but has a talented, high-scoring roster and is 8-2 over its last 10 games. The Hawks are a solid team competing in the weak Eastern Conference, making a Cinderella run to the NBA Finals a reasonable possibility.
DON BEST/LINEMAKERS POWER RATINGS AND CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS
| Rank | Team | Rating | Championship odds | Previous week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Antonio Spurs | 104.5 | 3-to-1 | 3-to-1 |
| 2 | Golden State Warriors | 103 | 8-to-1 | 8-to-1 |
| 3 | Los Angeles Clippers | 103 | 10-to-1 | 10-to-1 |
| 4 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 102.5 | 3-to-1 | 3-to-1 |
| 5 | Memphis Grizzlies | 102.5 | 14-to-1 | 20-to-1 |
| 6 | Dallas Mavericks | 101.5 | 14-to-1 | 12-to-1 |
| 7 | Toronto Raptors | 101.5 | 20-to-1 | 15-to-1 |
| 8 | Portland Trailblazers | 100.5 | 20-to-1 | 20-to-1 |
| 9 | Chicago Bulls | 99.5 | 7-to-1 | 8-to-1 |
| 10 | Atlanta Hawks | 98 | 50-to-1 | 50-to-1 |
| 11 | Denver Nuggets | 98 | 100-to-1 | 100-to-1 |
| 12 | Houston Rockets | 98 | 20-to-1 | 20-to-1 |
| 13 | Phoenix Suns | 98 | 60-to-1 | 50-to-1 |
| 14 | Washington Wizards | 98 | 20-to-1 | 15-to-1 |
| 15 | New Orleans Pelicans | 97.5 | 50-to-1 | 40-to-1 |
| 16 | Sacramento Kings | 97 | 100-to-1 | 50-to-1 |
| 17 | Miami Heat | 95.5 | 40-to-1 | 40-to-1 |
| 18 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 95.5 | 10-to-1 | 20-to-1 |
| 19 | Indiana Pacers | 95 | 300-to-1 | 500-to-1 |
| 20 | Milwaukee Bucks | 95 | 300-to-1 | 300-to-1 |
| 21 | Brooklyn Nets | 94.5 | 60-to-1 | 50-to-1 |
| 22 | Boston Celtics | 93 | 500-to-1 | 300-to-1 |
| 23 | Charlotte Hornets | 93 | 200-to-1 | 100-to-1 |
| 24 | Los Angeles Lakers | 93 | 1000-to-1 | 1000-to-1 |
| 25 | Detroit Pistons | 92 | 1000-to-1 | 1000-to-1 |
| 26 | New York Knicks | 92 | 200-to-1 | 100-to-1 |
| 27 | Orlando Magic | 92 | 1000-to-1 | 1000-to-1 |
| 28 | Utah Jazz | 92 | 500-to-1 | 300-to-1 |
| 29 | Minnesota T'wolves | 90.5 | 1000-to-1 | 1000-to-1 |
| 30 | Philadelphia 76ers | 87.5 | 9999-to-1 | 9999-to-1 |
ODDS TO WIN EASTERN CONFERENCE (last week's numbers in parentheses if changed)
CAVALIERS 4-5 (even-money)
BULLS 9-4 (12-5)
WIZARDS 6-1 (5-1)
RAPTORS 6-1 (5-1)
HEAT 17-1 (18-1)
HAWKS 23-1
NETS 25-1 (23-1)
KNICKS 80-1 (40-1)
HORNETS 80-1 (40-1)
PACERS 120-1 (200-1)
BUCKS 120-1
CELTICS 200-1 (120-1)
PISTONS 400-1
MAGIC 400-1
76ERS 4000-1
ODDS TO WIN WESTERN CONFERENCE
SPURS 8-5
WARRIORS 9-2
THUNDER 6-1 (11-1)
CLIPPERS 6-1 (11-2)
GRIZZLIES 8-1 (11-1)
MAVERICKS 8-1 (13-2)
ROCKETS 11-1
BLAZERS 11-1
PELICANS 25-1 (20-1)
SUNS 35-1 (25-1)
NUGGETS 55-1 (50-1)
KINGS 60-1 (25-1)
JAZZ 300-1 (150-1)
WOLVES 600-1 (500-1)
LAKERS 600-1 (500-1)
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