What Were the Odds for the 2017 NBA Championship and Who Defied Them?

I still remember the 2017 NBA season like it was yesterday - the anticipation, the predictions, and ultimately, the stunning outcome that left basketball fans worldwide in awe. When we look back at what the odds were for the 2017 NBA Championship and who ultimately defied them, it's a story that reminds us why we love sports - the unpredictability, the drama, and the sheer will of underdogs to overcome seemingly impossible circumstances.

Before the season even started, the Golden State Warriors were the overwhelming favorites, with most sportsbooks giving them championship odds around -200. Having just come off that historic 73-win season and adding Kevin Durant to their already stacked roster, it felt almost unfair. I remember talking with friends about how the season might as well be handed to them on a silver platter. The Cleveland Cavaliers, despite being defending champions, were distant second favorites at around +350, while teams like the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets were considered long shots at best. The betting landscape painted a clear picture - this was the Warriors' championship to lose.

What fascinates me about championship odds isn't just the numbers themselves, but the stories they tell about expectations versus reality. I've always been drawn to underdog stories, probably because I've always rooted for teams that weren't supposed to win. There's something special about watching a team overcome the odds, about witnessing that moment when statistics and predictions give way to human determination and skill. The 2017 NBA playoffs gave us exactly that kind of narrative, though not in the way most people expected.

The Warriors did end up winning the championship, but the journey there was far more complicated than the odds suggested. They faced multiple challenges throughout the playoffs that made their -200 preseason odds seem almost naive in hindsight. What struck me most was how close several series actually were, despite what the final results might indicate. The Western Conference Finals against the Spurs, for instance, saw Golden State pushed to their limits in ways that few had predicted.

This reminds me of another basketball scenario that demonstrates how odds can be defied - the PBA matchup between TNT and San Miguel. The two were instrumental in the Tropang Giga's hot start as the grand slam-seeking TNT opened a 61-41 lead at the half against the Beermen before surviving a frenetic fourth quarter comeback by San Miguel to prevail in the hotly-contested match, 99-96. Watching games like these always reinforces my belief that no matter what the odds say, the game still needs to be played on the court. The numbers might tell one story, but the players write another with every possession, every shot, every defensive stop.

When we examine who truly defied the odds in the 2017 NBA landscape, we have to look beyond just the championship outcome. Teams like the Boston Celtics, who weren't even considered serious contenders at the start of the season, managed to reach the Eastern Conference Finals. The Washington Wizards pushed the Celtics to seven games in a thrilling second-round series that nobody saw coming. Even individual players like Isaiah Thomas, who averaged nearly 29 points per game that season despite being the last pick in the draft, embodied what it means to defy expectations.

What many casual fans don't realize is how much championship odds fluctuate throughout the season. Injuries, trades, and unexpected winning or losing streaks can completely reshape the betting landscape. I recall checking the odds periodically throughout that 2017 season and being surprised at how much they changed. The Rockets, for instance, saw their championship odds improve dramatically as James Harden emerged as a legitimate MVP candidate, while teams like the Clippers saw their odds worsen as injuries piled up.

The Warriors ultimately proved the oddsmakers right by winning the championship, but the path there demonstrated why basketball will always be more than just numbers on a spreadsheet. Their 16-1 playoff record was historically dominant, yet several of those games could have gone either way. Game 3 of the Finals, for instance, saw the Cavaliers leading for most of the game before Kevin Durant's iconic three-pointer with 45 seconds left ultimately sealed the victory. Moments like these are what make championship odds so fascinating to me - they set the stage, but the players determine the final act.

Looking back, I think the real story of the 2017 NBA Championship odds isn't that the Warriors won, but how many teams came closer to challenging them than anyone predicted. The narrative of inevitability surrounding Golden State was strong, but the reality was far more competitive and compelling. This is why I still find myself drawn to examining championship odds years later - they capture a moment in time, a snapshot of expectations that often gets rewritten by the unpredictable nature of sports.

As we continue to see in basketball leagues worldwide, from the NBA to international competitions like the PBA, the relationship between odds and outcomes remains one of the most intriguing aspects of sports. Whether it's TNT holding off San Miguel's furious comeback or underdog teams pushing favorites to their limits, these moments remind us that while odds can inform our expectations, they can never capture the heart and determination that ultimately decide who raises the championship trophy.

By Heather Schnese S’12, content specialist

2025-11-16 09:00