Milwaukee Bucks Battling to Pip Favorite LA Lakers to 2020 NBA Championship in Florida
The 2020 NBA regular season is prepped to resume in Orlando, Florida, come July 30 when 22 teams will make their way back into contention for this year’s championship.
The Los Angeles Lakers are favorites to win the title as things stand, with a shortened schedule to be finished in just two-and-a-half months at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort.
What are the odds?
Lakers fans will be pleased to see their side lead the odds at +180 (2.80) with bet365 NJ—or +135 (2.35) to win the Western Conference—with 2019 runners-up, the Milwaukee Bucks, shortly behind at +275 (3.75) with U.S. betting apps.
Milwaukee are hoping to clinch their first title in almost half a century having won their only championship to date in 1971. The Bucks recently celebrated the anniversary of their decision to draft last year’s Most Valuable Player, Giannis Antetokounmpo:
On this date in 2013:
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) June 27, 2020
With the 15th pick…the Milwaukee Bucks select…Giannis Antetokounmpo. pic.twitter.com/77vfim40rC
The 2020 NBA Finals are slated to finish no later than October 13 2020 provided all goes to plan in Orlando, where the slightest injury or illness could derail any franchise not deep enough to survive.
NBA 2020 Info
- Restart Date: July 30
- End Date: October 13 (at the latest)
- Venue: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Florida
- TV Info: ABC, ESPN, TNT
- Live Stream: NBA TV, ESPN+
- Bet Online with Free Bets: New Jersey (NJ), Indiana (IN), Colorado (CO), Pennsylvania (PA), West Virginia (WV), Illinois (IL).
Predictions: Milwaukee Bucks to win 2020 NBA Championship
Milwaukee boast a .815 record and are seven wins ahead of the Toronto Raptors at the top of the Eastern Conference ahead of their return to play, while the Lakers have five more wins than bitter rivals the Los Angeles Clippers at the Western summit.
The Lakers have been hurt by the coronavirus in that guard Avery Bradley will not play in Orlando over fears for his son, Liam, who has a respiratory illness. LeBron James put a call in to recruit former Cleveland Cavaliers team-mate J.R. Smith out of free agency, per TMZ, in a move that could give them the Lakers a much-needed edge in their push for the championship:
During J.R. Smith's Cavs career he was CLUTCH in the postseason
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) June 30, 2020
3-PT% in the playoffs from 2015-18
(Min. 300 3-PT Att.)
1. Stephen Curry 41.1%
2. Klay Thompson 41.1%
3. J.R. Smith 40.6% pic.twitter.com/DL0fmAdx9D
It will take time for Smith to settle among his new squad, however, while the Bucks have recent form in the Eastern Conference and looked strong prior to COVID-19 spiralling the season out of control in March.
Antetokounmpo in particular has been in historic form this year and looks capable of firing his team back to the Finals as part of a team sure to have learnt lessons from 2019’s loss against the Raptors.
NBA Championship 2020 Odds
Eastern Conference
- Milwaukee Bucks: +275
- Boston Celtics: +1500
- Toronto Raptors: +1700
- Philadelphia 76ers: +2500
- Miami Heat: +4000
- Indiana Pacers: +12500
- Brooklyn Nets: +15000
- Orlando Magic: +75000
- Washington Wizards: +100000
Western Conference
- Los Angeles Lakers: +180
- LA Clippers: +325
- Houston Rockets: +1200
- Denver Nuggets: +1800
- Dallas Mavericks: +3500
- Utah Jazz: +4000
- New Orleans Pelicans: +5000
- Oklahoma City Thunder: +6000
- Portland Trail Blazers: +7500
- Memphis Grizzlies: +50000
- Phoenix Suns: +50000
- Sacramento Kings: +200000
- San Antonio Spurs: +100000
Odds, Free Bets bonus offers via Caesars NJ sportsbook app. Check out other 2020 NBA betting options in the USA.
