Posted on 4/17/2008 4:19:50 PM

NBA Betting Picks - Futures Market Points to Lakers-Celtics Final

By BetUS Staff

NBA betting is back in business on the championship futures market. It took nearly every single one of the 82 games in the regular season, but we finally know the identities of all 16 teams in the playoffs.

If you grew up in the 1980s, the odds for some hoops nostalgia are in your favor. We may be looking at the first NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics (65-16 straight up, 51-28-2 against the spread at press time) and the Los Angeles Lakers (57-25 SU, 47-33-1 ATS) since 1987. They are the top seeds in their respective conferences; Boston is a big –250 chalk to win the East, while L.A. is priced at +120 in the very competitive West.

It’s not too often the Lakers get to play the “underappreciated” card, but facing Boston in the finals this year would be one of those times. The retooled Celtics have captured the nation’s attention from the moment Kevin Garnett was traded to Boston by the Minnesota Timberwolves. The C’s finished 24-58 last year; add Garnett, Ray Allen, Sam Cassell, P.J. Brown and Eddie House, and they have a chance to reach the Finals for the first time since losing to L.A. in ’87.

The Lakers, meanwhile, have been to the finals seven times in the past 20 years, winning four Larry O’Brien trophies. Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher return from the 2002 champions, as does coach Phil Jackson. Otherwise, this is not the same team at all. Getting Pau Gasol (19.9 points, 8.3 rebounds per 36 minutes) was a major step toward the championship, and getting Andrew Bynum (16.4 points, 12.7 boards/36) back in time for the Finals would be even bigger.

Bynum’s return date from a dislocated kneecap remains uncertain. If the Lakers want to handle Garnett and tough-guy Kendrick Perkins in the paint, they’ll need both Gasol and Bynum available. The Celtics are relatively healthy for the playoffs and are favored at +165 to win the title; Los Angeles is next at +275.

Among the other familiar names on the futures market, the defending champion San Antonio Spurs are +600 to repeat – the same price as the 2004 champs, the Detroit Pistons. The latest NBA odds on all 16 teams on the market are always just a click away.

You’ll find the latest 2007-2008 NBA odds and lines in the best online sportsbook, BetUS.com. Betting on NBA player and game props makes every aspect of the game exciting. Join BetUS.com today to bet on the NBA and make online sports betting work for you!