Cheer up, Lakers fans: there's always next year. Not even 24 hours after the Celtics completely dismantled the Lakers to win the NBA title, Boston is getting very little respect from the oddsmakers regarding their chances to repeat the feat next season. According to one website, the Celtics aren't favored to win the championship in 2009: the Lakers are. Boston is currently a 4-1 favorite, while the Lakers are just 2-1. Some of the more notable teams' odds are as follows:
Spurs: 8-1
Pistons: 10-1
Jazz, Suns, Hornets, Rockets, Mavericks, and Cavaliers: 15-1
Magic: 30-1
It goes without saying that these types of future wagers are complete sucker bets, because obviously anything can happen over the course of an 82-game season. Like, you know, blockbuster trades that completely change up a team's roster. But if you absolutely have to have this type of action (and if you do, seek help, and seek it now), you want to look for some value in the odds, making it somewhat worth the ridiculous risk.
So which teams above give you the best value? New Orleans at 15-1 looks interesting. With Chris Paul turning into the next "greatest player of all-time," certainly the Hornets could be seen as making that leap next season. What about the Pistons at 10-1? They've been to the Conference Finals each of the last six years, so you're at least guaranteed to get close with them. Orlando at 30-1 looks pretty strong as well. Let's be honest though: the Celtics' performance is fresh in our memories, and they way they play defense, getting 4-1 odds on a repeat might be the best value of all.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-18-2008 @ 3:24PM
Dan Daoust said...
I don't know, I kind of like the Lakers at 2-1. If you were to freeze all the NBA rosters and restore everyone who was injured, then come back next year -- yeah, I would favor the Lakers with Bynum. The Celts, meanwhile, would be a year older with a host of players who are already not young.
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6-18-2008 @ 3:54PM
Ron Logan said...
The same Bynum that Kendrick Perkins poured 21 on during the regular season? Bynum, the next over-hyped thing from California. Not buying into it.
BTW, Rondo is just scratching the surface of his potential and he's only 22.
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6-18-2008 @ 4:41PM
HoopsAvenue said...
Well, the Lakers draw a lot of gambling money so that has something to do with it. It's always hard to bet against Kobe anyways. I certainly wouldn't do it next year even though the Lakers looked terrible this series. All they really need to do is get better on D which should happen when Bynum is healthy.
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6-18-2008 @ 5:12PM
WTF said...
LOL! This is just incredible! The season is just barely over and already there is talk of the Lakers taking it all in 2009? Puh-leez! In the first place, Boston made your invincible Lakers look a lot smaller. The West was also pretty tough last year and there is a good chance it will be again this year in spite of these stupid predictions. The Fakers are hardly a lock, at least at this point.
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6-18-2008 @ 5:28PM
frank said...
Gzzzzz let's see if Boston repeat then you can talk all your bsahl!
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6-18-2008 @ 11:24PM
Garri said...
To crazy forcasters, The pain and humiliation for this LA Chickens are not over yet, how do you able to predict next season's result? Jesus, we don't even know if they still have the same roster in 09. If they still keep the king and queen chickens (Los Gallitos} from Spain and New York we still expect same result. Look, Kobe is not even the same player as he was couple of years ago. The only thing that still remains into his sytem is turn over. How many times he fumbled when hard pressed by the opposing teams? The coaching staff is also hopeless. They need to overhaul this team in order to compete better. And by doing so, needs more time to sharpen.
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6-19-2008 @ 6:55AM
frank said...
Last year Doc and Pirece=0
This year,KG,Ray Allen,Posey,Powe,Rondo,Davis,plus,plus later Cassell and PJ Brown but here is the puzzle,
Tom Thibodeau ?
More then 3/4 of the roster were transplanted ?
KG with 12 years in minnie ?0
KG a pothead ? You bet you momma, what you see is what you get!
I wonder why they are well like or trusted even as champs!
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6-19-2008 @ 6:58AM
frank said...
By the way the only people that like this group are the boston fans and of course Ainge and McHale! Ala Larry Holmes!
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6-19-2008 @ 7:55AM
Dino Mourtos said...
