The Lakers are a public favorite and the choice by many to win in NBA Finals betting. The Lakers are led by league MVP Kobe Bryant and Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson. NBA Finals odds have the Celtics as a 2.5 point favorite in Game One but the Lakers are the popular pick. The Lakers are led by Kobe but he has a good supporting cast led by center Pau Gasol. Also contributing is forward Lamar Odom and guard Derek Fisher. The Lakers have rolled through the playoffs while the Celtics have struggled. The teams met twice in the regular season but both meetings were before the Lakers added Gasol. The Lakers are involved in NBA Finals odds for the 23rd time since moving from Minneapolis to Los Angeles in 1961. The Lakers are 9-13 in the championship round of NBA Finals betting and they have an overall record of 59-67 in NBA Finals odds. It is the 29th time in franchise history the Lakers have made it to NBA Finals betting as they were 5-1 as the Minneapolis Lakers.
The Lakers have dominated in the 2008 playoffs and are expected to win in NBA Finals odds. They swept the Denver Nuggets in the opening round of the playoffs. They took six games to eliminate the Utah Jazz and then won in five games against the defending NBA Finals odds champs, the San Antonio Spurs. The last time the Lakers were involved in NBA Finals odds was in 2004 as they were upset by Detroit in five games. The Los Angeles Lakers won three straight NBA Finals betting titles from 2000-2002 with Kobe and Shaquille O’Neal leading the way. They are 6-3 in their last nine appearances in NBA Finals odds. The Lakers are led by league MVP Bryant who has averaged 31.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists in the playoffs.
NBA Finals odds have the Lakers as the 2-1 favorite to win the series. NBA Finals odds have Boston as a 2.5 point favorite in Game One. NBA Finals odds get underway for the 2008 NBA Finals on Thursday, June 5th.