NBA Western Conference betting: Analysis & best bets ahead of preseason

With the upcoming season just around the corner, it’s time we take a look at the latest NBA Western Conference Odds 2023. There’s been plenty of movement in the Wild Wild West, so the playoff picture could look quite different for next season.

NBA Western Conference odds 2023

As we know by now, the team with the best odds to win NBA Western Conference doesn’t always end on top. Injuries, poor coaching, trades, and even bad luck can derail a promising team in the blink of an eye, especially with the new play-in tournament.

All odds taken August 19 at FanDuel Sportsbook

With that in mind, let’s look at the three oddsmakers’ favorites in the NBA Western Conference Futures market, two dark horse teams to win it all, and our best bet for the upcoming campaign.

Favorites

Suns (+350)

Monty Williams and James Jones have turned the Phoenix Suns into a powerhouse. Chris Paul‘s arrival was the catalyst they needed, and their young guys are getting better by the day. They brought Deandre Ayton back and while there may be some bad blood to get by, their core has proven to be a championship-caliber team.

Let’s also keep an eye on the fact that the Suns have been tied to Kevin Durant, so that means they’re actively trying to pursue another star.

Whether they land KD or not remains to be seen, but they could try and make minor moves throughout the season. The Suns play stout defense and unselfish offense and are very tough to beat at home. But still, maybe they’ve peaked already.

Clippers (+300)

People seem to forget that the Los Angeles Clippers will have Kawhi Leonard and Paul George back to full strength next season. Even without them, they still managed to get to the play-in tournament and have one of the best coaches in the NBA in Tyronn Lue.

If that wasn’t enough, the Clippers added John Wall, who’s ready to wreak havoc after years of injuries and being on the bench. Even if he’s not the player he used to be, he’s still a massive upgrade in terms of playmaking and scoring. There’s no way any defense can focus on the three of them at the same time. They’re well-coached, deep, hungry, and only a string of injuries can keep them from a trip to the WCF.

Warriors (+250)

Unsurprisingly, the best NBA Western Conference odds 2023 come with the reigning NBA champions. The Golden State Warriors proved that the dynasty was alive and well and that it’ll take more than two years and major injuries to keep Steve Kerr‘s team away from contention. Most of their core will be back, so they can’t be overlooked.

However, it’s worth noting that the Dubs suffered some big losses in the offseason. Losing Juan Toscano-Anderson, Otto Porter Jr., and Gary Payton II hurts their suffocating defense, and Jonathan Kuminga will have to step up sooner than expected to fill in that void. Even so, they’ll still be contenders for as long as they have the Splash Brothers and Draymond Green on the court.

Dark horses

Lakers (+550)

The Los Angeles Lakers don’t have a championship-caliber roster right now, but we’ve seen LeBron James work his magic before. Even if he doesn’t manage to pull off a bunch of trades, we’re still talking about a team that has one of the greatest players of all time, and Anthony Davis by his side. Davis will finally be healthy, so that’s also a big factor.

The Lakers hope to make things work with Russell Westbrook, but there’s also the possibility they swap him for Kyrie Irving. Whatever the case, they’ll have three 25+ points per game scorers on their roster, a new coach, and a winning culture that doesn’t go away overnight.

Nuggets (+850)

Nikola Jokic is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of player, and he just keeps getting better.

He put the Denver Nuggets on his shoulders without Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., and both will be back on the floor in 2022-23. Also, they have the biggest homecourt advantage in the Association.

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No one thought the Phoenix Suns could make the NBA Finals two years ago, and they silenced their critics. That could be the case with the 2022-23 Nuggets. They’re a better team than last year, and they have a top-5 player in today’s game.

Best NBA Western Conference futures bet

Warriors

While it may not be shocking, we still need to say it. You never want to put your money against Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors.

Not while they’re healthy, not while they’re at the top of the world. Clearly, it’ll take some time before the dynasty is done, and there’s no reason to think this team can’t win the Western Conference again in 2023.

Klay Thompson will have a full offseason to get his legs back under him and get back to his usual self. Andrew Wiggins has developed into a two-way star who can lock down the best scorers on earth. Jordan Poole keeps blossoming into an offensive juggernaut, and James Wiseman will contribute in some capacity. We don’t need to say anything else about Stephen Curry or Draymond Green.

Add Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga taking a leap forward in year 2, and you have yourself a championship-caliber team right there. Steve Kerr is one of the best coaches in the league, and the Warriors have proven to be tailor-made for the playoffs. They’re the team to beat until proven otherwise.

Pick: Warriors (+250)