Will the incomparable LeBron James and the re-loaded Los Angeles Lakers fight off all challengers to repeat according to the NBA Western Conference championship odds? Could a humbled Los Angeles Clippers play up to the championship expectations everyone had for them?
Will the hungry Golden State Warriors get back to the top of the heap out West without Klay Thompson or could the Dallas Mavericks or Portland Trail Blazers upset the entire apple cart?
With the start of the 2020-21 NBA regular season just over two weeks away, now is a perfect time to analyze the value-packed NBA futures odds to win the 2021 Western Conference Championship!
With the West brimming with talented ballclubs all looking to make the leap to championship winners, let’s find out just what five teams stand the best online betting chances of winning the Western Conference.
The upcoming 2020-21 campaign will be the NBA’s 75th season. In NBA COVID-19 news, the ongoing pandemic has reduced the regular season from its normal 82 games to 72 games, beginning on Tuesday, December 22, 2020. The playoffs are tentatively set for its usual 16-team format beginning on May 22. Due to COVID-19 cross-border travel restrictions imposed by the Canadian government, the Toronto Raptors plan to play their 2020–21 home games at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
NBA Western Conference Championship Odds to Win – 2021
Los Angeles Lakers +125
Los Angeles Clippers +275
Golden State Warriors +900
Denver Nuggets +800
Houston Rockets +1400
Dallas Mavericks +1100
Portland Trail Blazers +2000
New Orleans Pelicans +2800
Phoenix Suns +1900
Utah Jazz +1400
Oklahoma City Thunder +9000
Memphis Grizzlies +6500
Minnesota Timberwolves +8500
Sacramento Kings +8500
San Antonio Spurs +6500
NBA Western Conference Championship Odds : Top 5 Picks To Win
No. 5 Golden State Warriors
The three-time championship-winning Warriors finished with the worst record in the league last season (15-50), but Steph Curry is back. Yes, the loss of Klay Thompson will definitely hurt the Dubs, but the good news is that Golden State signed blossoming swingman Kelly Oubre Jr. in free agency while also adding veteran backcourt performers Kent Bazemore and Brad Wanamaker. Golden State also landed a big-time talent with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, former Memphis center James Wiseman, the 2019 National High School Player of the Year, but the Dubs will have to find their new identity while going up against a handful of western conference rivals that have all gotten better this offseason.
Let’s look at some long-shot NBA conference contenders right here!
No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers might be the No. 2 overall pick to win the West, but they’re my No. 4 pick to win and cash in after seeing them underachieve for the vast majority of last season and suffering an epic collapse against Denver in the playoffs after leading 3-1. LA parted ways with head coach Doc Rivers and lost All-Star power forward and Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell in free agency.
The Clippers did re-sign veteran forward Marcus Morris Sr. while adding veteran big man Serge Ibaka, and veteran swingmen Luke Kennard and Nicolas Batum in free agency, so their free agency wasn’t completely a loss. Los Angeles also signed assistant Tyron Lue to be their head coach so there’s some continuity in that area. On Thursday, the Clippers made a bigger splash by re-signing forward Paul George to a four-year $190 million extension, but until I see otherwise, I genuinely believe the Clippers have been surpassed in the chase to win the 2021 Western Conference crown and NBA championship despite going 49-23 in the regular season to finish second to the Lakers out west.
No. 3 Denver Nuggets
Denver went 46-27 to finish third out West last season. The still-blossoming Nuggets look better heading into 2020-21. Denver knocked off Utah in the first round by coming back from a 3-1 series deficit. Then, the Nuggets pulled off the rare feat by doing it again in the semis. Trailing the favored LA Clippers 3-1, the Denver Nuggets won three straight while holding the Clips to less than 100 points in each of the final two games.
Let’s check out the regular season win total odds in the Northwest Division in 2021!
The Nuggets have a certified star in All-Star center Nikola Jokic. Another player that took the leap to stardom last season in point guard Jamal Murray. To make matters even better, the Nuggets will almost assuredly get some serious contributions this coming season from gifted forward Michael Porter Jr. He moves into the starting lineup. Denver parted ways with forward Jerami Grant, big man Mason Plumlee and Torrey Craig, among others. However, they also added forward JaMychal Green and Argentine point guard Facundo Campazzo in free agency while landing Arizona forward Zeke Nnaji with the 22nd overall pick in the draft and guard RJ Hampton with the 24th overall pick.
No. 2 Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers are offering a ton of value. Portland went an uninspiring 35-39 last season to finish eighth. But, the Blazers looked mostly fantastic down the stretch by winning seven of their final nine games, beating Memphis in a thrilling play-in game. Portland took Game 1 against the Lakers in their first-round playoff series. But then, Damian Lillard got hurt and Portland’s chances of an upset vanished.
Is it Dame Time? I think so! Let’s look at Damian Lillard’s 2021 NBA MVP Odds!
I love the Blazers more going forward. Lillard is the best point guard in the league and has an All-Star backcourt mate in CJ McCollum. The addition of veteran forward Carmelo Anthony was a huge success. He’s back. More importantly, Portland added do-it-all swingman Robert Covington, and effective veterans Derrick Jones, Enes Kanter, and Harry Giles in free agency while losing only veteran, Trevor Ariza. I’m expecting Portland to challenge for the Western Conference crown.
No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers
Being a lifelong Boston Celtics fanatic, I hate to admit it, but the fact of the matter is that the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers (52-19) improved their roster in a big way. The Lakers signed Anthony Davis to a five-year extension and Time Athlete of the Year LeBron James to a two-year extension.
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LA also signed Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell, point guard Dennis Schroeder, veteran swingman Wesley Matthews, and veteran center Marc Gasol in free agency. While the Lakers lost heady point guard Rajon Rondo, veteran guards Danny Green and Avery Bradley and veteran center Dwight Howard. But, their additions more than make up for those departures.
