At the beginning of the 2020-21 season, the Lakers were heavy NBA betting favorites to repeat as champions. And that was not just the opinion of the basketball betting public. A poll of NBA general managers shared the idea of the gambling masses. Los Angeles was proclaimed as almost unbeatable for the 2021 NBA championship. However, that assessment was based on a perfect world without injuries. And that was the problem. LeBron James and Anthony Davis were worn down by the regular season. As a result, the Lakers were ousted by the Suns in the first round.
2021-22 Los Angeles Lakers Odds at SBG
| LA Lakers | Odds |
|---|---|
| Lakers to win NBA Championship | +400 |
| Lakers to win Western Conference Championship | +170 |
2021 Los Angeles Lakers SBG Odds Overview
On the whole, nobody was more aggressive in the offseason than the Lakers. Russell Westbrook is the marquee man edition. Additionally, Carmelo Anthony, Trevor Ariza, Dwight Howard, Wayne Ellington, and Kent Bazemore are an NBA version of the “Over The Hill Gang.” Los Angeles is gambling that the addition of respected veterans will get them over the online betting hump one final time. While the gambling masses see it that way, sharps aren’t drinking the Kool-Aid. Wise Guys are not convinced the Lakers have solved durability issues.
Go Westbrook Old Men
Russell Westbrook is the main star that arrives to join LeBron James and Anthony Davis. There is a reason why the Olympics adopted three on three basketball as a sport. Cause by the reality of an NBA champion needing three key players. Los Angeles boasts its own version of a Big Three with Westbrook’s arrival.
However, Westbrook brings similar baggage that applies to James and Davis. Westbrook will turn age 33 this November. In like manner, James turns age 37 in December. While Davis the young pup at age 28. Next season the NBA returns to the grind of a full 82-game season. How well will Westbrook, Lebron James, and Davis endure? In particular, James and Westbrook missed considerable playing time over the past three seasons.
Load Management Issue for Gamblers
Of major concern is the undeniable necessity for head coach Frank Vogel to use load management in 2021-22. He has no choice. As a result, the Lakers’ Big Three will be in and out of the lineup for long periods. Los Angeles is a perennial NBA betting overlay in the best of times. No matter how good the Laker record is, it is often accompanied by red ink. Casual money floods the betting window on Lakers games.
Despite going 42-30 in the 2020-21 regular season, the Lakers got the cash in just 32 out of 72 games. And then, in the postseason, LA covered only two out of seven games. There is nothing new about his flood of red ink. Wise Guys love OPPOSING the Lakers for this very reason. Too much casual money makes the price out of sight. On the whole, the Lakers don’t bring good betting value.
2021-22 Los Angeles Lakers SBG Free Pick
In this situation, gamblers would be wise to NOT step out on the Lakers. Media hype can’t cover for injury concerns. Also, there are plenty of strong alternatives in the Western Conference. Namely, the Suns, Jazz, and Nuggets proved their worth.
2021-22 Lakers SBG Best Bet: Lakers to NOT win the NBA championship.