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2 long shots who can win the NBA title

Michael Reaves / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Nets are officially in a tier of their own in the 2020-21 NBA title race as +160 favorites. But what about the teams nobody's talking about?

The postseason field features plenty of long shots, with nine teams currently listed at 100-1 odds or longer. Here are the two I feel offer the best value.

Odds to win the 2020-21 NBA title

Team Odds
Nets +160
Lakers +450
Clippers +600
76ers +600
Jazz +600
Bucks +900
Suns +1800
Nuggets +2800
Heat +4500
Mavericks +5000
Trail Blazers +6500
Warriors +10000
Knicks +12000
Hawks +13000
Celtics +13000
Grizzlies +25000
Wizards +25000
Hornets +30000
Pacers +30000
Spurs +50000

Knicks (+12000)

Getting 120-1 on arguably the stingiest defense in the field will certainly do. The unit finished the regular season No. 1 in points per game, field-goal percentage, and 3-point percentage allowed, becoming the first team in the league to lead all three categories since, ironically, the 1992-93 Knicks.

They have a favorable draw in the first round against the Hawks - the Knicks won all three regular-season meetings by an average of 8.3 points per game - and should continue raking for bettors after clocking out as the most-profitable team in basketball during the regular season (45-26-1, 63.4%).

Grizzlies (+25000)

I mentioned earlier this week that any bettor interested in the Warriors +10000 to win the title may as well take the Grizzlies instead.

Memphis has the exact same expected win percentage (.538) and both a better offensive and overall net rating, yet can be had at a much heftier price tag. The franchise also managed to slip into the play-in despite drawing the seventh-toughest schedule in the NBA and finishing No. 6 in man-games lost to injury.

While it'll take just short of a miracle to run the table, the Grizzlies are favored in the play-in opener and avoid the Lakers. There are worse bets to be made than this one at 250-1.

Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.

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