This was the worse NBA Finals I have ever seen. If this is where the NBA game is at, I cannot wait for the start of the College Season! Nobody boxed anybody out, no one challenged shots, a wide-open pick-up game with 20 point swings, day in and day out! If this is basketball that these talented individual acrobats played, the NBA game is finished. Coaches that are clueless, and players that just run and shoot are not what makes this game interesting. By the way, did anyone ever tell Kobe Bryant that it is OK to catch the ball and quick-release a jumper without dribble, dribble, dribble! Duh.....I played the game for 25 years. The media spoke of good defense, and all I saw was sloppy passing and poor shot selection coupled with an absence of fundamentals by both teams! No wonder we get our butts kicked in international play!
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6-19-2008 @ 8:13AM
Pomona Criminal Lawyer said...
Boston is a good team. But they would have probably lost the series with Bynum in the line up. Lets not forget the obvious poor officiating in game 2. Boston got a free ride there.
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6-19-2008 @ 8:22AM
Dino Mourtos said...
This was the worse NBA Finals I have ever seen. If this is where the NBA game is at, I cannot wait for the start of the College Season! Nobody boxed anybody out, no one challenged shots, a wide-open pick-up game with 20 point swings, day in and day out! If this is basketball that these talented individual acrobats played, the NBA game is finished. Coaches that are clueless, and players that just run and shoot are not what makes this game interesting. By the way, did anyone ever tell Kobe Bryant that it is OK to catch the ball and quick-release a jumper without dribble, dribble, dribble! Duh.....I played the game for 25 years. The media spoke of good defense, and all I saw was sloppy passing and poor shot selection coupled with an absence of fundamentals by both teams! No wonder we get our butts kicked in international play!
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6-19-2008 @ 12:37PM
Shauna said...
Brett, why are you predicting that the Lakers are goin to win in 2009? The season is over. Besides, you never know what's going to happen. When if the Suns finally advance to the finals, or how about MY WARRIORS enter in the finals after beating your Lakers (that will be great though hehe), and how about the Hornets? You never know what's going to happen. Well, lets just wait until the season starts and find out.
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6-19-2008 @ 1:58PM
frank said...
LA with 3 months to go in the season were the 6th seed in the Western conference and then LA acquired Gasol and then they were in the finals,not bad for a team that 3 months prior to the end of the season was going to have a hard time passing the 1st round of the playoffs;
Boston from inception this year with the foundation of Pierce and Doc, adding KG,Ray Allen,Posey, Powe, plus,plus and later Cassell and PJ Brown and the puzzle Tom Thibodeau ?
So Boston started as if they were going to brake the Bulls record 72-10 ? but either way Boston was establish as a front runner up besides the Spurs and Detroit ;
Come the playoffs LA did very well(not expected either);
Boston had it a hard time just getting pass the young Atlanta team , solution more drugs from Tom t. and close doors for every body;
So what's your point;
Overall LA did a better job then expected to begin with and Tom T. did a superb job with his group.
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6-19-2008 @ 2:30PM
frank said...
LA with 3 months to go in the season were the 6th seed in the Western conference;
LA acquired the services of Pau Gasol and then LA did better;
Boston with Doc and Pierce last year=0
This year from inception got, Garnett,Ray Allen, Powe,Posey, plus,plus later Cassell and PJ brown but the puzzle Tom Thibodeau ? later on that;
So Boston was establish #1 in the league? no surprise there;
In fact at one time Boston was going to brake the record establish by the Bulls 72-10;
Enter the playoffs -LA did very well better then expected;
Boston started playing against a very young Atlanta team all kinds of problems, solution?
Enter Tom Thibodeau ala balko master in "D" ? bs peanut butter sandwiches and CLOSED DOORS !
Results= Boston get back into the playoffs, done.
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6-19-2008 @ 9:27PM
das said...
Joe Dumars will do for the Pistons what Danny Ainge did for the Celtics. The NBA might as well not bother to show up next year. Pistons will run the table!!
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7-02-2008 @ 11:35AM
eric said...
Come on people do you really think the (overated)lakers are gonna win it all next year. they shouldve lost agains the spurs, theyre a week team with weak players besides kobe and bynum. they have no depth no Defense just a bunch of weak whatever you want to call them. you all will see kobe's gonna start crying again waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa i want to get traded waaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!
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7-29-2008 @ 9:07AM
jim said...
the lakers are overrated and got exposed in the finals
the healthy spurs rockets suns jazz and maybe hornets will gobble them up next year
now every knows how to beat LA and almost every playoff team is equiped to beat them
btw LA gets every call their way and they can't spurs ifnmanu is healthy
only Boston can go C's
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