The Milwaukee Bucks are the favorite to win the 2024 NBA Finals. With the preseason in the NBA coming to a close, the Bucks are likely to be the favorites when the first games of the regular season tip off in a matter of days. Milwaukee is currently priced at +350 with bet365 in the sportsbook’s NBA futures section. Here’s a look at all the 2024 NBA Finals Betting Odds for the Top 12 favorites heading into the regular season along with a recommendation.

To Win Outright NBA Championship 2023/24

1. MIL Bucks +350
2. BOS Celtics +400
3. DEN Nuggets +450
4. PHX Suns +600
5. GS Warriors +1200
6. LA Lakers +1200
7. LA Clippers +1600
8. PHI 76ers +2200
9. DAL Mavericks +1800
10. MIA Heat +2000
11. MEM Grizzlies +2500
12. CLE Cavaliers +2800

Damian Lillard: Overrated for the Milwaukee Bucks

The big change with the Bucks is that they acquired Damian Lillard. However, there is a question as to whether they acquired him too late. Lillard is 33 years old and he hasn’t appeared in all 82 games in any season since 2014/15. He did have one season where he appeared in 80 games but generally, Lillard can be expected to miss at least 10% of the season for one reason or another.

Last season, Lillard appeared in just 58 games, and therein lays a potential problem for Milwaukee. Lillard is injury prone and that’s something that only gets worse with age.

Will things be different for him this upcoming season? There is reason to be optimistic. He won’t have to carry such a heavy load while playing for Milwaukee.

Portland, over the years, offered him some support for secondary scorers but never enough to make them contenders. In Milwaukee, there is depth, Lillard is not even the best player on his team for once, and that could lead to better minutes management for him. If the Bucks can find a way to keep his minutes around 30 per game, then they will be in great shape. In recent seasons, he has averaged about 36 minutes per game.

What to Watch For With the Milwaukee Bucks

The opening games of the season are important to watch from this perspective. Milwaukee backers will want to see the Bucks winning by big spreads and Lillard riding the pine as much as possible during the late parts of such games.

Milwaukee’s starting center, Brook Lopez, is a potential weak point as well. He had a good season last season but Lopez is now 35 years old. Another one of their starters, Khris Middleton, is 32 years old. This Milwaukee team simply does not have the youth that is usually needed to stay energetic for the long season that’s ahead. Even with the acquisition of Lillard, the Bucks are a team that should be third favorites, behind Boston and Denver. This Bucks team will probably only go about 51-31 this season.

When it comes to Denver, bettors should beware of the championship hangover. Teams that win a title sometimes regress the very next season. A loss of motivation can follow achievement and Denver achieved everything last season.

Boston Celtics: 2024 NBA Finals Betting Odds

Will this be Boston’s year? The Celtics, who usually make smart moves with their roster, signed Kristaps Porzingis in the offseason. That will reduce the minutes for Al Horford for sure, something that Boston needed to do. You can win with veterans but they better serve a team in support on the second string.

Porzingis is 28, Jayson Tatum is 25, Jaylen Brown is 26, and Derrick White is 29. There is a championship window open there for absolute sure.

Jrue Holiday is the elder starter at 33. If he shows himself to be out of his prime, then you know some kind of change will eventuate in Boston.

Look for the Celtics to have all the energy at the business end of this upcoming season. At +400 (bet365), they are my pick to win the NBA title and they will be on top of my NBA Power Rankings that are coming up.