As always, these rankings are strictly about the regular season. This isn’t about who I think will win the title in June — it’s about who’s playing the best basketball right now. Championship odds are courtesy of Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook, and the numbers don’t lie. Let’s count them down.
10. Milwaukee Bucks (+4000, 40-1 to win the title)
Milwaukee edges into the top 10 after a solid, if unspectacular, 6–4 start. What gives them the nod over other .600 teams like Miami, Minnesota, and Philly is strength of schedule — the Bucks have already beaten four teams .500 or better, more than the other three combined.
Their recent collapse against Houston exposed some of their flaws: a late-game over-reliance on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s individual creation, and defensive matchups that couldn’t handle Kevin Durant in switches. But let’s not overreact. The Bucks are still solid on both ends — rim pressure, spacing, and athleticism around their star are all there. They just have to learn how to close.
9. New York Knicks (+1300, 13-1)
The Knicks have found their offensive rhythm. Over their four-game win streak, they’ve posted a 131 offensive rating, with six players in double figures and three topping 20 points per game.
The key? Movement and pace. After ranking near the bottom in pass frequency to start the year, New York is now fifth in the NBA. They’re finally executing what they promised in training camp — getting out in transition. Their transition scoring has nearly doubled from 18.6 to 34 points per game during this stretch.
Tom Thibodeau’s group looks balanced, energized, and cohesive — and they’ve quietly climbed to third in the East.
8. Chicago Bulls (+10000, 100-1)
Chicago’s offense has cooled off, and their defense has cratered. After a 5–0 start, they’ve lost three of four, giving up a 120 defensive rating over that stretch.
They can still run — averaging 43 transition points per game — but it’s transition or bust right now. In the halfcourt, they’re barely clearing 0.9 points per possession, and when you pair that with their leaky transition defense (allowing 29 points per game the other way), it’s easy to see why the early momentum has fizzled.
The Bulls need more balance — right now, their identity is built on volatility.
7. Cleveland Cavaliers (+750, 7.5-1)
The story in Cleveland is simple: Darius Garland is back, and everything looks better.
I’ve said it before — Garland is the engine of this offense. His ability to get into the teeth of the defense and make quick reads transforms everything. Even while shaking off rust, the Cavs have a 131 offensive rating in Garland’s 54 minutes this season.
Add in Donovan Mitchell’s late-game brilliance — like his takeover against Chicago — and this team’s top-tier defense, and Cleveland looks every bit like a top-four team in the East again.
6. Houston Rockets (+1000, 10-1)
Don’t look now, but Houston’s sitting at 6–1 in their last seven and leading the league in offensive rating.
The Kevin Durant–Alperen Şengün pick-and-roll has become their bread and butter, and it’s borderline unguardable. Switch it? Durant isolates your small. Hedge or trap? Şengün and Amen Thompson eat you alive on the short roll.
The Bucks found that out the hard way — there’s just no good answer. And with Dorian Finney-Smith soon to fill that corner spot instead of Josh Okogie, this offense could somehow get even cleaner.
5. San Antonio Spurs (+3000, 30-1)
It got ugly for a minute — back-to-back losses to the Lakers and Suns — but Victor Wembanyama and co. are already problem-solving.
They’ve adjusted by running Wemby from the elbows, surrounding him with smart shooting spacing. Julian Champagnie and Harrison Barnes in the corners, De’Aaron Fox back in the mix creating clean looks, and Stephon Castle living in the dunker spot.
The result: two straight wins, including a statement victory over Houston. San Antonio’s starting to look comfortable again — and that’s bad news for everyone else.
4. Denver Nuggets (+550, 5.5-1)
Business as usual.
Denver hasn’t faced a murderers’ row yet — the schedule’s been soft — but they’re the only team in the NBA ranked top three in both offense and defense.
Tim Hardaway Jr. has been a perfect fit — 17 points, five threes, +24 in 24 minutes against Indiana — but Cam Johnson still looks tentative. The real test starts now: a brutal three-game road trip through Sacramento, L.A., and Minnesota.
We’ll learn a lot about Denver this week.
3. Los Angeles Lakers (+1500, 15-1)
Four teams sit at seven wins, but the Lakers get the edge for one reason: strength of schedule. They’ve played the league’s fourth-toughest slate and have five wins against .500+ teams, tied for most in the NBA.
Saturday’s loss to Atlanta was a classic trap game — they weren’t locked in defensively, got sliced up in transition, and never matched the Hawks’ intensity. But that’s been rare.
Here’s what should scare the rest of the league: despite having just 13 combined games from LeBron, Luka, and Austin Reaves out of a possible 30, L.A. still owns the third-best halfcourt offense in basketball. When healthy, this team’s floor is high and their ceiling is championship-level.
2. Detroit Pistons (+6000, 60-1)
Yes, you read that right.
Detroit has been that good. They just beat the Sixers behind a suffocating defensive trio — Ausar Thompson, Ron Holland, and Javonte Green — and have the third-best defense in the league through the early going.
More importantly, Cade Cunningham is playing like an MVP candidate: 29 points, 11 assists, 61% true shooting over his last six. The Pistons look balanced, poised, and legitimately scary on both ends.
They’re not just a fun young team anymore — they’re a problem.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (+230, 2.3-1)
For the second straight week, OKC sits on top.
They stumbled against Portland, then responded by dismantling Sacramento and closing out Memphis behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s late-game shotmaking. There’s even some friendly banter brewing — Chet Holmgren joked postgame that he told Shai to stop settling, only for Shai to hit two step-back daggers to shut him up.
This team’s chemistry is elite, but so is the context: OKC’s had the second-easiest schedule in the league, and just one of their last nine wins has come against a .500 team. Still, they’ve taken care of business — and reinforcements are coming.
If they get through the Warriors and Lakers this week (both banged up), they could be 16–1 in two weeks. Then we’re not just talking about power rankings — we’re talking about history.
Offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida in FL. Offered by Seminole Hard Rock Digital, LLC, in all other states. Must be 21+ and physically present in AZ, CO, FL, IL, IN, NJ, OH, TN or VA to play. Terms and conditions apply. Concerned about gambling? In FL, call 1-833-PLAYWISE. In IN, if you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-9-WITH-IT.
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1‑800‑GAMBLER (AZ, CO, IL, NJ, OH, TN, VA)
