Why not? is a feature on The Touchback that looks at bets with longer odds that could plausibly happen. This doesn’t mean these wagers are locks. They are simply ones where you can justify the risk. Today, we look at betting on the Philadelphia 76ers to win the NBA championship.
It seems like ages ago, but the odds on the Philadelphia 76ers to win the NBA championship were 6/1, only a little more than what the Milwaukee Bucks were getting. Of course, they had opened the season by winning five straight games and seemed like legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference.
Fast forward to today and the odds on the Philadelphia 76ers to win the NBA championship have ballooned to +3000. Some sites go as high as +3300 while others are lower with FanDuel placing their odds at +2700. Long story short, no one believes in the Sixers if the NBA season does start up again.
Read more: Do we really want to live in a world where the Clippers are NBA champs?
It makes sense on the surface. Philadelphia is sixth in the East and have been disjointed all season. However, it looked like they could have been rounding into form before Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid both suffered shoulder injuries. Prior to that, the 76ers won four straight games including a solid victory over a full-strength Los Angeles Clippers team.
Embiid had returned to the court before the league went on hiatus and it looks like Simmons will be ready when games resume, so health won’t be an issue. Their record against the other elite teams in the Eastern Conference this season doesn’t instill confidence, but isn’t a major red flag either:
- 3-1 versus the Boston Celtics
- 1-2 versus the Milwaukee Bucks
- 1-2 versus the Toronto Raptors
We know Philadelphia can go blow-for-blow with the Raptors in a seven-game series after last year. Are they capable of taking down the Bucks and then one of the Los Angeles teams in the NBA Finals? They certainly have the talent to do so. And at +3000, it is certainly a good value bet.
Let’s remember, the Sixers started the season 20-7 thanks in part of playing some good defense. You can’t coach being tall and long, two traits that can make a difference in the playoffs.
With the odds for the Philadelphia 76ers to win the NBA championship standing at +3000, why not make the bet? It’s certainly more rewarding than wagering on the Bucks (+240), Lakers (+270) or Clippers (+340), three teams the Sixers have beat this season.
