As the 2017-18 NBA season is set for tip-off, many teams will be jostling for position in the highly competitive Western Conference. Outside of the defending NBA champion Golden State’s supremacy across the league as a whole, the West has been as wild as it can get over the past few seasons. Golden State may once again be classed as the shoe-in, but there is plenty of value to go around on some of the alternatives. Here is a breakdown of the top favorite, prime contenders, and dark horse to win the Western Conference based on futures betting odds from BetOnline.

Top Valued Favorite

If there was a team that was geared to potentially dethrone the Golden State Warriors as Kings of the West, it would have to be the Houston Rockets. The Rockets made a huge acquisition in the off-season when they picked up all-NBA point guard Chris Paul. CP3 was brought into Clutch City to complement the game’s best shooting guard by many in James Harden. Harden had shifted to a point guard role in the 2016-17 season to facilitate the offense but it was discovered he was best staying as the #2. CP3 will be there to simply feed Harden and some of the other talented personnel that comprise Houston’s deep bench. At a return of +700, this is the best value on the board when it comes to conference favorites outside of Golden State. The San Antonio Spurs are offered at an identical price but offer less upside.

Top Valued Contender

There is a lot to like about the Oklahoma Thunder. The Thunder could have arguably had the biggest off-season of all teams in the NBA by adding not one, but two superstars to their starting ensemble. In the off-season, the Thunder picked up forwards Paul George and Carmelo Anthony. George has the versatility to play shooting guard or even power forward and thus you will see the duo on the floor alongside 2017 MVP Russell Westbrook all at the same time. The thought of such an event is frightening and the trio can quickly turn the tide in this conference if their chemistry is catalytic. The Thunder are priced at +800. The Minnesota Timberwolves deserve honorable mention at +2000 be that sky is the limit if they can harness their young talent effectively.

Top Valued Longshot

Immediately upon gazing at the field, the market longshots consist of Dallas +12500, Memphis +12500, Utah at +10000, Sacramento at +25000, and the Phoenix Suns at +25000. All of these teams are tough sells with limited upside be that their franchises as a whole are in disarray. The best longshot of the bunch is the Portland Trailblazers at +10000. Rip City is known for a renowned home court advantage, this can be instrumental if the Blazers were to secure a playoff berth in the top-four. Such an event is likely a difficult one to fathom but securing a playoff berth as a whole is not. When looking at the constituents of the Northwest Division, it is feasible that the Blazers can do better than expected. First, the Oklahoma Experiment could prove to be a disaster. Last year, Russell Westbrook carried the team on his back. Now he has to share that load with not one, but two stars that can steal his limelight. Denver is a team that lives and dies by its offense and that can prove to be very dangerous. Utah has a low ceiling and an even lower floor and Minnesota has been overhyped for several seasons now. On the contrary, the Blazers are a well-oiled machine in that they have one of the best scoring duos in the league in point-man Damian Lillard and shooter C.J McCollum. Thus, the most equity of the longshots is with Rip City.

2017/2018 Western Conference Championship Team Odds as offered at BetOnline

• Dallas Mavericks 12500
• Denver Nuggets 5000
• Golden State Warriors -275
• Houston Rockets 700
• Los Angeles Clippers 6600
• Los Angeles Lakers 8000
• Memphis Grizzlies 12500
• Minnesota Timberwolves 2000
• New Orleans Pelicans 6600
• Oklahoma Thunder 800
• Phoenix Suns 25000
• Portland Trail Blazers 10000
• Sacramento Kings 25000
• San Antonio Spurs 700
• Utah Jazz 10000