NBA Playoffs 2020: Odds, Schedule and Key Factors for Championship Matchup

For the first time, the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat will meet in the NBA Finals. It will also be the first time that the NBA title will be decided in October, without fans in attendance and at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World, all aftereffects of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, there will still be some familiar faces contesting the NBA Finals. Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra led the team to back-to-back NBA titles in 2012 and 2013. And the star player on those teams? LeBron James, who this year has led the Lakers to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010.

It's no surprise that James will have the opportunity to play for another championship. He featured in the NBA Finals every year from 2011-18, winning three titles during that span.

Here's a look at the schedule and odds for this year's NBA Finals, followed by some key factors for the series.

NBA Finals Schedule

Game 1: Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET, ABC

Game 2: Friday at 9 p.m. ET, ABC

Game 3: Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC

Game 4: Oct. 6 at 9 p.m. ET, ABC

Game 5 (if necessary): Oct. 9 at 9 p.m. ET, ABC

Game 6 (if necessary): Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC

Game 7 (if necessary): Oct. 13 at 9 p.m. ET, ABC

NBA Title Odds

Los Angeles: -370 (bet $370 to win $100)

Miami: +290 (bet $100 to win $290)

Odds obtained via FanDuel

Can LeBron Guide Another Franchise to an NBA Title?

In any NBA Finals involving James, his play and leadership are going to be key factors in the series. Not only is he among the all-time greats, but he also brings a ton of postseason experience, something several of his Lakers teammates don't have. That includes star forward Anthony Davis, who will be making his first career appearance in the NBA Finals.

At 35, James is continuing to put up big numbers. He's averaged 26.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 8.9 assists in 15 games in these playoffs. In Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals against the Denver Nuggets, James had a triple-double, collecting 38 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists.

So while James is starting to get up there in age, he's showing no signs of slowing down. And it could be difficult for the Heat to slow him down, even though Spoelstra is familiar with the star, having coached him for four seasons.

Miami has played solid defense this postseason, and it utilized a 2-3 zone during the Eastern Conference Finals that produced some positive results against the Boston Celtics. But it's going to be hard to contain a Los Angeles offense featuring James and Davis using that game plan, as the duo couldn't be stopped by some of the best Western Conference teams this postseason.

James' leadership has proved to be valuable so many times over the years, and that's something the Heat may not be able to match during this series.

Davis, Adebayo Set to Battle Down Low

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

A main reason for the Heat making it to the NBA Finals has been the play of 23-year-old center Bam Adebayo. He's averaging 18.5 points and 11.4 rebounds in 15 games this postseason, and he had a huge showing in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, tallying 32 points and 14 rebounds to lift Miami to a series victory.

Now, Adebayo must go up against another one of the most exciting big men in the NBA in Davis. Through the Lakers' first 15 playoff games, Davis is averaging 28.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per contest while shooting 57.1 percent from the field. Adebayo is a strong defender, but stopping Davis from scoring at a high rate is the toughest task he could face.

If the Heat continue to utilize their 2-3 zone defense, Adebayo will be in the middle of the court, awaiting Davis and looking to keep him from scoring. That matchup could be crucial in determining which team gets the edge in this series.

Neither Davis nor Adebayo has played in the NBA Finals before. One of them is going to end the season as a champion. It should be fun to watch these two post players take their games to the highest level.

Will Herro Continue to Be Difference-Maker Off Bench?

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

When the Heat played the Lakers during the regular season, Tyler Herro didn't make much of an impact. He scored seven points each time Miami faced Los Angeles, both losses on Nov. 8 and Dec. 13. But that was a long time ago, and a lot has changed—particularly for Herro.

In the playoffs, the 20-year-old rookie guard has been a breakout performer. Herro is averaging 16.5 points in a bench role. His best showing came in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, when he had 37 points on 14-of-21 shooting (including 5-of-10 on three-pointers) to lead Miami to victory.

"He has a confidence," Spoelstra said after that game, according to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). "He has a fearlessness that is uncommon. But he's humble enough to work, to be coachable, to take the mentorship from the veteran players that we have on our team, and he just continues to gain more confidence as we go."

Now, Herro will be playing on the largest stage in the NBA. And if he continues to shoot well and provide the Heat with a big boost off the bench, he could end up making a difference in the series. Because when Herro and Miami's other top outside shooters get hot, that's when the team is the most difficult to beat.