Lakers becoming value bet to win NBA Finals amidst recent streak
The Los Angeles Lakers could be a value bet to win the NBA Finals in the 2023-24 season after winning eight of their last 10 games.
By Peter Dewey
The Los Angeles Lakers are surging late in the 2023-24 season, winning eight of their last 10 games, and the team is just half a game out of the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.
Earning the No. 8 seed in the regular season would be huge for Los Angeles as it would give the team two chances to earn a playoff spot in the West. Los Angeles was the No. 8 seed last season, and it won the first Play-In Tournament game to capture the No. 7 spot in the West.
The Lakers and LeBron James ended up reaching the Western Conference Finals as a result.
Now, the Lakers enter the last week of the regular season with a chance to make that happen, but they’ll need to take care of business and hope a team like Sacramento or New Orleans slips up. The Kings are the team the Lakers could overtake the easiest at this point since they’re less than a game back.
Lakers remaining schedule
- vs. Golden State Warriors
- @ Memphis Grizzlies
- @ New Orleans Pelicans
Kings remaining schedule
- @ Oklahoma City Thunder
- vs. New Orleans Pelicans
- vs. Phoenix Suns
- vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Three of the teams that the Kings face have a lot to play for in the playoff race, so it’s possible that the Lakers – especially if they win out – can steal the No. 8 spot.
Lakers odds to win the NBA Finals this season
The Lakers are +3200 at FanDuel Sportsbook to win the NBA Finals, but the team has shown it can make a deep run in the playoffs no matter where it starts in the seeding.
Los Angeles certainly would love to avoid the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs, but the team could find itself matched up with a young Oklahoma City squad or a banged-up Minnesota Timberwolves team depending upon how the top of the conference shakes out.
I will caution that if the Lakers end up in the No. 9 seed, betting on them to win the Finals becomes a lot more risky since they have to win two play-in games in a row, but there’s still time for the team to earn the No. 8 spot.
Plus, in what win-or-go-home scenario would anyone really want to bet against LeBron?
At +3200, the Lakers are one of the few teams with the star power and the proven ability to make a deep playoff run that are this far down in the odds.
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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
Find Peter Dewey's NBA betting record here (futures included). You can also follow my daily plays on BetStamp here.