Has any team gone from getting the no1 pick to being NBA title favorites the next year? I think maybe the spurs in 1997, but I don't think they were the favorites to win the championship given the bulls, jazz, lakers, and sonics being pretty good. Even the rockets when healthy could have given them a run. I guess maybe the lakers when they got magic, but they didn't win the lottery just made a great trade so I don't really count them. Here are the current odds: Cleveland Cavaliers 7/2 ~ 22% chance of winning San Antonio Spurs 9/2 Chicago Bulls 13/2 Oklahoma City Thunder 13/2 Houston Rockets 9/1 Los Angeles Clippers 10/1 Kind of speaks to how great Lebron is, and the weakness of the east, but that is an amazing turn around one player can make. The Cavs won 33 games last year and they are the favorites to win the championship that is just crazy.
I don't think the Cavs are title favorites either. That's just bookies taking the money from all the people who will bet on the Cavs because of hype and LeBron. Even if the Cavs get Love, they'd still have an inexperienced team, most of them have never been to the playoffs.
By the way, the Lakers won the title in Magic's first year. He was the no.1 pick. Anyway, I think we should wait at least a full year before talking about the Cavs as the title favorite.
Cavs will not win title next year. They're at best at about 2014 Heat level. That's a sucker bet for the dumb money.
Disagree. Cavs are the instant favorite. Love, Ray Allen etc... The only team who can beat them is the Spurs if they stay healthy.
I put my money on the Clippers.. I think they can get it done this season. Just gotta beat the Spurs and Thunder which I think they can do.
2014 Heat could very well have won the title this year with a little luck - one more great game from Dallas, Parker's hamstring being slightly more injured earlier in the playoffs, etc.
Cleveland does not have a legit big 3... maybe a big 2.5. It takes time even for the Heat. See Mavericks. Count me surprised if they win it in their first year. I do not think it will happen. Stranger things have happened though
Heat were supposed to win it this year, they didn't. Being the favorites means nothing much until you can follow through, it is all pressure.
They're going to be able to play 4 #1 picks. And all picked by themselves. (as opposed to a #1 pick by some other team).