NBA Odds Champion 2020: Which Teams Have the Best Championship Chances?
As I sat courtside at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Monday watching Gilas' incredible 103-98 comeback victory against the Macau Black Bears, I couldn't help but draw parallels to the upcoming NBA championship race. The way Abarrientos contributed those crucial two points in just five minutes of play reminded me that championship teams aren't just about superstars - they're about depth, timing, and those unexpected contributions that change everything. This brings me to the 2020 NBA season, where several teams are positioning themselves for what could be one of the most unpredictable championship races in recent memory.
Looking at the current landscape, the Los Angeles Lakers have emerged as the clear frontrunners in my assessment, and I'll tell you why. With LeBron James playing at an MVP level - he's averaging 25.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, and a league-leading 10.6 assists per game - and Anthony Davis providing dominant two-way play, they've created a synergy that's rare even among superteams. What really impressed me during their recent 12-game winning streak was how they've managed to integrate role players like Danny Green and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope into meaningful contributions. The Lakers are currently sitting at 49-14, giving them the best record in the Western Conference, and frankly, I don't see anyone in the West having enough firepower to take them down in a seven-game series. Their defensive rating of 105.5 points per 100 possessions ranks third in the league, and in playoff basketball, defense typically travels better than offense.
Now, let's talk about the Milwaukee Bucks, because any serious championship conversation has to include Giannis Antetokounmpo and company. The Bucks have been absolutely dominant this season, posting a league-best 53-12 record before the hiatus, and their net rating of +10.7 is historically great. Giannis is putting up video game numbers - 29.6 points, 13.7 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game - and he's surrounded by the perfect complementary pieces in Brook Lopez's floor spacing and Khris Middleton's secondary scoring. However, and this is where my personal skepticism comes in, I've seen this movie before with Mike Budenholzer-coached teams. They dominate the regular season but struggle to adjust in playoff settings. Their reliance on three-point shooting - they attempt 38.9 per game - makes them vulnerable when shots aren't falling, much like we saw in last year's conference finals.
The dark horse that really fascinates me is the Los Angeles Clippers. On paper, they have everything you'd want in a championship contender: two elite closers in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, incredible depth with Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell coming off the bench, and a coach in Doc Rivers who's been there before. Their net rating of +6.4 might not jump off the page compared to Milwaukee, but they've been managing load and injuries all season. When fully healthy, I genuinely believe they have the tools to beat anyone in a seven-game series. Kawhi's playoff pedigree - he's won two Finals MVP awards - gives them a psychological edge that's hard to quantify but incredibly valuable come playoff time.
Then there's the team I personally find most intriguing - the Houston Rockets. Their decision to fully commit to small ball with no traditional center was initially met with skepticism, but it's created matchup nightmares for opponents. James Harden is averaging a ridiculous 34.4 points per game, and Russell Westbrook's athleticism in this system has been transformative. The Rockets are attempting 44.3 three-pointers per game, which is both revolutionary and terrifying because when they're hot, they can beat anyone by 30, but when they're cold, they can lose to anyone. I love their boldness, but I question whether this extreme style can hold up through four playoff rounds.
The Eastern Conference beyond Milwaukee presents some interesting possibilities. The Toronto Raptors have defied expectations after losing Kawhi Leonard, posting a 46-18 record with what I consider the best coaching job of Nick Nurse's career. Their defensive versatility and Pascal Siakam's emergence as a bona fide star give them a puncher's chance. The Boston Celtics, with Jayson Tatum's ascension to superstardom - he's averaging 30.7 points per game since February - and their switch-heavy defense, could surprise people. And let's not completely count out the Philadelphia 76ers, though their road struggles and fit issues between Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons make me skeptical about their championship viability.
What makes this particular championship race so compelling is the unprecedented circumstances surrounding the season's resumption. The bubble environment in Orlando creates variables we've never seen before - no home court advantage, unusual scheduling, and the psychological impact of extended isolation. Teams with strong chemistry and mental toughness, like the Denver Nuggets with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray's two-man game, might benefit more than we anticipate. The Miami Heat, with Jimmy Butler's leadership and their incredible 41-19 record in clutch games, could be a dangerous playoff opponent for anyone.
As we approach the playoffs, I'm keeping my eye on injury reports and conditioning more than ever before. The extended layoff means some players will return fresher than they've been in years, while others might struggle to find rhythm. Teams with older superstars like the Lakers might benefit from the rest, while younger, athletic teams like the Bucks might lose some of their rhythm. Having covered the NBA for fifteen years, I've never seen a championship race with so many unknown variables, which makes it both fascinating and incredibly difficult to predict.
If I had to place my bets today, I'd give the Lakers a 38% chance, the Bucks 25%, the Clippers 20%, and the remaining 17% distributed among dark horses like the Rockets, Celtics, and Raptors. But what makes basketball beautiful is its unpredictability - much like Abarrientos' impact in limited minutes during that Gilas game, we could see an unexpected hero emerge from nowhere to shift the championship landscape. The 2020 NBA champion won't necessarily be the best team on paper, but the one that adapts best to these unprecedented circumstances and finds contributions from unexpected places when it matters most.