The 2018 NBA season kicks off tonight with a double-header on TNT, starting with the Boston Celtics at Cleveland Cavaliers, airing at 8:00pm ET, followed by a Western Conference showdown between the new-look Houston Rockets and the defending champion Golden State Warriors.
Each of the four teams in action on the NBA's opening night have title aspirations, but it's the Warriors who enter the season as heavy favorites.
According to the Westgate Superbook, Steph, Klay, KD, Draymond and co. have 5/12 odds of winning the NBA championship, ahead of teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Each of the teams made strides this offseason to put themselves in a position to dethrone the champs, but which title contender has the best chance of actually getting it done?
This off-season the Cavs traded away Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and two future draft picks, including the Brooklyn Nets' unprotected first rounder in 2018. Not to mention, the Cavs signed LeBron's buddy Dwyane Wade, who will start for the team while J.R. Smith comes off the bench along with Tristan Thompson. Isaiah Thomas may not play a game until 2018 as he recovers from a hip injury, but Vegas Sportsbooks are confident that when he returns the Cavs have the best chance to unseat the Warriors.
The Celtics, in addition to Kyrie Irving, added Gordon Hayward this off-season and used the third overall pick in the NBA Draft on former Duke star Jayson Tatum.
Out West, the Houston Rockets made a deal for nine-time All-Star point guard Chris Paul, while the Oklahoma City Thunder went out and traded for two All-Stars of their own, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony. Meanwhile, San Antonio didn't make any big splashes this offseason. Instead, the Spurs brought back most of their roster that won 61 games last season, which was second in the NBA trailing only the Golden State Warriors.
So which team has the best chance of upsetting the Warriors in the 2018 season?
