It’s easy to forget that the Toronto Raptors are the 2019 defending champions. After the departure of Kawhi Leonard, they quickly became an afterthought and underdog, with most folk giving the crown to either of the L.A. teams.
But, according to Vegas, they’re favored to win the whole thing.
The Raptors have been hot bet to win the NBA title this season, with 22% of all bets over placed over the past week coming in on Toronto, according to Oddschecker.
“The Raptors made history last year against all odds, so it is perfectly understandable to see sports bettors backing them to repeat the feat,” Oddschecker spokesperson Pete Watt wrote in a press release.
“Whilst their chances remain remote, the activity of the past week has prompted some oddsmakers to cut Toronto’s odds.”
Though the Raptors still remains at +2400 at some books, indicating a 4% probability of repeating as champions, some books have moved Toronto’s odds as far as +1500, indicating a 6.25% chance of winning the title.
It seems like more and more people are believing that the Raptors will go on to win the title this season.
And while it seems like a pipe dream, they have done pretty well so far, posting a 46-18 record in the East. They’re also currently 2nd in the standings.
Without Kawhi, there’s no telling how they’ll fare in the Finals. But with Siakam, Gasol, and Lowry, they’ve got more than enough talent to turn some heads this year.
