Cleveland and Los Angeles both easily defeated their opposition in the first round of this season’s NBA playoffs to reach the Conference Semi-Finals.
Thursday 30th April 2009
After defeating the Utah Jazz in the first round of this year’s playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers are still the bookmakers’ favourite to win the National Basketball Association (NBA) title this season.
The men’s professional basketball post-season got underway last weekend in the US with 16 teams, eight from each of the NBA’s two conferences, competing against a league rival in a best-of-seven series. The eight winners will then move on to a conference semi-final with the four victors going to a conference final before the two remaining teams, one each from the Eastern and Western Conference, meet in the NBA Final beginning on June 4.
The Lakers were last year’s beaten finalists and are listed at odds of 23/18 with BetDaq.com to lift the title this season. Similarly, WBX.com is offering the Western Conference team at 39/29 while Betfair.com is going with the more traditional 7/5.
Still second favourite, the Cleveland Cavaliers have never won a title but the Eastern Conference team swept the Detroit Pistons in four games in the first round to set up a Conference Semi-Final match-up against either Miami or Atlanta. The Ohio team are listed at odds of 6/5 with WBX.com while BetDaq.com is giving 18/11 followed by Betfair.com with 31/18.
Last year’s champion Boston Celtics were a very distant third favourite with PaddyPower.com showing odds of 15/2 before the 8/1 on offer from SkyBet.com and SportingBet.com. However, the Massachusetts team is currently struggling against its Eastern Conference foe Chicago Bulls in the first round and are listed at 13/1 with Betfair.com. Even longer, BetDaq.com is offering 27/2 with Betfair.com showing 31/2.
Other teams of interest for 2009’s title include the Orlando Magic, who has fallen from 10/1 with PaddyPower.com and StanJames.com to 20/1 with BetDaq.com and 24/1 with WBX.com. Another, the Denver Nuggets, has seen its odds improve slightly and it looks almost certain to beat New Orleans to progress to the Conference Semi-Finals. Originally listed at 14/1 with SkyBet.com when the playoffs began, the Colorado team are now 14/9 with BetDaq.com while WBX.com is showing 35/2 followed by Betfair.com with 18/1.
