NBA’s best odds: Lakers to win NBA Finals (+255)
Yeah, I know I just said you should always take the field, but the odds don’t make it worth your while if you’re betting on a Finals winner. If you want any value betting on this, you have to pick one team out of the Lakers (+255), Clippers (+336), or Bucks (+250). I’ll take the Los Angeles Lakers.
I mentioned before that I’m mostly betting on teams that are good away from home and can win when shots aren’t falling. No one checks those boxes as confidently as the Lakers can. They hold the league’s best road record (26-6) and have the top seed in the Western Conference despite being in the bottom half of the NBA in 3-point percentage (35.5%) and bottom third in 3-point attempts (31.4/game).
Beyond what the stats say, the Lakers have the best star combination in the NBA and a veteran roster with a lot of guys who have deep playoff experience. The playoffs may take place in a bubble at Disney World, but it’s still the playoffs. And in the playoffs, multiple stars and elite defense win more often than not.