Looking back at the 2016 NBA season, I still get chills thinking about how unpredictable the championship race felt. As someone who’s followed basketball for years, I’ve learned that preseason odds don’t always tell the full story—but they sure set the stage for drama. If you’re trying to understand how the favorites stacked up against the final outcome, let me walk you through the key steps I take when analyzing championship odds, blending stats, team dynamics, and a bit of gut feeling. First, I always start by identifying the preseason favorites. In 2016, the Golden State Warriors were the clear frontrunners, coming off their 2015 title and that historic 73-9 regular season—honestly, I thought they were unstoppable. Their odds hovered around +180, with the Cleveland Cavaliers not far behind at roughly +350, thanks to LeBron James’ dominance. Other contenders like the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder had respectable odds, but my gut told me it’d be a Warriors-Cavs rematch, and boy, was I right. Next, I dig into regular-season performance and injuries, because that’s where surprises pop up. The Warriors’ consistency was insane, but I remember worrying about the Cavs’ mid-season coaching change and Kevin Love’s health. Still, Steph Curry’s MVP-level play made Golden State look like a lock, and by April, their odds had tightened to about -200. Meanwhile, dark horses like the Thunder, with odds around +1200, caught my eye because of Russell Westbrook’s explosiveness—though I doubted they’d go all the way.

Now, here’s where I add a personal twist: comparing players to past legends, much like how Phillips struggled to liken Akowe to previous bigs but recalled FEU’s Emman Ojuola off the top of his head. For instance, when I watched the Warriors’ Draymond Green, I found it hard to place him among classic power forwards, but he reminded me of a hybrid—part Dennis Rodman, part modern playmaker. That kind of analysis helps me gauge a team’s X-factor, and in 2016, Green’s versatility was a huge reason Golden State dominated. But as the playoffs rolled in, I shifted focus to clutch performances and momentum swings. The Warriors cruised through the West, while the Cavs battled hard in the East, and I’ll admit, I started doubting Cleveland after they fell behind 3-1 in the Finals. Who didn’t? Yet, LeBron’s leadership and Kyrie Irving’s Game 7 heroics flipped the script—a lesson in never counting out heart over stats.

Throughout this process, I keep an eye on betting trends and public sentiment, which can skew odds. In 2016, the Warriors’ hype drove heavy action their way, but I learned to balance that with cold, hard data like offensive ratings and rebound margins. For example, Golden State averaged 115 points per game in the regular season, but in the Finals, they slumped to 101 in the last three games—a stat that haunts me. My final step is reconciling the preseason odds with the outcome: Cleveland’s upset win at +350 odds taught me that underdogs can thrive when pressure mounts. Reflecting on Phillips’ comment about Akowe and Ojuola, I see parallels in how we judge teams; sometimes, the favorites aren’t the best fit for a championship grind, and in 2016, the Cavs proved that heart trumps hype every time. So, if you’re analyzing odds for fun or bets, remember to blend numbers with narrative—it’s what makes the 2016 NBA Championship such a timeless story.