NBA Finals 2016: Championship Odds and Predictions for Remaining Teams

There are only five teams still in the hunt for the 2016 NBA championship, and that number will be four following Sunday’s Game 7 between the Toronto Raptors and the Miami Heat. 

LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers were quick to book a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals, defeating the Atlanta Hawks in four games. The Cavs have had plenty of time to recover since clinching the series on May 8. They await the winner of the Raptors-Heat series.

The Golden State Warriors, favorites for the Larry O’Brien Trophy, are still in the hunt. They have a tough task ahead of them, however, in the Oklahoma City Thunder, who dispatched a 67-win San Antonio Spurs team in six games.

Here’s a look at the updated championship odds for the remaining playoff teams, followed by a quick preview and prediction of what’s to come in this postseason.

Odds are according to Odds Shark and updated as of Sunday, May 15, at 11 a.m. ET.

Predictions for Remaining Teams

Judging by the long odds, the outcome of Sunday’s contest between the Raptors and Heat is practically inconsequential—at least as far as the NBA championship is concerned. Both teams are heavy underdogs to win the 2015-16 season title. 

Not only have they taken turns beating each other up in this ugly (yet thrilling) series, but they will be forced to take on a well-rested Cavaliers squad that finished atop the Eastern Conference standings this season.

Despite playing without center Hassan Whiteside since the third game of the series—to say nothing of Chris Bosh’s absence with blood clots since February—the Heat have still managed to force a Game 7 and seem poised to pull off the upset on the road on Sunday.

Goran Dragic’s slasher mentality propelled him to 30 points in Miami’s 103-91 win in Game 6, complementing a fine all-around performance from 34-year-old backcourt mate Dwyane Wade. 

Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan combined for 59 points in Game 6 on 20-of-48 shooting from the field (41.7 percent). Those shooting numbers wouldn’t usually be something to get excited about, but they count as hopeful in a postseason that has seen some truly dreadful shooting from the duo. 

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The Raptors frontcourt has struggled to supply any offense, with DeMarre Carroll slumping and Bismack Biyombo starting in …

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