Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers, Jae Crowder, Phoenix Suns. (Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)
With Anthony Davis’ health up in the air, it has negatively impacted the Los Angeles Lakers’ odds to repeat as NBA champions.
The odds market has been impacted by Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis’ latest injury.
Despite being the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference Playoffs, the Lakers were the favorite to repeat as NBA champions. While their roster may not be as deep as others currently in the 2021 NBA Playoffs, the Lakers still employ two of the 10 best players in basketball in Davis and LeBron James. With Davis being listed as day-to-day with a groin issue, this may be problematic for them.
Here are the latest NBA championship odds after Davis’ injury. Odds are from WynnBET.
Los Angeles Lakers’ NBA championship odds after Anthony Davis injury
Western Conference odds
- Utah Jazz +175
- Los Angeles Lakers +275
- Los Angeles Clippers +300
- Phoenix Suns +700
- Denver Nuggets +1500
- Portland Trail Blazers +1700
- Dallas Mavericks +3000
- Memphis Grizzlies +50000
As you can see, the Lakers now have the second-best odds to win the Western Conference at +275. They trail the top-seeded Utah Jazz, who come in at +175. The Los Angeles Clippers have strong odds to win the West at +300 and the Lakers’ first-round opponent in the Phoenix Suns offer great value at +700. The four other teams in the Western Conference are seen as long shots.
NBA championship odds
- Brooklyn Nets +100
- Utah Jazz +400
- Milwaukee Bucks +500
- Los Angeles Lakers +600
As for as the Lakers’ chances to win the NBA Finals, they now have the fourth-best odds. Los Angeles comes in at +600 to win it all again. Again, those are decent to win back-to-back NBA Finals, but the Brooklyn Nets (+100), the Jazz (+400) and the Milwaukee Bucks (+500) are all better than the Lakers at this time. So what do both of these updated odds really suggest here?
What these odds updates indicate are that the Lakers should advance past the Suns in their first-round series, as well as past the winner of the No. 4 vs. No. 5 series between the Denver Nuggets and the Portland Trail Blazers. However, the bookmakers do not believe the Lakers will have enough gas in the tank to get past Utah should they meet in the 2021 Western Conference Finals.
If Los Angeles aims to win another NBA championship, the Lakers have to be 100 percent healthy.