The upcoming NBA season should see parity that has been rare throughout the past three decades of NBA history. The reason, the rise of the ‘dynamic duo’ throughout the league. In Los Angeles of course there is Lebron James and the Lakers who have now added a dominant co-star in Anthony Davis, but there is also a new western power in the Los Angeles Clippers who now feature Paul George and 2019 NBA Finals MVP Kawhai Leonard. Down in Houston the Rockets have the ex-teammates turned megastars reunited in James Harden and Russell Westbrook, and as always still very much a factor in the west is the ‘Splash Brothers’ Steph Curry and Klay Thompson.
The Eastern Conference features some new marquee teams as well. The Philadelphia 76ers have become a popular pick to lead the way with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons there still ‘trusting the process’. But the Brooklyn Nets will feature Kyrie Irving (and eventually, though likely not this regular season) past league MVP Kevin Durant. The betting favorite to win the Eastern Conference is still the Milwaukee Bucks who have reigning league MVP ‘The Greek Freak’ Giannis Antetokounmpo and rising star Khris Middleton.
Watch Out, NBA! LeBron is healthy and poised for a big 2019-2020.
All these top talents teaming up has led to uncommon Vegas odds on who will be crowned the 2020 NBA Champions. There are 5 teams with odds that are 10-1 or better the Los Angeles Clippers lead the way at 3.5 to 1 followed closely by the Lakers at 4:1, then the Milwaukee Bucks at 6:1 and Houston Rockets at 8:1 and not far behind sits the Warriors at 12:1. Looking back before last season it was hard not to ignore the talk of the NBA becoming stale with the same teams meeting in the finals year after year. Flash forward one year and it seems the league is likely to see one of the most competitive and exciting seasons in decades and we for one are eager to see it!
