One week into the new calendar year, the Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers are the top two favorites on the NBA futures board, according to William Hill. The Lakers (29-7) and Clippers (26-12), the top two teams in the Western Conference, are both 3/1 odds to win the 2020 NBA Championship.
The Milwaukee Bucks (32-6), the best team from the Eastern Conference, aren’t far behind at 7/2 odds to win the NBA crown.
The Boston Celtics (25-9) are the second-best team in the East, despite losing Gordon Hayward and Kemba Walker to various injuries this season. Yet, the Celtics are 20/1 odds.
2020 NBA Title Odds
LA Lakers 3/1
LA Clippers 3/1
Milwaukee Bucks 7/2
Philadelphia 76ers 8/1
Houston Rockets 9/1
Denver Nuggets 18/1
Utah Jazz 19/1
Boston Celtics 20/1
Miami Heat 25/1
Toronto Raptors 25/1Odds courtesy of William Hill
The defending champion, Toronto Raptors (24-12), are 25/1 odds to repeat. The Raptors have the fourth-best record in the East.
Beast from the East and Feel the Heat
If the playoffs were to begin today, the eight teams from the Eastern Conference would, in order, include:
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Boston Celtics
- Miami Heat
- Toronto Raptors
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Indiana Pacers
- Orlando Magic
- Brooklyn Nets
At this point, the consensus 2020 NBA finals matchup would be the Bucks and the Lakers. Can anyone stop the Greek Freak? The Philadelphia Sixers seemed like they were in the best position to pick them off, but right now it might be the Miami Heat that the Bucks need to keep an eye on.
The Sixers (24-14) are the second-highest Eastern Conference team on the board at 8/1 odds, even though they’re the fifth-best team. The Sixers are a tale of two different teams. At home in Philly, the Sixers are 17-2 and boast one of the better home-court advantages in the NBA. Only the Bucks and Miami Heat are better at home than the Sixers.
On the road, the Sixers struggle at 7-12. They recently snapped a four-game skid, and have been struggling to find consistent all-around scoring aside from Joel Embiid.
The Miami Heat (26-10) continue to be the biggest surprise of the season. They boast the best home record in the NBA with a 17-1 clip. Jimmy Butler rubbed his former teams the wrong way, but he’s found a home in South Beach. At 25/1 odds to win the NBA title, the Heat offer the best value on the board.
West Coast Love: LA, LA, or the Jazz?
In the Western Conference, the current playoff teams would include:
- LA Lakers
- Denver Nuggets
- Houston Rockets
- LA Clippers
- Utah Jazz
- Dallas Mavericks
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- San Antonio Spurs
The Clippers have the second-best record in the West, but would only earn the #4 seed due to divisional considerations. The Clippers are still coming together as a team, but they’ve been co-favorites with the Lakers at 3/1 odds.
The Lakers (29-7) have been crushing since the start of the season. They hit a mini-skid to end the year, but bounced back with five wins in a row. The Lakers have been favorites since the preseason, but their current odds are still at 3/1.
James Harden and the Houston Rockets (24-11) keep chugging along. Russell Westbrook has had almost a half season under his belt with his new team, and the results have been positive and exceeded expectations. The Rockets are the fifth-highest team on the futures board at 9/1 odds.
The Utah Jazz (24-12) won six in a row, and nine out of their last 10 games. They moved into the fifth overall seed in the West. Their title numbers were drastically improved by oddsmakers, and you can get the Jazz at 19/1 odds to win the NBA championship.
The Nuggets (25-11) take advantage of their Rocky Mountain location, which is why they have one of the best home records in the West. Nikola Jokic and the Nugs are 11-3 over their last 14 games. They offer decent value at 18/1 odds to win the title.
