The 2019-20 NBA season is well underway, and Los Angeles has become a battleground on the basketball court. On Christmas Day 2019, the NBA featured a showdown between two top teams with the best NBA odds to win the 2019/20 NBA Championship; the Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Last night the Clippers flexed their dominance over the Lakers with their second season win over the other LA-based team. While neither LA team has won anything since 2010, the last time the Lakers won the NBA championship, due to offseason signings, both teams are heavy favorites to win the 2020 NBA Championship.
LeBron James is arguably the best active NBA player playing today; he signed with the Lakers before the 2018/19 NBA season. However, the Lakers did not make the playoffs by merely adding Bron-Bron. During this past offseason, the Lakers traded away most of their young talent and signed Anthony Davis. Davis is considered the best center in the game, and his addition instantly added value to the Lakers championship odds.
The Clippers scored the biggest signing of the 2019 offseason when they locked down Kawhi Leonard with a three-year $130 million-dollar deal. Leonard lead his last team, the Toronto Clippers, to their first franchise NBA Championship while picking up the NBA Finals MVP. The Raptors were able to beat Golden State in 6 games and keep the dynasty from winning three NBA Championships in a row due in part to Kawhi’s extraordinary post-season play.
Adding Kawhi was a significant boost to the Clippers odds, but when they traded for Paul George, the duo was set. George was acquired from the OKC Thunder in a deal that included Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, and the first-round draft picks in 2022, 2024, and 2026.
Last year the Clippers finished the 2019 season with a game count of 42-40, just a little better than the Lakers who finished the season 35-47.
Is Betting on LA a Good Idea
Yes. Both LA teams have really good odds to win the 2020 NBA Championship. While betting on the favorite is not the way to win a bunch of money, it is often the safest bet. Since the Lakers and Clippers are both in the western conference, they cannot meet in the Finals but could battle it out in the conference championship.
What About The Rockets, Nuggets, and the NBA East?
Betting on basketball is much like betting on the NFL, where locking in the best line available is often the key to being very successful. Now that the Warriors have been disbanded, LeBron left the Cavaliers, and Kawhi is no longer in Toronto, the chance of getting a good futures line has increased. Below you will see the current future odds listed at Bovada’s online sportsbook.
2020 NBA Championship Winner
Los Angeles Lakers +275
Los Angeles Clippers +325
Milwaukee Bucks +350
Philadelphia 76ers +800
Houston Rockets +850
Boston Celtics +1600
Denver Nuggets +1800
Utah Jazz +2000
Dallas Mavericks +2500
Miami Heat +2800
Toronto Raptors +3300
Brooklyn Nets +6000
Indiana Pacers +6000
Portland Trail Blazers +6600
San Antonio Spurs +10000
Orlando Magic +15000
Phoenix Suns +15000
Oklahoma City Thunder +20000
Sacramento Kings +20000
Minnesota Timberwolves +25000
New Orleans Pelicans +25000
Detroit Pistons +35000
Charlotte Hornets +50000
Golden State Warriors +50000
Washington Wizards +50000
Atlanta Hawks +75000
Chicago Bulls +75000
Memphis Grizzlies +75000
Cleveland Cavaliers +100000
New York Knicks +100000
Betting on the Rockets, Nuggets, Celtics, or even the Brooklyn Nets could net an outstanding payday if one of those teams were to win the 2020 NBA Championship. With another 50 games left in the NBA season, a lot can happen before the Finals. Right now, the Lakers have a slight edge in the western conference and are a couple of games ahead of the Clippers.
