NBA Finals NBA Finals 2020: Heat vs. Lakers Game 5 Vegas Odds, Prop Bets and Predictions Jake Rill Senior Writer I October 8, 2020 Comments. How to Read the NBA Futures Odds Market. The 2020-21 NBA regular season started on Tuesday Dec. 22 and this year's campaign will be a 72-game schedule, opposed to 82 games. The NBA Playoffs will likely begin in April and the NBA Finals are expected to be decided in June.

• Las Vegas Odds 2020 Nba Finals
• Who Is Favored To Win Nba Championship 2020

With the 2020-21 season underway, it’s time to dig into the latest NBA Vegas odds and find out how all 30 teams stack up in their bids for a championship.

Yes, preseason optimism is something fans of almost any NBA squad can talk themselves into, yet unlike other major sports leagues, the highest level of pro basketball tends to be top-heavy. Superstars drive title hopes, and the reigning champion Los Angeles Lakers are clear favorites to repeat.

With LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading the way, the Lakers could well hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy again. Let’s see the latest betting lines on the Purple and Gold, along with all the other NBA futures odds, courtesy of VegasInsider.com.

NBA Vegas odds: 2020-21 championship futures

NBA Vegas odds: Top 2020-21 championship contenders

Los Angeles Lakers (+230)

These Lakers got better during the offseason, acquiring first- and second-place finishers for Sixth Man of the Year in Montrezl Harrell and Dennis Schroder, not to mention a former Defensive Player of the Year in center Marc Gasol.

Harrell provides a unique big man off the bench with more athleticism and scoring ability than anyone L.A. had in its frontcourt rotation last season. He averaged 18.6 points per game for the Clippers in 2019-20. As for Schroder, he’s another ball-handler who can help LeBron work off the ball, and gives coach Frank Vogel more lineup versatility.

Whatever Gasol can provide is icing on the cake. If he’s anywhere near top form, Gasol and Davis would make one heck of a defensive duo in the paint.

It’s easy to see why the Lakers are so heavily favored. They might be worth betting now while the odds are this long.

Milwaukee Bucks (+550)

Giannis Antetokounmpo is staying, and he has a legitimate two-way guard in Jrue Holiday to play alongside him, something he’s never had before. Milwaukee fans have to be doing backflips.

Between Holiday, Giannis and a third All-Star in Khris Middleton, the Deer may have the best trio of perimeter defenders in the Association. That’s not even to discuss what they each bring to the offense. All three can make plays off the dribble, and Holiday in particular is a true lead guard who can take the pressure off Giannis to have to make every play in crunch time.

Don’t sleep on the firepower Milwaukee boasts off the bench, either. Stretch 4 Bobby Portis and guards Bryn Forbes and D.J. Augustin all provide instant offense.

If Donte DiVincenzo can take another big step forward like he did in Year 2, there’s little reason to bet against the Bucks at least making it to the NBA Finals, if not winning.

Las Vegas Odds 2020 Nba Finals

Los Angeles Clippers (+550)

Losing Harrell to the Lakers hurts the Clips, who were already undersized and lacking offense off the bench. However, Serge Ibaka bailing from Toronto to reunite with Kawhi Leonard is a big deal.

Ibaka gives this Los Angeles squad rim protection it didn’t have before, not to mention a matchup problem on offense due to his ability to stretch the floor. Harrell does most of his damage around the rim, whereas Ibaka can step out to the 3-point line and knock down clutch shots.

The big wild card here is Tyronn Lue. Having won a championship with LeBron in Cleveland, Lue steps in for fired coach Doc Rivers. Those are big shoes to fill, and King James isn’t around this time.

Although there’s nothing to indicate Kawhi will leave the Clippers, he does have a player option for next season. If things go south, especially early on, L.A. could crumble and make the Lakers’ playoff path in the West easier to navigate.

Brooklyn Nets (+600)

Kyrie Irving toying with and insulting the media. Kevin Durant coming off a torn Achilles. A first-time head coach — and Hall of Fame player at Irving’s position — in Steve Nash.

What could possibly go wrong? A lot actually, but then again, if the Nets figure this thing out, these +600 odds to win the championship will seem overly generous.

