Despite Infighting and Losses, Warriors Championship Odds Get Better

• The Warriors’ 2019 title odds have improved despite infighting between Draymond Green and Kevin Durant
• Is Golden State still a deserving favorite?
• Is there another club that can currently upend the defending champs?

Only in the NBA can two star teammates fight, drag down the collective psyche of the team while piling up losses and still be the unanimous favorite to win the title.

The Warriors have lost 5 of their last 7 games. That's Golden State's worst 7-game stretch under Steve Kerr. pic.twitter.com/20m4TH0GA0

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 19, 2018

In fact, even after the most tumultuous week the Golden State Warriors have faced since losing to the Cavaliers in the Summer of 2015, their odds actually even improved.

Have a look at the updated 2019 NBA Championship Odds Tracker. On November 11th, the Dubs were -160 favorites to win the NBA title.  Things unravelled shortly after.

The team suspended Draymond Green a game for his words, which included bringing the elephant in the room – Kevin Durant’s impending free agency – front and center.

With Steph Curry out with a groin injury, Golden State was eaten up in the Texas triangle, suffering consecutive losses to the Rockets, Mavericks and Spurs.

This week has been nothing short of crazy for the #Warriors.

Steve Kerr says not only are they banged up physically, they're also banged up spiritually. https://t.co/lps2DDhnfr pic.twitter.com/AeWbbaUgLJ

— 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 Canada 🇨🇦 (@sportingnewsca) November 16, 2018

And now, after all that, the Warriors’ odds to win the title increased, to -170. We need to discuss.

Is Golden State Still the 2019 NBA Championship Favorite?

I know this is hard to believe, but the answer is yes.

The KD-Durant argument was more than a tiff, but we haven’t yet hit the quarter post of the season. This is going to pass.

The basketball world was anticipating their demise just a season ago, when Golden State staggered to a 7-10 end to the regular season. But once the playoffs started, the Warriors’ urge to win trumped everything else.

Most teams aren’t able to flick a “total domination” switch, but most teams don’t have four (and when Boogie debuts, five) of the best players in basketball on their roster.

This season, they are sixth in scoring, and first in the NBA in assists, field goal percentage, and three-point percentage.

Most teams aren’t able to flick a “total domination” switch, but most teams don’t have four of the best players in basketball on their roster.

While they are just 16th in points allowed, the Dubs are still third in three-point field goal percentage defence, and ninth in field goal percentage.

Basically, they’re still getting it done with an enormous cloud over their head. When it counts, they will be ready for the three-peat / four-in-five run.

Well, for the Warriors sake, at least the blowout L is giving Steph Curry some time to bring KD and Draymond (and Cousins) together on the bench for a light-hearted conversation pic.twitter.com/IhylhtkovQ

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) November 16, 2018

Plus, Curry is coming back! The baby-faced star is the undisputed leader of this team. It’s his personality that can handle Green’s outbursts, appease Durant’s star power, and allow Klay to quietly splash away from the spotlight. As the clip above shows, he is the glue.

If he returns to the lineup and things don’t get sorted, then it’s time to worry a little.

2019 NBA Championship Odds

Can Another Team Capitalize on Golden State’s Fracture?

There’s no clear cut contender to the Warriors’ throne right now. The odds reflect that.

Toronto looked like gangbusters out of the gate, but they’ve shown glimpses of their weaknesses in a recent losing skid.

https://twitter.com/NBABBGAMETIME/status/1062906259387559936

Boston is still a few months away, and ditto LeBron’s Lakers. It’s a hard sell to think the Rockets are still the contenders they were a year ago. And Portland is first in the West, but will have to answer their demons come playoff time.

https://twitter.com/SportsReUp/status/1063991019853754368

If there is a legitimate value threat, it’s a good time to lay down a wager on the Philadelphia 76ers, sitting at +1400. The core of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and newly-acquired Jimmy Butler is the most talented trio outside of Golden State.

And as the Warriors have proven time and again, you need a whole lot of talent to stack chips.