The Houston Rockets are getting +1400 odds to win the 2019 NBA Championship.
Houston is 33-24 and in fifth place in the crowded West.
The Rockets have won six of their last 10 games.
The Houston Rockets have long been viewed as the Golden State Warriors’ biggest hurdle to defending their title. Houston currently has +1400 average odds to win the 2019 NBA Championship, while the Warriors are at -220 across a number of top online sportsbooks. Is there any value betting on the Rockets?
2019 NBA Championship Odds
| Team | 2019 NBA Championship Odds (02/16/19) |
|---|---|
| Golden State Warriors | -230 |
| Toronto Raptors | +750 |
| Boston Celtics | +950 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +950 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | +1100 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +1100 |
| Houston Rockets | +1300 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +1700 |
| Denver Nuggets | +2000 |
| San Antonio Spurs | +7000 |
*Click on the link in the table above to see odds for all 30 NBA teams
Rockets Are a Different Team Compared to Last Year’s Unit
It seems to be a forgotten memory that the Houston Rockets were a half away from going to the NBA Finals last year. They were up 3-1 and had a 17-point lead in Game 6, and were up by 11 at the half of Game 7. Going into this season, they were expected to be the Warriors’ top competition.
If the playoffs were to start today, the Rockets would be the No. 5 seed. Whether they’re good enough to beat the Portland Trail Blazers, Oklahoma City Thunder, or Denver Nuggets in a series without home-court advantage is a question mark. Challenging the Warriors seems like it’s wishful thinking at this point.
2026 NBA MVP Award Odds Tracker
Read More
Rockets Are at +1400 to Win NBA Championship
The Rockets entered the season at +430 to win the NBA Championship, but a lot has gone wrong for them. Injuries have been a big factor as Clint Capela and Chris Paul have missed big chunks of the season. At the same time, a lot of the front office moves the team made in the offseason have flopped.
It turns out the team really misses Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute as they were key to the team’s defense last season. Bringing Carmelo Anthony proved to be a disaster while James Ennis, Brandon Knight, and Marquese Chriss were all whiffs.
The Rockets were sixth in points allowed last season – uncharacteristic for a Mike D’Antoni coached team. They are currently 14th at 111.1 this season.
At the same time, their offense has tumbled. The Rockets were no worse than fourth in points per game over the last three seasons; they’re at 11th now. They’ve become extremely unbalanced as James Harden is left to do it all with little support from the cast.
Can they get healthy, gel with new guys like Kenneth Faried and Austin Rivers, and make a run? Yes, it’s possible. But at this point, it seems highly unlikely.
You also have to factor that +1400 means that the Rockets not only have to beat the Warriors, but also beat a quality Eastern Conference foe in the NBA Finals. That’s another layer to this bet you have to keep in mind.
Which Team Offers the Best Value?
If you’re looking for good value, there are a few teams offering plenty of it. The Denver Nuggets are a young team that’s getting better as the season progresses. They are just two games back of the Warriors for the top spot in the West and they just got Isaiah Thomas back in the lineup. At +2000, they’re worth a look.
But keep in mind that teams from the East are now strong enough to challenge. The Milwaukee Bucks are second in points per game and tied for seventh in defense. Coach Mike Budenholzer is a phenomenal coach and a Gregg Popopvich disciple. Maybe he knows how to frustrate the Warriors.
The Milwaukee Bucks are second in points per game and first in defensive rating.
The Bucks have a superstar in Giannis Antetokounmpo, another All-Star in Khris Middleton, plenty of depth and plenty of shooting (second in three-point attempts per game).
And maybe most importantly, they would have home-court advantage in the NBA Finals as of right now. For a team that’s +950, they seem like a much better bet right now than the Rockets.