The Cleveland Cavaliers enter the NBA playoffs with the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, but Las Vegas considers them the favorites in to win the championship.
The Cavs were listed Thursday at 9-4 odds by the Westgate SuperBook and as the consensus choice among Vegas bookmakers to emerge with their first NBA title in June, according to ESPN.com. Cleveland opens the playoffs against the Boston Celtics on Sunday.
The Golden State Warriors, who posted the best regular-season record in the league, were next at 5-2.
Following the Warriors were the defending champion San Antonio Spurs at 4-1 and the Atlanta Hawks, who finished the regular season with the best record in the Eastern Conference, at 12-1.
The Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers were at 14-1.
The Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets were the longest shots at 200-1.
The Cavs have been the favorite since forward LeBron James announced in July that he was returning to Cleveland after four years with the Miami Heat. Last June, before James’ declaration to leave Miami, the Cavs’ odds were 60-1 to win the 2015 title.
One of the surprise teams in this year’s playoffs is the Bucks, who were listed at 300-1 last summer after posting the league’s worst record in 2013-14. Another postseason long shot is the Nets, who in late March were at 750-1, according to William Hill, to claim the title.