The Lakers are listed as the favorites at 11-4, followed by the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks, who are each 5-1. The LA Clippers, at 6-1, are the only other team with single-digit odds at William Hill sportsbooks.
The defending champs are back. It's Game Day, Lakers Nation! pic.twitter.com/aPaiYIfwx8
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 22, 2020
The next tier of title contenders, according to oddsmakers, includes the Boston Celtics (12-1), Miami Heat (16-1), Dallas Mavericks (20-1), Toronto Raptors (20-1), Philadelphia 76ers (20-1) and Denver Nuggets (20-1). But bets on anyone other than the Lakers are hard to come by.
“The money has been coming in [on the Lakers], a steady stream of support for them,” Jeff Sherman, vice president of risk management for the SuperBook at Westgate Las Vegas, told ESPN. “We’re at 11-4 right now and still getting plenty of support at that number, too.”
The Lakers have attracted five times as much money as the Nets, the second-most-heavily-bet team at William Hill. The two largest futures bets — $20,000 and $10,000 — placed at William Hill are both on the Lakers.
The Lakers open their season Tuesday night against the Clippers. The Lakers, who enter the season having been favored in 24 consecutive games, are 3-point favorites.
NBA 2020-21 Title Odds:
CAESARS SPORTS BOOK:
- Los Angeles Lakers : 11/4
- Los Angeles Clippers : 5/1
- Milwaukee Bucks : 5/1
- Brooklyn Nets : 6/1
bet365 :
- Los Angeles Lakers : 3.75
- Brooklyn Nets : 6.50
- Milwaukee Bucks :6.50
- Los Angeles Clippers : 7.00
