After a whirlwind offseason, the Los Angeles Clippers opened as the favorites to win against on the 2020 NBA title. But when you have a take a look at the 2020 NBA Championship odds it is the Lakers who’ve moved into the character of the favorite.
Which team is your best bet at this point?
Odds as of 12/08/2019.
After Kawhi Leonard made his choice to sign with the Clippers instead of the Lakers, the Purple and Gold needed to move quickly to round out the roster. The moves they have made are likely what’s pushed them forward in terms of the gaming chances (even though the Clippers are still favored at +350 at BetOnline).
The Lakers picked up Danny Green, Quinn Cook, Troy Daniels, Jared Dudley, Avery Bradley and DeMarcus Cousins. They now have a lineup of players that can set around the arc, and that is crucial. Given LeBron James’ capacity to break down defenses, the cast should include powerful perimeter shooting.
The signing up of Cousins was also a shrewd pickup, because he did not cost the team very far and still has a high upside. Cousins had an up and down year with the Warriors however is a former All-Star. As a cheap starter or a seat guy who will step in to start and give Anthony Davis nights away, this was a great pickup.
The problem using overhauling a roster is that we do not know how the pieces will all fit together. Normally, it’s not something you worry about with James as he elevates the play of everyone around him. However, that didn’t happen last season as the group collapsed.
It’s very probable that James makes guys love Green, Bradley, Cousins, Rondo and Daniels boost. At exactly the same time, when this group is the odds-on favored, you have to be thinking about the downside risk and there’s some here.
Don’t forget that there’s a totally New York Knicks coaching team. That just adds to the element of uncertainty. For all these reasons, I would not bet on this team to win it all. At this price.
The Clippers seem like a better bet to win it all as they have a lot more roster consistency. Not only is head coach Doc Rivers back, this is a team which brings back Patrick Beverley,” Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell, that had been the core of last year’s apparatus. Landry Shamet and Ivica Zubac spent half the season with the team.
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are stellar defensive players and with Beverley, you simply know this group is going to be a lock-down unit defensively. With all the Lakers, that side of the court makes you wonder.
Of the two Los Angeles teams, I would earlier wager the Clippers compared to the Lakers.
Two groups whom I love are both at +800: both the Houston Rockets and Philadelphia 76ers.
The Rockets have two MVP-caliber gamers Russell Westbrook and James Harden. And don’t forget, they nearly beat the Golden State Warriors at each of the previous couple of years in the match with Chris Paul. How much better can they be with Westbrook? They also made good moves, acquiring Austin Rivers and Tyson Chandler.
In terms of the 76ers, they’re a bit of a wild card but in my head , they have the very best starting lineup in the Eastern Conference. This was a group that was a basket off from beating the Toronto Raptors at Game 7 of the second round of the playoffs.
The Western Conference playoffs are going to be quite a gauntlet whereas the East is far simpler. Philadelphia might be good enough to overcome whomever they face, but using a much easier route to the last is important to winning this prop. That’s why I enjoy Philadelphia at +800, Also.
Let us have fun and keep it civil.
Lakers Overtake Clippers as 2020 NBA Title Favorites at Bovada