Irving and Durant are quite volatile personality types who just so happen to have downright historic skill sets. Perhaps no one in basketball history has better handles than Irving, or can finish around the rim so ambidextrously. Durant may be the biggest matchup nightmare and purest, most versatile scorer there’s ever been.

Combine those elements with returning core pieces like Spencer Dinwiddie, Jarrett Allen, Joe Harris and Caris LeVert, and you’ve got a great-looking Brooklyn squad on paper. It all comes down to how well Nash can manage the locker room.

NBA Vegas odds: Best dark-horse value bets

Denver Nuggets (+2000)

Being slotted eighth after reaching the NBA’s version of the Final Four last postseason is some serious disrespect for Denver.

Beyond the ascent of point guard Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic establishing himself as the prototype for a modern center, Michael Porter Jr. is a real X-factor.

The 22-year-old who fell in the 2018 draft because of a back injury is proving to be a big hit in Denver. Porter’s per 36-minute averages from this past season? 20.4 points and 10.3 rebounds. His shooting splits were 50.9/42.2/83.3. Those are bonkers numbers from an efficiency standpoint.

In a four-game stretch during the Orlando bubble seeding games, Porter saw the biggest minutes of his young pro career, and responded with 29.2 ppg. If he’s who we think he is, look the heck out for the Nuggets.

Dallas Mavericks (+2200)

How far can Luka Doncic take the Mavs, and how soon? Already an MVP-caliber superstar at age 21, those questions account for one of the league’s most fascinating storylines.

A compelling argument can be made that if Doncic hadn’t suffered a sprained ankle, and Kristaps Porzingis wasn’t dealing with his own injury problems, Dallas would’ve knocked off the Clippers in the opening round of the bubble playoffs. As it stood, the Mavs still pushed L.A. to six games when they had no business doing so.

Doncic can create open shots for his teammates in ways so few players can. His size, strength and knack for drawing contact to get to the free throw line are bettered by no one besides James Harden. The difference is, Doncic hasn’t shown himself to be a selfish player.

If Dallas’ relatively unheralded supporting cast can do enough around him and Porzingis is healthy, these Mavs may well be ready to contend for a title now.

Portland Trail Blazers (+3500)

This line is rightly moving, going from +5000 before the season started and shrinking already through the first week. It really should, because Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum might be the NBA’s best backcourt right now.

Lillard lifted his game to another level in the bubble, yet the Blazers’ defensive limitations were on full display when the Lakers dominated them in the postseason’s opening round. To be fair, center Jusuf Nurkic was inconsistent, because he was knocking the rust off after returning from a serious leg injury. That was a big part of the equation.

Portland made a huge defensive upgrade in landing dynamic wing Robert Covington in a trade with Houston. While Covington can also knock down treys at a decent clip (35.6% for his career), his real value is on defense thanks to his length, ability to switch and guard about any position on the floor. He may prove to be the most underrated acquisition for any playoff contender of the 2020 offseason.

New Orleans Pelicans (+7000)

Is this the 2021 playoffs’ version of the 2020 Miami Heat? It’d be a bunch of young studs banding together on a rapid ascent, led by second-year phenom Zion Williamson, reigning NBA Most Improved Player Brandon Ingram and a fiery, NBA Finals-experienced coach in Stan Van Gundy.

Ingram was among numerous ex-Lakers who were involved in the Anthony Davis trade. How poetic would it be if this long-shot group were the ones to upend the defending champs?

As far as dark horses go, the Pelicans aren’t a supreme stretch. If Zion plays big minutes and stays healthy, he could well dominate in a way never seen before. His blend of athleticism, strength for his size and playmaking ability, along with defensive upside, make Zion a true 1-of-1 NBA player.

Landing center Steven Adams to start at center will upgrade the Pels’ struggling defense. Adams should also help the locker room as a great mentor to sleeper breakout candidate Jaxson Hayes, and a key veteran leader to pair with ace sharpshooter J.J. Redick.

The 2019 NBA offseason might just have been the craziest in league history. Stars were traded, big name free agents selected their destinations, and rosters were completely shaken up. Now that all the dust has settled, where does everyone land? NBA fans and analysts are looking to answer who won big in free agency, what teams lost out, and which team looks like the next NBA Finals champion.

