The Houston Rockets were tied for fifth in the Western Conference with a record of 40-24 when the 2019-20 NBA season was suspended. Below, we look at the BetMGM betting odds of the Rockets winning the NBA Championship once play resumes with a 22-team format in Orlando, Fla., later this summer.
Houston Rockets season recap
Before the NBA season was suspended in March, the Rockets were actually in a bit of a slump, losing four of their last five games. They did “end” the season by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 117-111 at home March 10.
The Rockets were one of the league’s most fascinating teams after the trade deadline as they completely embraced playing a small lineup. The Rockets moved P.J. Tucker, who had mostly played the power forward spot, into a starting “center” role over the last few weeks of the season. Plus, the Rockets began taking even more 3-point shots than ever before. Houston was No. 1 in the NBA in made 3-pointers per game (15.4) and 3-point attempts per game (44.3) before the league stopped play. They also were No. 2 in scoring (118.1 PG) as well a second in free throws made (20.5 PG) and free-throw attempts (26.0 PG).
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Houston Rockets NBA Championship odds
Odds provided by BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Sunday, June 14, at 2 p.m. ET.
The Rockets’ championship odds sit at +1200, the fourth-best in the NBA. But how realistic is it that they can climb through the difficult Western Conference and beat a team like the Milwaukee Bucks or Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals?
For that to happen, the Rockets would need to put on a shooting clinic for two straight months. While that can certainly happen, they just don’t have a big margin of error, given their lack of size upfront. SG James Harden is certainly spectacular, but will he be able to rely on the likes of PG Russell Westbrook and SF/SG Eric Gordon in big moments?
The Rockets are a talented team, but they just might not have enough size to match up with the elite teams in either conference. They still ARE NOT A BAD BET AT +1200, but consider them a much better bet to win the Western Conference, rather than take home the 2019-2020 NBA Championship, even at lesser odds.
Houston Rockets Western Conference odds
Despite having just the fifth-best record in the West, the Rockets (+700) have the third-best odds to win the conference behind the Los Angeles Lakers (+125) and Los Angeles Clippers (+175). Houston had a 3-3 record against the Los Angeles’ teams this season and given the Rockets’ shooting, they could certainly get hot enough to beat either squad in a seven-game series.
While it’s not fair to “expect” them to beat either the Lakers or Clippers this postseason, they AREN’T A BAD BET AT +700. They have the talent to match up with any team in the NBA and their 3-point shooting can be the great equalizer in any series. Don’t be afraid of betting on Houston to finally break through and make the NBA Finals this postseason.
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