2023 NBA Playoffs Odds: Lakers Now Favored to Win the West

Image ©Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

✍️ Written by :

Ty Bronicel

🗓 Updated :

Aug 23rd 2023

Exactly four months ago, on Feb. 9, the Los Angeles Lakers were in 13th place (out of 15 teams) in the Western Conference.

They were 25-30 and the season looked lost and the postseason unthinkable.

Then, they reacquired D’Angelo Russell, while also landing guard Malik Beasley and forward Jarred Vanderbilt in a three-team trade with the Jazz and the Timberwolves.

The Lakers got their groove back in the nick of time to make the play-in game where they knocked off Minnesota to become the No. 7 seed.

They dispatched the No. 2-seeded Memphis Grizzlies in six games and now they’re on the verge of ending Golden State’s plans of back-to-back titles.

And it hasn’t just been LeBron and AD, though they’ve both been superb through four games – well, except for that ugly Game 3 loss.

But if Lonnie Walker IV scores all 15 of his points in a single fourth quarter, as he did Monday night (May 8) against the Warriors, and Russell shoots 1 of 10 from the field and they still win … every opponent is in trouble.

Now, L.A. will try to close out Golden State in San Francisco (Wednesday, May 10) and after that, the Lakers would face the winner of the knotted (2-2) Suns-Nuggets series.

Even though the Lakers wouldn’t have home-court advantage against either Phoenix (No. 4 seed) or Denver (No. 1), the money keeps coming in on L.A. to reach the Finals.

I’m still saying the Suns are setting soon, but if Nikola Jokic’s 53 points can’t get it done for Denver, that’s disconcerting.

The Joker needs some help, gents.

I still believe both of these series will go to Game 7s. The NBA will be delighted if it’s the Lakers, Warriors or Suns to emerge out of the West. Less so about the Nuggets.

And if it’s Celtics vs. Lakers, which is starting to look more and more likely – and which I’m certain is the preference – the ratings would be monstrous.

OK, so let’s look at the current odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook, one of our favorite betting sites out there.