The 2020-21 NBA Season is growing closer to the playoffs as most teams have passed the halfway mark. Ever since the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA Championship last season, they were the favorites for most of the season until recently.
The Lakers have been dealing with recent injury trouble, which includes Anthony Davis and LeBron James missing several games as of late. On the other hand, the Brooklyn Nets and their “Super Team” has been heating up with the additions of LaMarcus Aldridge and Blake Griffin. They now hold the top odds to win this season’s NBA Championship at +225, as per BetOnline.
Anything can happen during the remaining stretch of the NBA season, so the Lakers could easily regain some moment. However, unless something drastic happens, the Nets could continue being the favorites sportsbooks everywhere for the remainder of the season.
2020-21 NBA Championship Odds
Odds via BetOnline as of Wednesday, March 31
- Brooklyn Nets +225
- Los Angeles Lakers +290
- Los Angeles Clippers +575
- Utah Jazz +850
- Milwaukee Bucks +900
- Philadelphia 76ers +1200
- Denver Nuggets +2000
- Miami Heat +2800
- Phoenix Suns +2800
- Boston Celtics +3300
- Dallas Mavericks +5000
- Portland Trail Blazers +5000
- Indiana Pacers +8000
- Toronto Raptors +10000
- Golden State Warriors +15000
- New Orleans Pelicans +15000
- Atlanta Hawks +15000
- New York Knicks +15000
- Memphis Grizzlies +20000
- San Antonio Spurs +20000
- Chicago Bulls +20000
- Charlotte Hornets +25000
- Washington Wizards +40000
- Sacramento Kings +40000
- Orlando Magic +100000
- Cleveland Cavaliers +100000
- Oklahoma City Thunder +150000
- Detroit Pistons +200000
- Minnesota Timberwolves +200000
- Houston Rockets +200000
Lakers No Longer the Favorites
It goes to show you that even through all of these injuries, you can’t count the Lakers out as they still have +290 odds to win the NBA Championship. Before the season began, some experts thought that Davis would have to carry the team with LeBron James needing rests due to a shortened offseason. That couldn’t be farther from the truth as James was carrying the team and even in MVP talks before injuring his ankle in late-March.
However, the Lakers are expected to compete in the Western Conference once Davis and James return. The team recently signed Andre Drummond after the Cleveland Cavaliers bought him out. The center is expected to provide the Lakers with stability at the ‘5’ for the duration of the season.
Nets’ “Superteam” is Finally Paying Off
When the Nets acquired superstar James Harden earlier this season to play with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, a lot of experts wondered if they could make it work. After all, Brooklyn had to give up a lot of pieces to acquire Harden, leaving them with a lot of needs.
However, the Nets have gained more chemistry as the season went on and it’s showing up in the stats columns. Harden has been playing like an MVP when Durant and Irving were forced to miss time. The team also brought in Griffin and Aldridge to help out, which gives them more matchup combinations once the playoffs come.
As of March 31, the team has won eight of their last 10 games and is tied with the Philadelphia 76ers for first place in the Eastern Conference. This hot run has moved their NBA Championship odds to +225 on both BetOnline and Bovada.
Utah Jazz Proving to be a Surprising Championship Threat
After the Utah Jazz blew a 3-1 series lead to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2019-20 NBA Playoffs, it wouldn’t be a shock if someone didn’t think they were a championship-caliber team.
Fast forward to this season and the Jazz have the best record in the NBA at 35-11 as of March 31. A lot of this success is thanks to head coach Quin Snyder being able to turn the team around. Some teams may not have been able to bounce back from a blown 3-1 series lead, but Snyder has gotten the Jazz to buy into his plan. The Jazz have also been outstanding at home, putting up a 15-2 home record as of March 3.
BetOnline has the Jazz at +850 to win this season’s NBA Championship.
Bucks Trying to Gain Momentum
With the Milwaukee Bucks having Giannis Antetokounmpo on their team, it’s no surprise that they’re usually one of the favorites when it comes to being a top team in the Eastern Conference. However, they have only made it to the Eastern Conference Finals once in the previous seven seasons with Antetokounmpo on the roster.
This season, the Bucks have been streaky. There are instances where they’ll win several games in a row, only to go on a losing streak. As of late, they seem to be getting back to being contenders as they sit as a top-3 team in the East. With veterans like Jrue Holiday and Kris Middleton surrounding Antetokounmpo, the Bucks are poised to prove that this is their year to make it to the NBA Championship.
Betting on the NBA Championship and NBA Futures
When you’re ready to bet on the NBA Championship, all you have to do is sign up for a sportsbook of your choosing. If it’s your first time betting, you may see some terms that you don’t understand. Sports betting is a learning process.
Here are a few types of bets you may run into:
- Moneyline: Choosing the outright winner of a game or championship.
- Point Spread: Choosing whether a team will win by a given amount of points or not.
- Over/Under: Betting as to whether or not two teams will combine for more (Over) or less (Under) than a given point total.
- Props: Unique and sometimes fun bets that may have nothing to do with the final outcome of a game.
- Futures: Placing a bet on an event or championship that is still days, weeks or months away from happening.
No matter which type of bet you decide to go with, every option comes with odds. If a number has a positive sign (+) beside it, that means that’s how much money you could win if you bet $100. For example, go on BetOnline and bet $100 on the Lakers to win the championship at +250, you’d win $250!
If a betting line has a negative sign (-), that’s how much money you’d have to bet to win $100. So if the Nets became -300 to win the NBA Championship, you’d have to bet $300 to win $100.
NBA Futures
While all types of sports bets can be fun, futures can be exciting because of how unpredictable they are. Even though the 2020-21 NBA Championship is months away from happening, you can still place bets on who you think will win it today. The added risk is that odds can change as the seasons go on. The Lakers could continue slipping down the rankings or a dark horse team could shock the basketball world. It’s important to remember that there is no such thing as a “sure thing” in sports betting.
When it comes to futures, you should also always do your research. As mentioned before, future odds can change on a day-t0-day basis. Players can get traded or hurt. Teams can go on both hot and cold streaks. All of these things can affect the odds for every team. Even the most seasoned sports bettors conduct research because it helps them make informed decisions. After all, when it’s your money on the line, you want to give yourself the best opportunity to succeed.