NBA Western Conference: Lakers are Winning and Mavericks Disappointing
The NBA season is rapidly approaching the end of the first quarter of the season and there are already some interesting trends in the standings and the futures betting odds.
The Los Angeles Lakers remain the favorites to represent the Western Conference at 11-2 odds to win the NBA title and if they play as well as they have since Andrew Bynum served his four-game suspension, they will obliterate the competition in the conference.
The Oklahoma City Thunder (7-1) are the second favorite in the Western Conference but they may not be the best challenger to the Lakers in the post season. The Thunder are the No. 1 seed at the moment and if Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook can play nice the Thunder could live up to their status but don’t count on it.
The Portland Trail Blazers are 30-1 to win the NBA title but they are the No. 2 teams in the standings in the West at this point. The Trail Blazers are surprising everyone, including the bettors early on but their lack of talent will catch on.
The biggest turnaround from last year is the emergence of the Los Angeles Clippers with the help of new addition Chris Paul. Paul and Blake Griffin are playoff bound and their odds are still 75-1 to win the NBA title. 75-1 is worth a shot to most futures bettors looking to hedge later in the season.
The sportsbooks have the Dallas Mavericks at 8-1 to repeat as NBA champs but the Mark Cuban has packed it in from the outset of this strike-shortened season. The Mavs are peddling hard to keep their head above water and they will be hard pressed to make the playoffs this season.
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