NBA championship odds sure have been flipped on their head to start the season. Not only have the Golden State Warriors’ chances dwindled mightily since the injury of Stephen Curry, but the San Antonio Spurs, who weren’t considered heavy favorites to begin with, have tumbled down the odds list after going 4-3 to start the season,
According to online betting sites like Winclub88, the Spurs are now in the 16th slot at +6000 to win the Larry O’Brien trophy for the 2019-20 season.
The Spurs’ early struggles have mostly been due to the slow start of all-star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who is averaging just 16 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. He has been held to single digits in two of his last four games, coming against the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers, who have the interior presence to keep Aldridge uncomfortable and unable to knock down his turnaround fadeaway.
Shooting guard DeMar DeRozan has done well here and there, but he’s also had his share of rough games, including a two-game stretch in California. When both Aldridge and DeRozan are struggling, it doesn’t give the Spurs much chance for success.
They also have not been able to knock down three-pointers with any regularity, but there have been some bright spots.
Patty Mills and Derrick White are providing energy and some extra scoring punch off the bench, and although he is limited to a minutes restriction of five minutes per quarter, Dejounte Murray has look solid with a ton of potential. Once his limitation is lifted, he’ll be one to look out for as he gets regular starter minutes and has more time to produce.
It’s still very early in the season and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is likely going to continue to tinker with lineups, so they have plenty of time to climb up the Western Conference rankings.
