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2020-21 NBA Title Odds: Lakers, Bucks Betting Favorites to Win Championship
December 18, 2020
The Los Angeles Lakers are the odds-on-favorite to repeat as NBA champions during the 2020-21 season.
In the latest odds released by FanDuel Sportsbook, the Lakers are a +270 favorite (bet $100 to win $270) to win the championship. Behind the Lakers are the Milwaukee Bucks (+550), Brooklyn Nets (+600) and Los Angeles Clippers (+650).
There's a significant gap in the odds between those top four teams and everyone else in the NBA. The Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat, who were the last two teams the Lakers defeated en route to the title last season, are tied for the fifth-best odds at +1600.
The Nets are arguably the biggest boom play in the NBA for the 2020-21 season. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving combined to score 33 points in their first preseason game together on Sunday. It marked Durant's first appearance in an NBA game since Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals on June 10, 2019.
Outside of the top group, betting odds suggest there's not any significant difference between the second-tier playoff contenders. There are seven teams with title odds ranging from +1600 to +2500, including the 2020 Eastern Conference finalist Boston Celtics.
The Golden State Warriors are an interesting play at +2500. They should certainly be better this season if Stephen Curry and Draymond Green remain healthy, but Kelly Oubre Jr. has a difficult task of filling in for Klay Thompson.
If all of those young players for the New Orleans Pelicans, led by Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, take a step forward this season, they could be a sleeper at +8500.
On the low end of the totem pole, bookmakers are anticipating a three-way battle for the worst team in the NBA with the Detroit Pistons (+24000), Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks (both at +250000) getting the longest odds to win the 2020-21 championship.
All of the questions about the 72-game season will start to be answered when the regular season tips off on Tuesday.
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