Warriors’ 2019 NBA Championship Odds the Worst They’ve Been Since January After Failing to Close out Clippers

• The Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers first-round series is going to six games
• The Warriors blew a 31-point lead in their first loss in this series and lost at home in Game 5 as well
• The Milwaukee Bucks offer good value at +500 to win the NBA Championship

The Golden State Warriors are having trouble with the no. 8 seed Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers, who were supposed to be an easy four-game out, have pushed the Warriors to a Game 6. In terms of their NBA Championship odds, is this something we should be worried about, or is Golden State just taking some games off?

2019 NBA Championship Odds

Warriors Have Some Issues

It’s to the point where you have to start getting concerned. We saw this team had some ugly losses in the regular season and figured that they simply didn’t have their foot on the gas. Well, we’re into the playoffs and we’re still having the same issues. A blown 31-point lead at home? A flat effort in a close-out game in Game 5? These are concerns.

I’ve never seen anything like this. Beverley loses his shoe but still mixes it up down low and draws a charge, shoe in hand. pic.twitter.com/lTtlhHKWHr

— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballbreakdown) April 25, 2019

The biggest issue is that the Warriors simply aren’t playing any defense. They let the Los Angeles Clippers – a team with no superstars – score 33+ points in three separate quarters last night. We know that they can play better than this but for a team that’s favored by this much, it’s becoming a concern that they can’t get it together.

Bench Not Providing Much Help

Imagine getting 91 points from Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, and Klay Thompson, and still losing by eight points. That’s what happened to the Warriors in Game 5. Their bench had just 17 points on 7-of-23 shooting. The Warriors are forced to stick with guys like Curry, Durant, and Thompson for 37+ minutes a night because their bench play is so weak.

Bet the Bucks

It’s time to start seriously considering the potential of the Milwaukee Bucks being the 2019 NBA Champions. They’ve been the best team in the league all season and unlike the Warriors, they’ve shown no signs of slowing down. Also, the Bucks will have home-court in the NBA Finals, should they get there.

? @Giannis_An34 drops 41 PTS, 9 REB, 4 BLK in the Game 4 victory, helping the @Bucks (4-0) advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals! #FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/1TCvoEmbpN

— NBA (@NBA) April 23, 2019

Milwaukee won 45 regular season games by double digits (and now all four playoff games as well). Only seven teams have ever done that and each one has gone on to win the NBA Championship.

The Bucks are the league’s best defensive team, they shoot threes just as well as anyone, and they’re going to far hungrier than the Warriors. Golden State takes nights off and while that’s okay against the Clippers, it could hurt them against the Houston Rockets or Bucks.

Rockets Could Upset Golden State

Many people forget that had it not been for a Chris Paul injury, the Rockets could have potentially upset the Warriors last season. Golden State looks worse and the Rockets are hungry for revenge. Although most people seem to think this Warriors team is bulletproof, they might not get out of the second round.

? @JHarden13 (26 PTS, 6 REB, 6 AST, 3 STL, 4 BLK) does it all as the @HoustonRockets win Game 5 and advance to the Conference Semis! #RunAsOne #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Bz4Yp9yZtf

— NBA (@NBA) April 25, 2019

Golden State finished the season 16-10 in their final 26 games. It’s true that on a smaller scale, they won 12 of their final 16 games but the Rockets were the better team in the second half of the season. Houston went 20-4 down the stretch of the season. They’re in a better place right now than the Warriors.

Warriors Have Played a Lot of Basketball

One of the reasons I like the Bucks is that the Warriors have played a ton of basketball over the last few seasons. Remember, this team has gone to the finals in four straight seasons, which means they’ve played almost an extra season of basketball more than everyone (except for the Cleveland Cavaliers).

When we see the Warriors fading at times, I wonder if its all those extra minutes that they’ve played. They’re duking it out with the Clippers (instead of resting) and they’ll have to play a long series with the Rockets next. The Western Conference Final – should they get there – might be easier but the way they’re playing, you never know.

Draymond & Patrick Beverley: two level headed individuals who will certainly let cooler heads prevail pic.twitter.com/0m9g1oWudk

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) April 25, 2019

I would take a shot with the Bucks. As surprising as it may sound, they’re a good value play at 5/1 to pull it off.

Pick: Milwaukee Bucks (+500)