Nuggets 20-1 to win it all

[frostno98]

I think this is the only team, and maybe Houston has a realistic shot at winning it all beside the Lakers, Boston, and Cleveland.

[diogee]

Good luck Frostno...have them at 14-1 to win the West. One of the deepest teams in the league. Saw some decent value on them...not sure the refs will let them take down LA though. We saw what happened the last time Den played LA in LA.

[LT Profits]

No way. You have to at least play SOME defense to win a championship.

[frostno98]

No way. You have to at least play SOME defense to win a championship.

They can play Defense, they just didn't do it in that meaningless game in Portland. They did go 14-2 since March and that wasn't all offense. I watched every Denver playoff game since Melo came onboard. What separate this team from all the previous 1st round Nuggets losers, is they finally have Superior Point guard and deep bench with impact players.

[Vesuvius]

Billups ... Martin ... Nene!?

Yeah you're right, no defense.

[csimmalavong]

i actually see denver losing first round.
or winning in 7.

[King_Bookie]

I think this is the only team, and maybe Houston has a realistic shot at winning it all beside the Lakers, Boston, and Cleveland.

You had the gall to include the Denver F*ckers and Houston Rockets as contenders to win it all but you didnt even mention Orlando and/or Portland. I'm no fan of both teams but Portland has a more realistic chance of winning the West than Denver will ever be. You see how different Denver plays when they are at home and on the road? Much like Utah.

Don't let the fan in you cloud your judgement especially when it comes to money. You're very much like Tsoprano(but a bit subtler than him). He's a rabid Celtics fan but the team he is backing has been tried and tested over the years.

[SportsTerminator]

Denver in 5 but... No way Denver will go all the way. Portland is looking good to go all the way in the West but they can't beat LA Lakers in LA. So the championship is pretty much set Lakers vs. Cavs.

[Mac4Lyfe]

Portland aint going nowhere. They are too inexperienced. Don't let their athleticism fool you. Once playoff basketball starts they are going to find it very difficult to make shots. The Rocket's haven't gotten out of the 1st round in forever so Portland has a chance here but they will go no further.

[LT Profits]

Billups ... Martin ... Nene!?

Yeah you're right, no defense.

Correct, NO defense.

The allowed 100,9 points per game for the whole season, and they were actually WORSE during their season ending 14-3 run, allowing 103.2 points per game.

The only reason they won all those games down the stretch is they simply outscored the opposition (111.1 points for per game), and that approach doesn't work in the playoffs.

The only reason they are even 20-1 is because they won 58 games, Realistically, their odds of winning the championbship should be closer to 40-1.

[LT Profits]

Portland aint going nowhere. They are too inexperienced. Don't let their athleticism fool you. Once playoff basketball starts they are going to find it very difficult to make shots. The Rocket's haven't gotten out of the 1st round in forever so Portland has a chance here but they will go no further.

I do think that Portland is built better to go farther in the playoffs than Denver is though. Unfortunately, Blazers will draw Lakers in second round. As much as I hate to say it, we are probably looking at another Lakers/Spurs Western Final and another easy Lakers advance to NBA Finals.

[corona]

Correct, NO defense.

The allowed 100,9 points per game for the whole season, and they were actually WORSE during their season ending 14-3 run, allowing 103.2 points per game.

they allow more points because they play at a fast pace...5th quickest in the league. the other team has more opportunities to score per game.

denver has the 4th best opponent fg% in the league. 8th best points allowed per possession.

maybe not championship caliber. but certainly good defense.

[Tsoprano]

Worth a shot if someone HAD to take a longshot future involving the NBA championship (and the Magic), they can certainly be capable of it

But in reality, we know it will not happen

[LT Profits]

they allow more points because they play at a fast pace...5th quickest in the league. the other team has more opportunities to score per game.

denver has the 4th best opponent fg% in the league. 8th best points allowed per possession.

maybe not championship caliber. but certainly good defense.

But that's just it: teams that play a run-and-gun style don't win championships. It looks like the Nuggets will draw the Spurs in second round, and San Antonio will certainly take Denver out of their comfort level by slowing the pace down.

I think Portalnd is actually the second best team in the West right now, but they have the misfortune of drawing the best team before reaching the West Finals, That basically leaves the Spurs by default to face LA, although I actually don't feel Spurs are as good as past years.

