What of the remaining franchises? Who has the best chance to upset the “favorites?”

Not the rebuilding teams with +100,000 odds: Portland Trail Blazers, Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Hornets, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards, Brooklyn Nets and Utah Jazz. The Raptors stand out as the best of the bunch, but they’re not title contenders.

The San Antonio Spurs (+15,000) leapfrogged the Atlanta Hawks (+34,000)—it’s too early for Victor Wembanyama, and the Hawks haven’t been able to reproduce their early success with Trae Young.

The post-George LA Clippers (+8,000) are no longer considered a contender, but the Houston Rockets (+8,000) have real talent and the trade bait to climb this season. Counting out the Golden State Warriors (+4,500) with Stephen Curry seems obtuse, and the Miami Heat (+5,500) seem to get to the Finals every other season.

The Memphis Grizzlies (+4,000) are hoping to rebound after a lost year. The Orlando Magic (+4,000), Cleveland Cavaliers (+5,000) and New Orleans Pelicans (+4,500) are viable playoff teams. The Sacramento Kings (+5,500) just missed the postseason.

But how are the Indiana Pacers (+5,500), who advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, so low? Yes, they were swept by the Celtics, but after two hard-fought series against the Bucks and Knicks?

The Pacers’ 16th overall ranking seems a significant slight and the one most likely to exceed oddsmakers’ expectations.