This article will first provide a table with the Vegas odds for each NBA team’s chance of winning the 2020 championship. This table will demonstrate which teams made the biggest jumps, and which teams fell the most, over the summer.

The article will then continue with a list of the top ten teams with the best odds of winning it all next season. How each team performed last season and what players each team lost and added this summer will give context as to the current roster of each team. From these, and statistical analysis, conclusions about each championship-contending team can be drawn.

Lastly, I will give my predictions for each team in the upcoming 2020 NBA season.

Vegas Odds To Win 2020 NBA Finals

The table below shows the Vegas odds of winning the 2020 NBA Finals for each NBA team on May 28, 2019 and July 17, 2019. These two dates show the difference in expectation for each team before the free agency period started and now that it has ended. The numbers in the table below represent how much someone would win if they bet $100 on each given team. This means that the lower the number in the table, the higher the team’s odds are of winning the championship.

Largest Jumps: Clippers, Lakers, Rockets, 76ers, Jazz, Heat
Largest Falls: Warriors, Celtics, Thunder, Knicks

Who Is Favored To Win Nba Championship 2020

East

1. Milwaukee Bucks (+650)
   2018-19 Finish: 1^st in East, 60-22, Lost in Eastern Conference Finals
   Key Losses: G Malcolm Brogdon, F Nikola Mirotic
   Key Additions: C Robin Lopez, G Wesley Matthews
   2020 Outlook: With the exception of Malcolm Brogdon, the Bucks resigned most of their core and picked up Robin Lopez as a backup center. Giannis Antetokounmpo will have his eyes set on another MVP title. Will he have enough help? I project the Bucks to go 58-24 this season, losing to the 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals.

2. Philadelphia 76ers (+950)
   2018-19 Finish: 3^rd in East, 51-31, Lost in Eastern Conference Semis
   Key Losses: F Jimmy Butler, G JJ Redick, G TJ McConnell
   Key Additions: G Josh Richardson, C Al Horford
   2020 Outlook: Losing Jimmy Butler and JJ Redick seems like a big hit, but replacing them with guys like Josh Richardson and Al Horford makes the pain a little easier. The 76ers still have the most talented starting lineup in the East, led by Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. I think Philly will overcome last season’s heartbreak and make the NBA Finals in 2020. I project them to go 55-27 in the regular season, but lose in the championship to the Clippers.

3. Boston Celtics (+2300)
   2018-19 Finish: 4^th in East, 49-33, Lost in Eastern Conference Semis
   Key Losses: G Kyrie Irving, G Terry Rozier, C Al Horford, F Marcus Morris
   Key Additions: G Kemba Walker, C Enes Kanter, F Romeo Langford, G Carsen Edwards, F Grant Williams
   2020 Outlook: Boston is another team that has lost a lot since the end of last season. Their roster will be completely restructured, yet still provide hope to the Celtic faithful. Kemba Walker will be a star in the green and white, and he is surrounded by young talent. Although I expect Kemba to have a standout season, I think inexperience will cripple the Celtics. I project they will finish the regular season at 47-35.

4. Brooklyn Nets (+2300)
   2018-19 Finish: 6^th in East, 42-40, Lost in First Round
   Key Losses: G D’Angelo Russell, F DeMarre Carroll, C Ed Davis, G Allen Crabbe
   Key Additions: G Kyrie Irving, F Kevin Durant, C DeAndre Jordan, F Wilson Chandler
   2020 Outlook: The Nets had a busy offseason resulting in almost a completely new roster. And that’s not a bad thing. They lost a young star in D’Angelo Russell and a lot of key role players, but what they got in return was unmatched. The additions of three stars like Kyrie, KD, and DeAndre Jordan, all in one offseason, is something to be amazed at. Obviously the Nets won’t hit their full potential until Durant is back to full health, but I think they still have a good squad. I project them to finish the regular season at 48-34.

West

1. Los Angeles Clippers (+330)
   2018-19 Finish: 8^th in West, 48-34, Lost in First Round
   Key Losses: F Danilo Gallinari, G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
   Key Additions: F Kawhi Leonard, F Paul George, F Maurice Harkless
   2020 Outlook: The Clippers were simply the biggest winners this offseason. A 2019 playoff team added two of the top-ten players in the league, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, without sacrificing too much of their existing roster. The Clippers will hands-down be the best defensive team in the NBA, led by returning lockdown defenders Pat Beverly and Montrezl Harrell. The Clippers are my early pick to go all the way, finishing the season at 62-20 and winning the NBA Finals.

