Vegas and advanced-analytics at odds over Phoenix Suns championship chances
By Aaron Coe
As a Phoenix Suns fan, one has to feel good about the team’s chances to win a title after adding Kevin Durant, and while Vegas agrees, the computers do not.
Since reaching the NBA Finals two seasons ago, the Phoenix Suns have consistently been one of the betting favorites to win the NBA title. After more than 60 wins last season, that trend continued until injuries ravished the team, and the Suns began looking like a team destined for the one-game play-in tournament.
Instead of sticking with the status quo and hoping things might improve, new ownership immediately came in and swung for the fences, trading for the superstar, Durant. The Suns were again a favorite of the odds makers everywhere, and as a fan watching, this team looks legitimate, assuming they can stay healthy, which is a big assumption.
Regardless if you go to Fanduel, the Phoenix Suns have the third-best odds to win the Championship (+650) behind only Milwaukee (+240) and Boston (+330). The three teams in front of Phoenix in standings are longer shots for gamblers, with Denver (+800), Memphis (+1400), and Sacramento (+5500) all behind Phoenix if you believe odds because another set of odds does not seem to like the Suns’ chances.