Following a whirlwind offseason, the Los Angeles Clippers opened up as the favorites to win on the 2020 NBA name. But if you look at the 2020 NBA Championship chances at this time, it is the Lakers who have moved into the role of the favorite.
Which team is your best bet at this point?
* Odds of 12/08/2019.
Once Kawhi Leonard made his choice to join with the Clippers instead of the Lakers, the Purple and Gold needed to move fast to round out the roster. The moves they’ve made are likely what has pushed them ahead concerning the gaming chances (although the Clippers are still preferred at +350 in 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 who can set around the arc, and that’s vital. Given LeBron James’ ability to break down defenses, the cast needs to include perimeter shooting.
The signing of Cousins was also a wise pickup, because he did not cost the team very far and has a high upside. Cousins had an up and down year with the Warriors but is still a former All-Star. As a cheap starter or a bench guy who will step into begin and give Anthony Davis nights away, this is a fantastic pickup.
The struggle using overhauling a roster is really that we do not understand how the pieces will all fit together. Ordinarily, it’s not something you worry about with James as he elevates the play of everyone around him. But that did not happen last time as the team collapsed.
It’s very probable that James makes guys like Green, Bradley, Cousins, Rondo and Daniels boost. At the exact identical moment, when this group is the odds-on favored, you’ve got to be thinking about the downside risk and there is some here.
Don’t forget that there’s an entirely new coaching team. That increases the element of uncertainty. For all these reasons, I would not bet on this team to win it all. Not at this price.
The Clippers look like a better bet to win it as they have a lot more roster consistency. Not only is head coach Doc Rivers back, but this is a group that brings back Patrick Beverley,” Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell, that had been the center of the year’s apparatus. Landry Shamet and Ivica Zubac also spent half the year with the group.
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are stellar defensive players as well as Beverley, you simply know that this group will be a lock-down unit . Together with all the Lakers, that side of the courtroom gets you wonder.
Of both Los Angeles teams, I would sooner wager the Clippers compared to the Lakers.
Two groups that I love are both in +800: both the Houston Rockets and Philadelphia 76ers.
The Rockets have two MVP-caliber gamers Russell Westbrook along with James Harden. And remember they nearly beat the Golden State Warriors in every one of the last couple of years from the play with Chris Paul. How much better are they with Westbrook? They also made good moves, obtaining Austin Rivers and Tyson Chandler.
In terms of the 76ers, they are a tiny wild card but in my head they have the best starting lineup in the Eastern Conference. This was a group which was a basket off from beating the Toronto Raptors at Game 7 of the next round of the match.
The Western Conference playoffs will be a gauntlet whereas the East is much easier. Philadelphia may be great enough to overcome whomever they face, but with a much easier path to the last is critical to winning this prop. That is why I like Philadelphia in +800, Also.
Let’s have fun and keep it civil.
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