NBA Playoffs Betting – LeBron vs Kobe, Lakers vs Cavaliers is the inevitable NBA Finals matchup
Online betting fans have been clamoring already: It looks like the Lakers vs Cavaliers odds will be the 2009 NBA Finals. While the Cavaliers finished with the best record in the regular season, there has been no evidence that they will be derailed in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers should have a little more work to do in the West, but it’s nothing they can’t handle.
Let’s take a look at how this matchup would turn out:
Lakers vs Cavaliers odds: LeBron vs Kobe will highlight finals
- Cavaliers will have home court advantage
- Lakers were the only one of two teams to beat the Cavaliers on their home court this season
- LeBron James and Kobe Bryant are the last two regular season MVPs
The Lakers vs Cavaliers odds aren’t posted yet, but considering the two teams are heavy favorites in each conference, it’s likely that they’ll be meeting in the NBA Finals. For the Lakers, they’ll have to get through the Houston Rockets and either the Denver Nuggets or Dallas Mavericks, but those are all teams that the Lakers are more than capable of handling.
For the Cavaliers, the task is a bit easier considering they have the Atlanta Hawks on tap first, and then either the Orlando Magic or Boston Celtics, both of whom are injury-depleted. The Magic are without All-Star guard Jameer Nelson for the rest of the season, and they’re without Courtney Lee (fractured sinus) for a while as well. Meanwhile, the Celtics are without forwards Kevin Garnett and Leon Powe for the playoffs.
The Lakers vs Cavaliers odds might entice sportbook bettors to side with the Cavaliers because of the home court advantage, but keep in mind that until the last game of the season (when the Cavaliers rested all of their starters), the only team to defeat the Cavaliers at the Quicken Loans Arena was the Lakers. So while the Cavs will have home court advantage for the series, their one home loss to the Lakers will remain as somewhat of a caveat for bettors.
The matchup between LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, the last two regular season MVP’s in the NBA, will be the focus of Lakers vs Cavaliers oddsmakers, but in reality, the series will be decided in the front court. If the Lakers are on their game, the front court of Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom will be too much for the Cavaliers. But if the Lakers are lackadaisical, as they are known to be at times, then the Cavaliers defense will be able to contain the Lakers trio.
The Lakers are hungry, talented and deep, but the Lakers vs Cavaliers odds won’t be decided based on that. As NBA bettors know, defense wins Championships. With home court advantage and the league’s current MVP, bet on the Cavs to win the 2009 NBA Championship.
For more news on sports betting or analysis in the potential Lakers vs Cavaliers odds, check out the BetOnline.com Betting Edge daily.
Craig Parsons is an avid sports fan, but his true love has always been basketball. Too short to realize his dream of playing in the NBA, he did the next best thing: sports betting and covering basketball for a living. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
