There are 13 teams that remain alive for the 2019-20 NBA title. Twenty-two teams went to Orlando to finish the regular season in the COVID-19 “bubble” inside the ESPN Wide World of Sports facilities. Seventeen made the NBA playoffs, with Portland eliminating Memphis in a play-in to finish the traditional bracket of 16. The Eastern Conference has had a lot less drama in the first round, with Miami, Boston and Toronto already advancing to the conference semifinals via sweeps over Indiana, Philadelphia and Brooklyn, respectively, and with Milwaukee leading Orlando, three games to one. In the Western Conference, Portland won their series opener against the Lakers but has since dropped three in a row. Utah leads Denver, 3-1, while the other two series, one featuring Houston and Oklahoma City and the other featuring Dallas and the Clippers, are knotted at two games apiece.
Take a look at our NBA betting thoughts about how things will finish.
NBA Betting:
Finals Picks, Predictions to Win, Betting Favorites & Surprises
| NBA Championship Odds | |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Lakers | +275 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +275 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | +330 |
| Toronto Raptors | +700 |
| Boston Celtics | +900 |
| Houston Rockets | +1300 |
| Miami Heat | +1800 |
| Dallas Mavericks | +2500 |
| Utah Jazz | +2500 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +6000 |
| Denver Nuggets | +20000 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | +50000 |
| Orlando Magic | +100000 |
LA Lakers
Did you think the Lakers looked vulnerable during the eight-game conclusion to the regular season in Orlando? I did too. Their scoring and shooting were off, and their defense was noncommittal at times. However, they look like they were just saving their best for now. Anthony Davis is dominant in the lane against the Trail Blazers, and if Houston advances to meet them in the second round, “small ball” won’t have an answer for AD.
Lakers | Check the Odds | Wesetern Conference Odds
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks have cruised so far against Orlando, as the Magic has not figured out a way to slow down Giannis Antetokounmpo. He went 12 for 14, putting up 35 points for the Bucks in a rout in Game 4 on Monday. The Lakers figured out how to slow him down — get physical and rely on non-calls in tough possessions — but the Magic haven’t been able to do that.
Bucks | Check the Odds | Eastern Conference Odds
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors put up a franchise record 150 points in their Game 4 win over Brooklyn — and 100 points came from the bench players, a league record. Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet have emerged as bedrock performers for this team, and Serge Ibaka has turned back the clock to his days as a rim defender in Oklahoma City. Could the Raptors have remained just as strong after losing Kawhi Leonard?
Raptors | Check the Odds | Eastern Conference Odds
LA Clippers
The Clippers are in hot water in their series against Dallas, because Paul George’s jump shot does not seem to have made it into the bubble yet. He has been clanking shots throughout the series’ first four games, and that has been enough to allow the Mavericks to stay in this series.
Clippers | Check the Odds | Wesetern Conference Odds
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are getting vintage Kemba Walker, who has recovered from his knee injuries. He is shooting 49 percent in the playoffs, putting up 24.3 points per game against a Philadelphia team that did not have its best defender, Ben Simmons, available. Will Gordon Hayward return for the second round against Toronto?
Celtics | Check the Odds | Eastern Conference Odds
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat surprised many with their sweep of Indiana, thanks to the mentoring that Jimmy Butler continues to show this young team. The key to Miami’s run has been their defense — but how will they do against Giannis in the second round?
Heat | Check the Odds | Eastern Conference Odds
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets live by the three, and die by the three — as they saw in Game 4 against Oklahoma City, when they went 5 for 26 from downtown to finish that loss to the Thunder. They need Russell Westbrook to come back, to take the pressure off James Harden. Without Westbrook, even if the Rockets can solve the Thunder, getting to the conference finals will be an extremely difficult proposition.
Rockets | Check the Odds | Wesetern Conference Odds
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks will go as far as Luka Doncic takes them — but he has a solid supporting cast beyond big man Kristaps Porzingis. Guards Tim Hardaway Jr and Seth Curry can fill up the basket as well, as can Maxi Kleber. Rebounding and defense down the stretch are this team’s weakness to this point.
Mavericks | Check the Odds | Wesetern Conference Odds
