2009 Los Angeles Lakers NBA Finals Betting Odds
Written April 16, 2009 by Jason Lowry
Anything short of an NBA Championship will be considered a failure for the Los Angeles Lakers this season, as they have one the best teams in all of basketball headed by future hall of famer Kobe Bryant and superstars like Pau Gasol and the young big man Andrew Bynum. The Lakers were so close to winning it all last year, but fell short to a very good Celtics team. The Lakers head into the playoffs with the No.1 seed and the second best overall record in the NBA, and are set to face the Utah Jazz in the first round of the playoffs. The Lakers are easily the favorite to get out of the West no matter who they play, but the question is can they win it all. So with the playoffs scheduled to get underway in just a few days, here are a few reasons why I think the Lakers will and won’t win it all this year.
Why They Will Win It All: While LeBron James has soared to the top of the NBA in elite player status, there is no question that Kobe Bryant is still at the top of his game, and one of, if not the best player in the league today. Until Bryant shows signs of declining, you have to consider his team a legit threat to win the NBA Championship each and every year, but what makes this Lakers team so good is they are loaded with talent. The addition of Bynum back to the lineup is huge for this team, and something they really lacked in the finals last year against the Celtics. Its not just Byrant, Gasol, and Bynum that the Lakers rely on, as they have a number of players that can come in and contribute, including Lamar Odom, Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic, and Luke Walton. Another big thing that the Lakers have going for them, is they have dominated the Eastern Conference two best teams in the Cavaliers and Celtics, going a perfect 4-0, and are the only team all year to beat the Cavaliers on their home court. All things considered the Lakers are hands down one of the most complete teams in the league, and you know Bryant wants to prove he can win a title without Shaq on his side, plus if it comes down to a game 7 I don’t think there is anyone else you want on your team. Bet the Lakers -400 to Win the Western Conference Championship at Sportsbook.com.
Why They Won’t Win It All: It’s hard to think of reasons why the Lakers won’t win the NBA title this season, but there are a few things that stick out to me. The Cavaliers have home court throughout the playoffs, and if they come out of the East as expected, can the Lakers overcome the Cavs dominance on their home court. That also means the Lakers will have to be dominant on their home floor, just as the Celtics were last year. The Lakers will also need a healthy Andrew Bynum, and though he looks good in his return back from another knee injury, you have to be a little worried that something could go wrong with this guy just based on his history of getting hurt. One other reason is the West like any other year is much harder than that of the Eastern Conference, and maybe this team could ware down if they are faced with some tough series early on. Pretty much unless something crazy and unusual happens, you have to like this teams chances of holding the trophy at the end of the season. Bet the Lakers +125 to win the NBA Championship at Sportsbook.com.
For those of you looking to do some NBA betting this postseason, be sure to check out our expert NBA picks and the latest NBA odds at Betfirms.
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