The Los Angeles Lakers are used to being among the favorites to win NBA championships. They were consistently at the top with Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Magic Johnson in the eighties. Then, when Kobe Bryant and Shaq teamed up, they returned three more titles to Los Angeles.
Last off season, the team found themselves mired in chaos. Their star player, Bryant, did not like the direction the team was going, and wanted out. Now, he is glad he stuck it out. his team is one of the gambling favorites to win another championship.
A title run that seemed so far fetched when the season begun, looks more and more likely as the season wears on. The trade for Pau Gasol a few weeks ago solidified the team and made them dangerous enough to be considered a favorite by odds makers.
The Lakers are +350 to win the NBA title today. The only teams in the league that are considered bigger favorites as of now are the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons, both at +250.
It is ironic that in a season with so many strong teams in the Western conference, that two Eastern Conference teams are favored to win the title.
Just the fact that the Lakers are favored over all the talented teams in the West says something as to how far this current Lakers team has come. The spurs, a perennial favorite has odds of only +400.
Bryant has faced criticism for being selfish and not getting his teammates involved in the offense. Those criticisms have faded away this season, however, as he is adapting to team play better than anytime in the past.
With only a few months left in this season, the Lakers have established themselves as one of the favorites to win it all this year, and that is something even the best of odds makers never saw coming at the beginning of the year. |
World Casino Directory 
Gambling Forums 
