We’re about a sixth of the way through the 2020-2021 NBA regular season, and we’re seeing some shifting in the standings already. The Philadelphia 76ers, who started 7-1, are now 8-4, and Joel Embiid’s health is a question, once again. The Brooklyn Nets, though, just made a huge splash by basically giving up control of their draft for the next seven seasons to bring James Harden to town in a four-team deal. Joining Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, Harden forms a new Big 3 that could challenge the Los Angeles Lakers for supremacy in the league. Harden’s een a part of “Big 3” teams before, in Houston and Oklahoma City, but now he has the best shot he has had so far as far as a championship.
As you ponder your online betting options for NBA futures, let’s look at some possible matchups in the Finals.
NBA News: Way-too-Early Championship Matchups
L.A. Lakers vs Brooklyn Nets
Well, maybe. The Nets got off to a 6-6 start and had already played three games without KD or Kyrie on the floor. Irving may get league discipline because of a video that emerged. Caris LeVert did put up 31 points and nine boards per game in those three contests, but he’s not in Brooklyn anymore. Now the Nets add Harden, and now that he is out the door in Houston (after calling the Rockets an “unfixable” situation, we’re hearing from his former teammates that they are glad he has left the Lone Star State. Will he contribute to chemistry in Brooklyn? Or will this be Harden’s latest frustration?
The Lakers are off to a 9-3 start and haven’t looked all that solid for 48 minutes yet. Much like the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL, they look like they’re hanging around for a half, or three quarters, and then they flip a switch to take over a game. Given the age of LeBron James at this point (and all the playoff mileage on his legs), there is some sense to this. However, the Lakers also have depth, as we have seen from the emergence of Talen Horton-Tucker, who got 17 points on 7 of 8 shooting from the floor in a win over Houston. So this is a team that isn’t going to be stopped easily barring a major injury.
L.A. Lakers vs Milwaukee Bucks
So far, the Bucks have the top offensive rating in the NBA this season (118.9). Giannis Antetokounmpo, once again, is a major contributor. However, Khris Middleton’s game has exploded, as he is scoring a career high 22.5 points per game and making 49.2 percent of his shots from downtown. His rebound and assist rates are also career highs. The Bucks do face Brooklyn and the Lakers in the coming weeks, so we’ll see how much progress the Bucks have really made. Right before the COVID-19 pandemic hit last year, the Bucks went to Los Angeles and got dismantled by the Lakers, not so much in terms of margin of victory but in the sense that the Lakers basically manhandled the Bucks physically, starting a losing streak that seemed to sap the Bucks’ confidence, even later in the postseason bubble. Have they recovered enough to make it to the Finals and to challenge the Lakers?
L.A. Clippers vs Milwaukee Bucks
Last year, the Clippers had the best roster in the West on paper but could not make it past the Denver Nuggets in the conference semifinals. Now, the Lakers have probably passed them on paper, and the team’s defense and rebounding have slipped. They lost Montrezl Harrell to the Lakers, so even with Marcus Morris Sr returning to give the Clippers a full lineup, they went to Golden State and blew a 22-point lead in the second half. Stephen Curry drained nine three-pointers in leading the comeback. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are dealing on offense, but that defense needs to get back to where it was last season.
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