The Los Angeles Lakers entered the COVID-19 hiatus with the best record in the NBA’s Western Conference at 49-14, and there really was no reason for them to sit anywhere else in the standings. With both LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the roster, along with the rest of the talent brought in to complement them, the Lakers lead the league in shooting percentage (48.5) and have put together a stout defense, permitting only 106.9 points per contest, third best in the NBA. That consistency on both sides of the ball is why the Lakers shook off a tough start to the season and now are atop the West. The only questions that the Lakers face is how they will respond to a quick restart after the lengthy hiatus. If you’re planning on NBA futures in your sports betting, take a look at our thoughts on the Lakers’ chances.
NBA News: Los Angeles Lakers Analysis Before the Restart
Opening Futures Odds
- Odds to Win the NBA Championship: +240
- Odds to Win the Western Conference: +150
- Bubble Win Total: 5 ½
The Lakers will play on the opening night of the league’s restart, taking on the Clippers on July 30. After that, they face the Raptors, the Jazz, the Thunder, the Rockets, the Pacers, the Nuggets and the Kings. That’s not the most fearsome schedule out there, and given that the Lakers held a 5 ½-game lead over the Clippers in the Western Conference at the league shutdown, it’s hard to see them slipping out of that top seed.
As far as injuries go, the only Lakers on the injury report is Talen Horton-Tucker, who has only played two games in the 2019-20 season and has been out since late in December because of a foot injury. Dion Waiters came over from Miami, but he has not played since the end of January because of discord between him and the Heat. He should be all set to make his debut in yellow and purple when play resumes in the “bubble.”
The jury is split on whether this long break will help LeBron James. He has put a ton of basketball mileage on his body, and this could have given him time to rest and recharge. However, how long will it take James, at his age, to get back at game speed? There are scrimmages before league play resumes, but everyone in the league will be on a swift learning curve.
The long break may have given the Milwaukee Bucks time to snap out of their funk as well as to get Giannis Antetokounmpo back from injury. The Bucks had lost four of five, making it more likely for the Lakers to catch them for best record in the NBA, but now Milwaukee should come back with more momentum. Obviously, there is no reward for home court in the “bubble,” but if the Bucks can get their confidence back, they could push the Lakers.
You don’t get a ton of value taking the Lakers, either to win the West or the NBA championship. In cases like this, I have a hard time arguing for wagers like that, simply because the top seeds tend to do so poorly in terms of actually making it to the championship. Given the loss of Russell Westbrook to the coronavirus, I see the Clippers as the only legitimate threat to the Lakers in terms of making the Finals, though, and I’m not sure anyone in the East can stop LeBron and AD. So in this case, I see the Lakers as a smart pick even though you’re not getting much back for your betting dollar if they do win the title.
