{"id":95640,"date":"2024-09-13T18:31:02","date_gmt":"2024-09-13T22:31:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=95640"},"modified":"2026-03-11T00:18:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T04:18:52","slug":"nba-odds-breaking-down-the-favorites-in-the-southwest-division","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/09\/13\/nba-odds-breaking-down-the-favorites-in-the-southwest-division\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA Odds: Breaking Down the Favorites in the Southwest Division"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Put on your cowboy boots because we are heading to Texas (and Memphis\/New Orleans)! The NBA Southwest Division is primed to be one of the most competitive in the NBA next season. Although the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/09\/10\/nba-odds-breaking-down-the-favorites-in-the-pacific-division\/\" target=\"_self\">division<\/a> is the home to the defending Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks, the NBA betting odds believe winning this <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/09\/10\/nba-odds-who-will-win-the-nba-southeast-division\/\" target=\"_self\">division<\/a> will be a battle. The NBA Southwest Division is brimming with young talent. Let\u2019s dive into the Southwest Division odds and go over the possible contenders.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>NBA Odds: Breaking Down the Favorites in the Southwest Division<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3><b>Dallas Mavericks: Reigning Western Conference Champions<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although it was relatively unexpected, the Mavericks made it to the 2024 NBA Finals. Riding on the back of <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/doncilu01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Luka Doncic<\/a>, they had their best playoff run since<a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/n\/nowitdi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Dirk Nowitzki<\/a>\u2019s 2011 championship. Dallas won the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/09\/10\/nba-odds-breaking-down-the-favorites-in-the-central-division\/\" target=\"_self\">division<\/a> last year, starting the season off with +175 odds to do so. The Mavs won 50 games last season and entered the playoffs as the fifth seed before their NBA Finals run.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Jayson Tatum predicted a rematch for the 2025 NBA Finals: Boston Celtics vs Dallas Mavericks.  <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/1tfllnlcoy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/1tfllnlcoy<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Landon Thomas (@sixfivelando) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/sixfivelando\/status\/1834098095556006073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">September 12, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This offseason, the Mavericks roster got a huge boost with the signing of <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/thompkl01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Klay Thompson<\/a>. They lost <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/hardati02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tim Hardaway Jr.<\/a>, a staple of the Mavs roster, but overall the switch is an improvement. The Mavericks hope that a full season of having <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/washipj01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">P.J. Washington<\/a> and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/gaffoda01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Daniel Gafford<\/a> on the roster, combined with Thompson\u2019s Hall of Fame shooting, will keep them atop the NBA Southwest Division standings. Their odds of winning the division are +165.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Memphis Grizzlies: Don&#8217;t Forget About Us<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Memphis Grizzlies took a step back last season. Controversial NBA star <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/moranja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ja Morant<\/a> missed part of the season from suspension and the rest with injury. He only played in nine games in 2023-24. Arguably the second-best player on the Grizzlies roster, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/banede01.htmlhttps:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/banede01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Desmond Bane<\/a>, also missed half the season due to injury.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">.<a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/wojespn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@wojespn<\/a> has the latest on Ja Morant\u2019s 25-game suspension. <\/p>\n<p>(via <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FirstTake?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@FirstTake<\/a>) <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/cQnvzRkVvx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/cQnvzRkVvx<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; ESPN (@espn) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/espn\/status\/1669724351564857344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">June 16, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, the Grizzlies roster is looking for redemption. They won only 27 games last season, and the expectations inside and outside their locker room are that they will return to playoff contention this season. They won the NBA Southwest Division back-to-back times before injuries got them last season, therefore the odds of them winning again are short. They are +230 to win the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/09\/12\/nba-odds-breaking-down-the-favorites-in-the-atlantic-division\/\" target=\"_self\">division<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>New Orleans Pelicans: <\/b><b>NBA Southwest Division Sleepers<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Pelicans have one of the most talented rosters in the NBA. Although <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/09\/06\/brandon-ingram-rumors-intensify-after-missing-minicamp\/\" target=\"_self\">question marks<\/a> still linger about <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/i\/ingrabr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Brandon Ingram<\/a>\u2019s contract status, the Pelicans are coming into the 2024-25 NBA season with high expectations. They added a defensive point guard to complement <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/willizi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Zion Williamson<\/a> and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mccolcj01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">CJ McCollum<\/a>\u2019s scoring abilities and have one of the deeper benches in the league.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Pelicans roster when healthy is formidable. If the Pelicans finally get a full healthy year from <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/09\/02\/top-5-nba-power-forwards-heading-into-the-2024-25-season\/\" target=\"_self\">Williamson<\/a>, the sky&#8217;s the limit. At +320 to win the NBA Southwest Division, there is some value to taking them for your NBA bet today.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Zion Williamson has reportedly lost over 25 pounds since December \ud83d\udcaa <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/wFaWZ9YemK\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/wFaWZ9YemK<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/YahooSports\/status\/1825553645146091649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">August 19, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3><b>Houston Rockets: Solid but not Great<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Houston Rockets have turned things around. After a relatively short rebuilding phase, the Rockets roster is filled with young and veteran talent. They went 41-41 last season and were one of the better surprises of the first half of the season.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/griffaj01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> AJ Griffin<\/a> joined the team this offseason and is now <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/09\/13\/why-rockets-aj-griffin-preparing-to-walk-away-from-nba\/\" target=\"_self\">potentially quitting<\/a> basketball. If <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/greenja05.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jalen Green<\/a> and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/sengual01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alperen Sengun<\/a> can continue to improve, expect another solid season from the Rockets. However, to compete in the NBA Southwest Division, you need to be a lot better than solid. Don\u2019t take any NBA bets on the Rockets winning the division at +600.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>San Antonio Spurs: Waiting on Wemby<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/wembavi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Victor Wembanyama<\/a> is already great. Wembanyama won Rookie of the Year last season, and it seems like he is already ready to impose his talent on the NBA. Wembanayama will once again headline the San Antonio Spurs roster, but they\u2019ve made some offseason moves that will likely improve the team.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Picking up veterans like <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/barneha02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Harrison Barnes<\/a> and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/paulch01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chris Paul<\/a> will certainly solidify the Spurs roster. The Spurs only won 22 games last year, so expect them to take a step forward this season. Even so, taking them to win the NBA Southwest Division at +3400 is only worth it if you make a parlay with a Wembanyama MVP bet. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Put on your cowboy boots because we are heading to Texas (and Memphis\/New Orleans)! The NBA Southwest Division is primed to be one of the most competitive in the NBA next season. Although the division is the home to the defending Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks, the NBA betting odds believe winning this division will [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5284,"featured_media":95659,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[49087,1608,30,31,32,62,33,34],"tags":[1698,1822,3256,70,406,1133,3723,498,4669],"class_list":["post-95640","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball-betting","category-basketball","category-mavericks","category-rockets","category-grizzlies","category-nba","category-pelicans","category-spurs","tag-betting","tag-ja-morant","tag-jalen-green","tag-klay-thompson","tag-kyrie-irving","tag-luka-doncic","tag-nba-betting","tag-southwest-division","tag-victor-wembanyama"],"modified_by":"Michael Kovacs, ADMIN","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95640","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5284"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=95640"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95640\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":181062,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/95640\/revisions\/181062"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/95659"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=95640"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=95640"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=95640"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}