[King_Bookie]

^ We have almost the same sentiments. If Portland only had homecourt advantage, I would have put large money on them to win the series against (potentially) the Lakers.

My rankings (doesnt necessarily mean that they'll win their respective series if they're ranked higher)

West:

1. Lakers
2. Portland
3. San Antonio
4. Houston
5. Denver
6. New Orleans
7. Utah
8. Dallas

East:

1. Cleveland
2. Orlando
3. Boston
Tied for 4. Chicago and Atlanta
5. Miami
6. Detroit
7. Philadelphia

[LT Profits]

^ We have almost the same sentiments. If Portland only had homecourt advantage, I would have put large money on them to win the series against (potentially) the Lakers.

My rankings (doesnt necessarily mean that they'll win their respective series if they're ranked higher)

West:

1. Lakers
2. Portland
3. San Antonio
4. Houston
5. Denver
6. New Orleans
7. Utah
8. Dallas

East:

1. Cleveland
2. Orlando
3. Boston
Tied for 4. Chicago and Atlanta
5. Miami
6. Detroit
7. Philadelphia

I can"t really argue with any of those ratings!

Only thing is you could possibly flip-flop Orlando/Boston if Garnett could come back in time quasi-healthy.

[frostno98]

Alright here's my forecast in how Denver could possibly make it to the finals and somehow win it.

1st Round New Orleans
New Orleans has only really two scorer's that they can rely on to scorer consistently, with a very weak bench. Kenyon frustrated and held David West in check all day in the last outing. Denver also managed to slow Chris Paul down by rotating 3 defensive minded point guards at him in Billups, Danhtay Jones, and AC Carter. So round one will be a breezer.


2nd Round Likely to be San Antonio
Spurs minus Ginobolli does not have a good chance against Denver this time around. Ginobolli average 18 points in 10 playoff games against Denver while providing stellar defensive play. That Denver team also didn't have a Point Guard that can control tempo like Chauncey and a healthy Kenyon Martin. How Kenyon plays Duncan will determine how hard or easy it will be for them to dismantle San Antonio.


West Conference Finals Lakers
Now the Lakers games is the obvious tough one, but if you believe the NBA slogan "This is where Amazing happens" then Amazing will have to happen here. They will beat the Lakers if Carmelo can get his 30 points, Billups making timely 3's, JR Smith also getting hot and dropping 25-30 on the Lakers. How JR Smith plays against the Lakers will determine if the Nuggets will make it to the Finals or not. He has to be able to cancel off what Kobe's going to do offensively.


NBA Finals Cleveland
KJ health is still uncertain in Boston, and Dwight Howard doesn't play well in the playoffs which why I like Cleveland. I don't think Cleveland is as good as the Lakers and Denver would match up better against this team than the Lakers. Beating Cleveland is simple. Let Lebron do his thing because he is unstoppable anyways, while focusing strictly on frustrating his key role players in Mo Williams and Delonte West. If everything happens as predicted, Denver will be your newest NBA Champs.

[hels]

The Nuggets are 34-1 on some books. 20-1 is wayyyy to low.

[frostno98]

The Nuggets are 34-1 on some books. 20-1 is wayyyy to low.

Here's the odds on books that I'm playing at or had played at.

Youwager 20-1
BetJam 15-1
5dimes 26-1
Diamonds 20-1 and +875 for West Finals champs the highest of the five
Intertops 18-1

You must be playing at them no pay sportsbook if they're offering odds that ridiculous.

[King_Bookie]

My local has Denver on 45 - 1 and Detroit on 67 - 1. Crazy I know but I won't bet on them, maybe $5 or something.

[frostno98]

My local has Denver on 45 - 1 and Detroit on 67 - 1. Crazy I know but I won't bet on them, maybe $5 or something.

What's the Odds for the Lakers, Cavs or Boston. Must be pretty high too! That might be a better investment, considering how dumb your Local must be.

[corona]

But that's just it: teams that play a run-and-gun style don't win championships. It looks like the Nuggets will draw the Spurs in second round, and San Antonio will certainly take Denver out of their comfort level by slowing the pace down.

i would have agreed in past years. but billups is the difference now. as well as nene. they have the halfcourt offense, halfcourt defense and perimeter shooting to play a slow game. karl just likes playing fast, and the bench is good at picking the pace up...so they play that way. it doesnt mean theyre incapable of grinding games out.
they're 10-5 this year in games where both teams score under 100, and 5-0 when both teams score under 93.

portlands too young to win a road playoff game against a legit team.

