The Miami Heat were the betting favorites to win the 2011 NBA Championship the minute they assembled Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh, last summer. Bettors who took their chances on the short odds of the Heat, had to rip up their tickets on Sunday night when Dallas defeated Miami.
Now, less than twenty-four hours after their finals loss, the Heat will again have the pressure of being the favorites heading to next season. Miami has been installed as 2/1 betting favorites for 2012, assuming there is a 2012 season at all.
With a lock out looming and players and owners, by all accounts, far apart in negotiations, it seems unlikely that a full schedule will be played next year. That could work to the advantage of both Miami and Dallas, the two teams that finished their 2011 season playing into mid-June.
As for the rest of the league, the Los Angeles Lakers are still the darlings of NBA bettors. Las Vegas sports books have the Lakers as the third choice, along with Oklahoma City and the now-defending champion Mavericks. The three teams are all listed at 7/1. L.A. will try to return to the finals without Phil Jackson on the bench, as the legendary coach has retired following last season.
The Chicago Bulls have the reigning league MVP in Derek Rose, and they are young and hungry after losing to the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. Chicago is the second choice of odds makers, with odds of 6/1. The Bulls had the best record in the NBA this past season.
The list of odds includes several other perennial contenders. The Boston Celtics have odds of 8/1, while Orlando is 20/1, and the Knicks 30/1, in the East. Out West, San Antonio is a 15/1 choice, and Portland and Denver come in at 30/1. Other playoff teams this past year, New Orleans and Memphis are 40/1 choices, while Atlanta is 50/1 and Philadelphia is 60/1.
June 13, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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