NBA Betting Odds near Final Stretch

With about 12 games left to play in the regular season, the NBA betting odds receive center stage, no less, right along the NCAA March Madness College Basketball Championship.

At least the baseball season is still 162 games away from ending...

The Professional News
There have been no sure bets on the Finals match-up since the famed rivalry of the 80's between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. Then again, it is those two teams that are leading their respectable conferences as we head into the last stretch.

So will people bet on a Lakers-Celtics Finals? Don't bet on that.

The Celtics lost their last game against the Philadelphia 76ers. And are on a two game losing streak. If the standings remain as they are today, Pierce, Garnett, Allen and Team will face the Atlanta Hawks, widely respected as a dangerous team, a potential Playoff surprise.

Which incited the Washington Wizards' Antawn Jamison's response after leading his team to a victory over the Detroit Pistons. Even before the expected return of Gilbert Arenas, the Wizards might turn out to be the big surprise team. This year there is no sure bet even as to who will be the surprise team!

Meanwhile on the West Coast, the Lakers met potential first round rivals Golden State Warriors in back to back games. While the team from Oakland won the first game by four points, it was the Southern Californians who won the second match, by four points as well (after overtime).

Note: a first-round match-up between the two is likely to include injured Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum back in the line-up in yellow jerseys.

If nothing else, such a match-up is sure to be exciting to follow.

The Betting Implications
Throughout the season, ups and downs, the Celtics have been the most consistent team as favorite to win the NBA Championship. They are +370. Their mythological rivals, the Lakers, are second at +410.

The San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons, somewhat quiet throughout the season - a quiet that speaks loudly of their experience in the money-time - are the third and fourth, respectively, +470 and +510.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, behind Lebron James (What are the odds on MVP candidates?) are +1450 to win the Finals, which they reached a year ago.

Here at Online Casino Reports, we will keep following the trends, as surely you will too.