[King_Bookie]

What's the Odds for the Lakers, Cavs or Boston. Must be pretty high too! That might be a better investment, considering how dumb your Local must be.

Dont remind me....

LAL 1:1 ratio
BOS 1:1 ratio
CLE 1:1 ratio
ORL 1:1 ratio

...... apparently my local is trying to lure money on teams that have a slimmer chance of winning it all besides these 4.

[frostno98]

Dont remind me....

LAL 1:1 ratio
BOS 1:1 ratio
CLE 1:1 ratio
ORL 1:1 ratio

...... apparently my local is trying to lure money on teams that have a slimmer chance of winning it all besides these 4.

Laker 1 to 1 isn't that bad, since none of the books I listed has odds that low. Everything else, your getting jacked big time.

Boston 6-1
Cavs 2-1
Orlando 15-1 talking about being off, is this guy smoking crack.

[raydog]

frostno, quit being a freakin homer and dont waste your money on these chumps. they have NO chance and 20-1 is absolutey NO value.

[texhooper]

How JR Smith plays against the Lakers will determine if the Nuggets will make it to the Finals or not. He has to be able to cancel off what Kobe's going to do offensively.


Beating Cleveland is simple. Let Lebron do his thing because he is unstoppable anyways, while focusing strictly on frustrating his key role players in Mo Williams and Delonte West.

i think amazing just got upgraded to miraculous. i think you should close your eyes, take a deep breath, maybe take a bong hit or two, maybe a shot of whiskey, whatever it is you need to wind down, and read these passages as though someone else said them and see how you react.

i admire your willingness to pull for your team, but i agree, your mind is a little cloudy on this 20-1 shot denver supposedly has to win it all. save your money and let the rush of being a fan be enough for you this year.

good luck to you regardless.

[ryanXL977]

denver has no shot
the west is horrendous outside of la and port

i think dallas may even beat sa

denver is not very good. i knwo they won a lot of games. theyve also beaten the lakers liek 2x the last 5 years or some shit.

[Kyleben]

Correct, NO defense.

The allowed 100,9 points per game for the whole season, and they were actually WORSE during their season ending 14-3 run, allowing 103.2 points per game.

The only reason they won all those games down the stretch is they simply outscored the opposition (111.1 points for per game), and that approach doesn't work in the playoffs.

The only reason they are even 20-1 is because they won 58 games, Realistically, their odds of winning the championbship should be closer to 40-1.

denver only give up 1.65 more points that the lakers. They only have to be 1.6% better on defense in the playoffs to be in the lakers house( the lakers give up 99.26). That said I dont think they have a chance.

[bettilimbroke999]

For Denver to beat the Lakers AND then Bos/Clev in the finals the odds should be 100-1, just seems virtually impossible, they would have to win 2 series against 2 different teams twice as good as them, just dont see it happening

[mcbaseball10]

KG out for playoffs. Just placed a $25 to win $31.25 wager on the Cavs through Bodog. They will refund the $25 if Lakers win. Really don't see anybody but those two teams in the Finals.

[zentiense]

Denver is not very good. I also think they will be outted in the first round. GG Denver, second most overrated team in the league (Orlando takes the cake).

[SBR Lou]

Risky bet but certainly a nice payoff, good hedge opportunity.

I don't like Boston's chances without KG, though.

[jjgold]

Poorly coached but a good team

If Denver had a better coach I would bet the 20-1 but not with karl

[HoulihansTX]

To many wildcard guys to place money on this team. When I watch them I dont know if Carmelo is going to try and knock Karl out everytime he gets subbed out. J.R. Smith and Kenyon are head cases also. I would rather go with the team(Hornets) who I know hate thier coach ,but at least the players like each other. And they have the best player on the floor(CP3).

[LT Profits]

denver only give up 1.65 more points that the lakers. They only have to be 1.6% better on defense in the playoffs to be in the lakers house( the lakers give up 99.26). That said I dont think they have a chance.

But the Lakers are only giving up 94.9 points per game since March 10, and that improvement in defense at the most critcal time of the year is the main reason I like them to win it all this year.