The Los Angeles Lakers have been the favorites to win the 2021 NBA Championship since the odds were released, but that is no longer the case. The Brooklyn Nets are the new No. 1 team, according to oddsmakers. This doesn’t mean that the Lakers aren’t still a legitimate threat to win another championship, but another team is coming on strong.
The Lakers are also dealing with injuries to their two biggest stars, and it could affect their playoff seeding in the Western Conference. The West is once again loaded with terrific teams, and losing home-court advantage could be a significant blow.
Anthony Davis has been out of the lineup since before the All-Star Break, and LeBron James just went down with a high ankle sprain. It’s unclear how long James will be out, but he isn’t expected to be back anytime soon.
Brooklyn began the season with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant running the show, but that team is now a three-headed monster. An in-season trade for James Harden gives the Nets three of the best offensive players in the NBA, and Brooklyn is leading the league in points scored.
The Nets have struggled to have all three players on the floor at the same time, but it has not affected their record. Brooklyn believes it can win the NBA Championship this season, and the odds now back up that claim.
Current Odds to Win NBA Championship:
Brooklyn Nets +280
Los Angeles Lakers +300
Los Angeles Clippers +550
Milwaukee Bucks +750
Utah Jazz +850
Philadelphia 76ers +1200
Denver Nuggets +2600
Phoenix Suns +3000
Boston Celtics +3400
Miami Heat +4600
Dallas Mavericks +5500
Toronto Raptors +5500
The Brooklyn Nets are now listed at +280 to win the title, the best odds that this team has received all season long. Brooklyn has been trending in the right direction for weeks, but they have finally surpassed the Lakers.
Los Angeles is heading the other direction, and those odds should continue to fall without Davis and James in the lineup. The Lakers don’t have a ton of depth to begin with, which could be a real problem.
The L.A. Clippers entered the 2020-21 season as the second-favorite to win the NBA title this season, but they have also been overtaken by the Brooklyn Nets. L.A. is still a strong betting option at +550, but they will have to find a way to get through the Lakers first.
At this point, sportsbooks are giving just six teams a realistic chance to win the NBA title as the odds drop considerably after that group of teams. The NBA Playoffs are not like the NCAA Tournament, and the top teams usually find a way to advance in the postseason.
The Milwaukee Bucks are considered the biggest threat to the Nets in the East, with odds currently set at +750. Milwaukee has been a top team in the league for a few seasons but always seems to come up short in the postseason.
The Utah Jazz currently have the best record in the league, but this team continues to be overlooked. Utah has odds set at +850 to win the title, and they aren’t considered a real threat to win the Western Conference.
