Steve Starr
- Bodog’s updated odds have the Lakers as a -210 lock to win the 2020 NBA Championship
- The Heat (+425) jumped out to a 1-0 series lead on the Celtics on Tuesday night
- The Nuggets (+825) still aren’t getting much respect after upsetting the Clippers in 7 games
While Michael Jordan ruled the airwaves in the early days of the pandemic, it is LeBron James who will be adding to his GOAT resume this fall.
After the Clippers’ latest franchise embarrassment, King James looks to have a clear runway to his fourth-career NBA championship.
Let’s look at the latest title odds at Bodog and evaluate whether it’s worth betting on anyone but the Lakers.
2020 NBA CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS
| NBA Team | Odds at Bodog |
| Los Angeles Lakers | -210 |
| Miami Heat | +425 |
| Boston Celtics | +450 |
| Denver Nuggets | +850 |
CELTICS OR HEAT?
As predicted here, the Heat had no problem with the overrated Bucks in Round 2 and after their 117-114 overtime-win over the Celtics on Tuesday night, now only need three more wins to pay out the +750 bet to win the Eastern Conference that we recommended back in August.
In Game 1 against Boston, Jimmy Butler once again proved clutch, scoring big baskets late in the 4th quarter and overtime. Bam Adebayo also won the Internet (and the game) with a huge block on Jayson Tatum to seal the game.
THIS ANGLE 🤩@Bam1of1 with the GAME-SAVING BLOCK for the @MiamiHEAT! #PhantomCam
Game 2: Thurs. – 7pm/et, ESPN pic.twitter.com/Z3K6xhvKFb
— NBA (@NBA) September 16, 2020
Unless Kemba Walker can right the ship in a hurry (he is shooting 28.3% from the field and 3-for-22 from 3-point range in his past three games) and provide the Celtics with secondary scoring they need, Miami should advance against their heated rivals.
LAKERS IN A LANDSLIDE
Denver (+850) is now an incredible 6-0 in bubble elimination games, coming back from 3-1 deficits against both the Jazz and Clippers to reach their first Western Conference Finals since 2009.
Nikola Jokic averaged 24.4 points, 13.4 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.4 blocks on 51-35-83 shooting over the series, closing out Game 7 with a spectacular triple-double. Ascending superstar Jamal Murray is running just as hot, pouring in 40 points in the 104-89 victory over Doc Rivers’ club.
LeBron James & Anthony Davis have combined for 542 PTS, 212 REB & 129 AST in their first 10 playoff games together. The only other duos in NBA History to eclipse 500+ PTS, 200+ REB & 100+ AST in first 10 playoff games are:
Oscar Robertson – Jack Twyman
Elgin Baylor – Jerry West pic.twitter.com/hdh5jxlgxG— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) September 13, 2020
Still, we’re dubious that Denver can upend a Lakers (-210) team that had little trouble with Portland or Houston, winning each series in 5 games.
The 35-year-old James is averaging 26.6 points, 10.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists per game in the playoffs despite playing just 34.2 minutes per game, and running-mate Anthony Davis has proven to be the perfect recruit, averaging 27.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.5 blocks this postseason.
Throw “playoff Rondo” into the mix — Rajon averaged 10.6 points, 7.0 assists, and 4.6 rebounds in the second round against the Rockets — and suddenly the Purple & Gold are impossible to beat.
Expect the Lakers to “win one for Kobe” as they cruise to their 17th championship in franchise history.
Best Bet: Lakers (-210) at Bodog.
