NBA title best bets: Buy the Clippers and these 2 dark horses
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There's a clear-cut first tier of NBA title contenders. The toughest part is figuring out which one(s) to bet.
The Lakers, Clippers, and Bucks all have what it takes to win a ring. Here, we'll make our case for which of those clubs stands above the others, as well as our other best bets to win the 2019-20 championship.
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Lakers | +250 |
| Clippers | +250 |
| Bucks | +250 |
| Rockets | +1500 |
| Celtics | +1800 |
| Raptors | +1800 |
| 76ers | +2000 |
| Nuggets | +2200 |
| Heat | +2800 |
| Mavericks | +3000 |
| Jazz | +3000 |
| Pacers | +10000 |
| Thunder | +10000 |
| Pelicans | +12500 |
| Nets | +15000 |
| Trail Blazers | +15000 |
| Spurs | +25000 |
| Wizards | +30000 |
| Grizzlies | +40000 |
| Kings | +40000 |
| Magic | +50000 |
| Suns | +50000 |
Clippers (+250)
The Clippers are the league's most dangerous team.
What's not to like? Head coach Doc Rivers has his best club in years. There's certainly enough star power, led by Kawhi Leonard - who was the driving force behind the Raptors' title last season - and Paul George. They also have 187 combined games of postseason experience. Not to be outdone, L.A.'s bench leads the NBA in points scored. Overall, the Clippers are one of three teams in the league to rank in the top five in both offensive and defensive rating.
There's a good chance we haven't seen L.A. at its best. The Clippers are currently 44-20 but should be 46-18 based on point differential.
Buying a positive regression candidate in this spot is ideal.
Celtics (+1800)
Is Boston the biggest threat to Milwaukee in the East? Probably. The Celtics are 43-21 a year after falling well short of their win total. The advanced metrics love Boston, too, as Pythagorean wins call for three more expected victories.
One of the biggest factors to account for in the restart is health; rosters look a lot different than they did roughly five months ago. The Celtics will benefit more than most teams in this department: They're second in the NBA in games lost due to injury.
With a revamped lineup and more than enough depth on the wings, Boston might be the best bang for your buck.
Raptors (+1800)
Bettors have been waiting for Toronto to regress ... and they're still waiting. Although Leonard departed in free agency, the Raptors haven't skipped a beat - they're third in both win percentage and RPI behind Coach of the Year favorite Nick Nurse.
The Raptors don't have a superstar for the stretch run, but they possess plenty of fresh, young legs. Reinforcements are crucial after Toronto led the NBA in games lost due to injury prior to the layoff.
The Raptors are unselfish, disciplined, and are No. 2 in defensive efficiency after finishing fourth last season.
Toronto might be a sell at some point, but not right now.
(Odds source: theScore Bet).
Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.