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The current NBA regular season is being put on hold until further notice, due to the global coronavirus pandemic, but the attention is there on the 29 out of 30 teams which still compete for the title.
Surprisingly, the runners-up from last year and winners from 2015, 2017 and 2018, the Golden State Warriors are the only ones eliminated from the playoff contention, having won just 15 of their 65 games.
That means no Stephen Curry for these playoffs. But we still have the likes of LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers), James Harden (Houston Rockets), Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets), Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers), Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers), Paul George (Los Angeles Clippers) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) to rock the stage for this season.
The Greece-born Antetokounmpo is the last season’s MVP, at just 24 years, becoming the third-youngest player to win this trophy over the past 40 seasons.
And these are the current superstars of the NBA tour, which can anytime feature in an All-Star Game. Six of these eight players feature roosters of the top four Unibet Sportsbook favorites, so no wonder such players are a real gold mine for their teams.
Speaking of odds, here are the top four favorites and an honorary fifth one:
Milwaukee Bucks (+250)
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s team have the best winning percentage until this moment, topping the Eastern Conference and already ensuring a playoff spot. Last year they lost to the Raptors in the conference finals, so the Bucks are the ones to watch right now. They are the only team to have reached 50 wins so far.
The odds are +250.
Los Angeles Lakers (+250)
In the Western Conference, the Lakers lead the way and are just one win short of the 50 threshold. With LeBron James, Anthony Davis and having Dwight Howard back, they will want to get back on the top, after last year they missed the playoffs. The Lakers played the last NBA finals 10 years ago.
The odds are also +250.
Los Angeles Clippers (+333)
The Clippers made it just to the first round of the playoffs last year, but now they are second behind the Lakers in their conference. With the likes of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, they can beat their best ever record to date – 3rd place in the conference in 2015 and dramatically losing in the conference semifinals to the Rockets, after leading 3-1 and having a disastrous fourth quarter in game six.
The odds are +333.
Houston Rockets (+1300)
OK, so Rockets are the fourth for the bookers, but they still got James Harden and also Russell Westbrook, which joined from Oklahoma City Thunder. Now they are leading their Southwest Division, after being knocked-out in the conference semifinals last year.
The odds are +1300.
Toronto Raptors (+1800)
Last year’s champions rule their Atlantic Division for seven years now, having the seventh in-a-row appearance in the playoffs. With 46 wins, they have already clinched their spot in the last 16. OK, so maybe they don’t have a team of stars, and maybe Kyle Lowry isn’t quite a superstar, but don’t forget that last year they won it all – division, conference and finals. And this season they are second in the Eastern Conference.
The odds are +1800.
Boston Celtics and Miami Heat are following the Raptors in the conference, on 3rd and 4th spot, and also at Unibet Sportsbook odds, with +2000. We’ll just have to wait for the season to resume to see who makes the final cut.