2. Los Angeles Lakers (+480)
   2018-19 Finish: 10^th in West, 37-45, Missed Playoffs
   Key Losses: G Lonzo Ball, G Josh Hart, F Brandon Ingram
   Key Additions: F Anthony Davis, C DeMarcus Cousins, G Danny Green, G Avery Bradley, G Quinn Cook
   2020 Outlook: The Lakers took part in the biggest trade this offseason when they sent most of their young core packing for Anthony Davis. Losing so much young talent hurts, but it’s clear the Lakers are going all out for a ring in 2020. The core of Lebron James, Anthony Davis, and Kyle Kuzma is among the best in the league. They also are surrounded by veterans with experience like DeMarcus Cousins and Danny Green. I project the Lakers to go 58-24 this season, losing to the Clippers in the Western Conference Finals.

3. Houston Rockets (+750)
   2018-19 Finish: 4^th in West, 53-29, Lost in Western Conference Semis
   Key Losses: G Chris Paul
   Key Additions: G Russell Westbrook
   2020 Outlook: The Rockets haven’t changed too much since last season. They resigned the main portion of their core and will still be led by perennial MVP-candidate James Harden. Except for one thing, they traded out Chris Paul for Russell Westbrook. This trade brings more energy, youth, excitement, and chemistry to the Rocket backcourt. I project the Rockets to go 60-22 next season.

4. Golden State Warriors (+1500)
   2018-19 Finish: 1^st in West, 57-25, Lost in NBA Finals
   Key Losses: F Kevin Durant, F Andre Igoudala, C DeMarcus Cousins, G Shaun Livingston, F Jordan Bell, G Quinn Cook
   Key Additions: G D’Angelo Russell, C Willie Cauley-Stein, F Glenn Robinson III, G Jordan Poole
   2020 Outlook: No team lost more this offseason than the Golden State Warriors. But no team had more to lose. While the Warriors will miss Durant, Igoudala, Cousins, and Livingston, their core of Curry, Klay, and Dray remains intact. Factor that in with the addition of rising star D’Angelo Russell and young big man Willie Cauley-Stein and the Warriors will be just fine in 2020. I project them to finish at 51-31.

5. Utah Jazz (+1600)
   2018-19 Finish: 5^th in West, 50-32, Lost in First Round
   Key Losses: F Derrick Favors, G Kyle Korver, G Ricky Rubio
   Key Additions: G Mike Conley, F Bojan Bogdanovic, C Ed Davis
   2020 Outlook: The Jazz may be considered a sleeper pick for the 2020 Finals, but they’re a pretty strong dark horse. They lost some old veterans this offseason, but their already playoff-caliber roster only improved this summer. They picked up a star point guard in Mike Conley to create one of the most talented backcourts in the league, along with Donovan Mitchell. They also added Bojan Boganovic to round out the starting five with Joe Ingles and Rudy Gobert. I project the Jazz to finish 51-31 next season.

6. Denver Nuggets (+2300)
   2018-19 Finish: 2nd in West, 54-28, Lost in Western Conference Semis
   Key Losses: G Isaiah Thomas, F Trey Lyles
   Key Additions: F Jerami Grant, C Bol Bol
   2020 Outlook: The Nuggets, unlike most teams on this list, had an uneventful offseason. When you’re the second-best team in your conference, I guess that’s alright. They practically lost nobody from their 54-win team last season, while adding a solid all-around player in Jerami Grant. Grant’s defense, paired with Gary Harris and Jamal Murray’s stellar offense, will create a balanced supporting cast for star center Nikola Jokic. I project the Nuggets to go 55-27 in 2020.

Sources

www.lineups.com

www.espn.com

www.cbssports.com

About the Author

Connor just completed his sophomore year at Purdue University, where he is pursuing a double major in actuarial sciences and applied statistics, with a minor in management. He has had a passion for both sports and statistics since a very young age, and enjoys discovering all the new information statistics can give us about sports. Here is a link to his LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-wolf-bb3775186/.