Do Former NBA Odds Still Stand for the Championship?

The 2019-20 NBA season was notable from the start, given the retirement of long-time all-star players like Dwayne Wade and Dirk Nowitzki. Meanwhile, the basketball world remained floored by the swift rise of the Toronto Raptors, which culminated in their win over the Golden State Warriors in the Championship Finals in the previous season.

Then, a few fateful trades increased interest in the 2019-20 season. Kawhi Leonard, fresh from his meteoric rise with the Raptors in 2018, was traded to the Clippers where he quickly teamed up with Paul George (traded from the Oklahoma Thunder) to create a powerful duo capable of changing the fate of the Clippers.

The Milwaukee Bucks, who were top-seeded in the 2018-19 season, held on to star Giannis Antetokounmpo with hopes of renewing their 2018 play. When the 2019-20 season began in October, only the Lakers stood a chance at stopping the Clippers or Bucks from taking a desperately needed Championship title. 

While the Lakers are a dynastic team with a cultic fanbase, the Clippers and the Bucks each have an underdog shine. The Clippers have never taken a Championship title, while the Bucks haven’t seen one since 1971. And in the end, expert NBA betting odds may go to the superior team, but not necessarily fan support—especially considering the Clippers have a classic duo in Leonard and George, and the Bucks have a young superstar Antetokounmpo.

On July 31st, NBA season play continues before playoffs begin. With the Lakers, Clippers, and Bucks as the top-seeded teams in the league, it’s the perfect time to review any major changes that have occurred in the past dormant months.

Lakers: Dangers Looking Ahead 

The Lakers’ roster is notorious. However, LeBron James is widely considered the only valuable playmaker on the team, but given James still has Anthony Davis at his side to run plays, any team will be hard-pressed to challenge this elite franchise.

Fortunately for the rest of the NBA, the Lakers have shown more than a few weaknesses in recent years. Players like Alex Caruso and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope may be able to capitalize on the plays James creates, but that doesn’t mean they’re creating any of their own. While this may not bar the team from defeating the Clippers in a Western Conference showdown in the coming months, it does give fans plenty to consider moving into the next season.

Clippers: Do or Die

Given the combination of the Clippers’ lack of a single Championship title and their monumental improvement, led by Leonard and George, it’s hard not to root for this LA franchise. In fact, the powerful duo may soon add a third in Lou Williams, who can create dynamic, offensive opportunities.

This is likely the secret for the Clippers to find success. After all, some pundits like the NBA’s John Schuhmann give the Clippers the best defensive rating in the NBA, reliant on giants like Marcus Morris.

In fact, in the likely event of a conference face-off between both LA franchises, Morris will be the only player eligible to guard James of the Lakers. At the moment, many also speculate that if Morris is able to hold off James in a conference face-off, then there should be little problem for the defensive guard to also handle Antetokounmpo in a Championship battle against the Bucks.

Bucks: No Backing Off

 Despite leadership on the court from MVP and Defensive Player of the Year Antetokounmpo, he isn’t alone. In fact, the Bucks 2019-20 team features a deep roster that’s helped them achieve one of their highest-performing seasons on record.

The Bucks can rely on veteran player George Hill to stabilize other players on the court. Hill is a reliable shooter with ten years of experience in the NBA, which is necessary to support a young player like Antetokounmpo.

However, the Bucks have more than a handful of young, untested players who will need to make sure their team repeats a 60-win record again if they want to see any Championship play. Barring ample rookies, the Bucks seem on track to maintain a similar record for this season. Right now, the team's seasonal record stands at 53-12.