The Toronto Raptors are NBA champions for the first time in their 24 year existence. They finally did it on Friday when they beat the Warriors 114-110 in game 6 of the 7-game final series.
That put the pre-finals underdogs 4-2 clear and out of reach of the reigning champions. Canada was elated by the heroics of their new favorite sons. From across the land, they came out to celebrate joyously.
So did Raptors Star Kawhi Leonard who was named MVP of the series. The Warriors defeat didn’t go down too well with the New Jersey sportsbook, PointsBet, however.
PointsBet’s gamble of paying out all futures bets on Warriors winning, even before the 7-game series had begun, cost them a packet. It also took away a fair amount of gilt from the Golden State Warriors previously sky-high reputation, it seems.
Warriors not among top four 2020 NBA favorites
In PointsBet’s new list of favorites for the 2020 NBA Crown, the Warriors don’t feature in the top four. The LA Lakers at +350 (7/2), are PointsBet’s new golden boys.
Milwaukee Bucks are next at +500 with Raptors next at +600 and the Houston Rockets at +800 before the Warriors (+900) even get a look in. Other sportsbooks like 888sport have installed Warriors in third place at +700 and Raptors 4th at +750.
Why you ask, are the Lakers suddenly the favorites of virtually every one of New Jersey’s 14 online sportsbooks? The major reason, for this, is pretty clear. The Lakers have made a standout trade with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Anthony Davis to join Le Bron James at Lakers
In it, they are getting Pelicans’ superstar Anthony Davis to join their own superstar Le Bron James. And they value Davis so highly they are giving Pelicans a great
package in return.
It includes Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Josh Hart as well as three first-round 2019-2020 draft picks. One of those is the No 4 overall pick. Davis’ trade is not the only reason New Jersey sportsbooks have elevated the Lakers and down-graded the Warriors. Warriors have big question marks hanging over Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson right now. There have been suggestions that neither player will be staying with them.
However, even if they do stay, their respective injuries are serious enough to keep them out for some time. Perhaps even for a full season. And the Bucks? What’s behind their upgrade to No 2 favorite? Well, they had the best record in the East last year. They also happen to be spearheaded by Giannis Antetokounmpo, one of the NBA biggest stars of now and the future.
The 10 top favorites for the 2020 crown
Here are the New Jersey Sportsbook’s 10-top favorites to win next year’s NBA Championship. The odds differ slightly on individual sportsbooks. So do positions,
but the standings below are a general reflection of all 14 NJ sportsbooks:
LA Lakers (+350) (7/2)
Milwaukee Bucks (+500) (5/1)
Toronto Raptors (+600) (6/1)
Houston Rockets (+800) (8/1)
Golden State Warriors (+900) (9/1)
Philadelphia 76ers (1000) (10/1)
Denver Nuggets (+1200) (12/1)
LA Clippers (1600) (16/1)
Brooklyn Nets (2500) (25/1)
Boston Celtics (2500) (25/1)
