The 2020-21 NBA regular season is set to wrap up this weekend, and there is still plenty that needs to be decided. Both the Los Angeles Lakers and the LA Clippers have plenty to play for in the final few games of the year, and how they finish could determine their chance for playoff success.
The LA Clippers are in a great position to finish in third place in the Western Conference, which would put them up against Portland in the first round. LA could still drop to the number four seed, and that would make things more difficult for the Clippers.
Things are getting really interesting for the Lakers as they are currently in the seventh spot in the Western Conference. If the Lakers remain in this position, then they will be forced to enter the play-in tournament to earn one of the final two seeds in the Western Conference.
The Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, and San Antonio Spurs have already clinched their spot in the play-in tournament and will be looking to upset the Lakers and end the season for the defending champions.
Lakers, Clippers West Favorites
Even though the Los Angeles Lakers might be forced to participate in the State Farm Play-In Tournament, they are still the betting favorites to win the Western Conference. The Lakers were favorites in the preseason, and that has carried all the way through the year.
The Lakers are currently being offered at +260 to win the Western Conference. The LA Clippers are right behind them at +270, and this could finally be the year that the LA rivals meet in the Western Conference Championship.
The Utah Jazz have seen their odds shorten considerably throughout the season as they are now listed at +280.
Nets Looking Tough to Beat
The Lakers were actually the preseason betting favorites to win the 2021 NBA Championship, which would have been their second in a row. That is no longer the case, and the betting favorite actually comes from the Eastern Conference.
The Brooklyn Nets are now the betting favorites to win the NBA CHampionship at +210, and they will not be an easy team to defeat. Brooklyn is a huge betting favorite to win the Eastern Conference as well.
The Lakers are now second on the list, with odds set at +550 to win their second crown in a row.
Spurs to Make Playoffs?
There are also still some betting markets open for which teams will make it into the playoff field. The San Antonio Spurs are the only option being offered in the West, but there are three teams on the list in the Eastern Conference.
The odds for the Spurs to make the playoffs are +440 while betting on “No” is listed at -650. San Antonio has clinched the number 10 spot in the play-in tournament.
Remaining Playoff Odds in the East
Here are the odds for the three remaining options in the Eastern Conference:
Charlotte Hornets
Yes +172, No -215
Indiana Pacers
Yes +146, No -180
Washington Wizards
Yes +124, No -152
