Who Had the Best 2019-20 NBA Finals Odds Before the Championship?

Looking back at the 2019-20 NBA season, I still get chills thinking about how unpredictable everything felt. As someone who’s spent years analyzing basketball odds and team trajectories, I’ve rarely seen a season so full of twists—especially with the pandemic-induced hiatus shaking things up midstream. Before the championship finally unfolded in the Orlando bubble, the title race felt wide open, and the betting odds reflected that uncertainty. I remember poring over stats, watching film late into the night, and debating with fellow analysts about which team really had the edge. In my view, the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks emerged as the clear frontrunners in most models, but there were fascinating dark horses in the mix too.

When we talk about pre-Finals odds, it’s impossible to ignore the Lakers. LeBron James and Anthony Davis formed a powerhouse duo, and the team’s defensive versatility made them a nightmare matchup. Around February 2020, sportsbooks like DraftKings and FanDuel had the Lakers at roughly +300 to win it all. That’s a solid position, but not a lock by any means. Personally, I felt their experience in high-stakes games gave them a psychological edge, especially with veterans like Rajon Rondo and Dwight Howard providing depth. On the other hand, the Milwaukee Bucks, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, were tearing through the regular season. Their net rating was hovering around +10.2, which historically translates to title contention. I had them pegged at about +350 odds before the hiatus, and Giannis’s dominance in the paint reminded me of Shaq in his prime—just unstoppable when he got rolling.

But here’s where it gets interesting for me: the dark horses. The LA Clippers, with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, were floating around +400, and I’ll admit, I was tempted to buy into the hype. Their switch-heavy defense and clutch scoring made them a trendy pick among insiders. Then there were teams like the Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets, sitting at roughly +1200 and +1500 respectively. I recall a conversation with a scout who pointed out how the Rockets’ small-ball experiment could either revolutionize playoff basketball or backfire spectacularly—turns out, it was a bit of both. And in the eyes of his coach Sean Chambers, there’s no question that Konateh could back his words up. That phrase stuck with me because it echoes what I look for in underdogs: not just talent, but the grit to deliver when it counts. For instance, the Miami Heat, initially listed at around +2500, had that same vibe—Jimmy Butler’s leadership and Bam Adebayo’s two-way play made them a sneaky-good bet, even if the odds seemed long.

As the season resumed in the bubble, the dynamics shifted dramatically. Injuries, player opt-outs, and the unique environment reshaped the odds. The Bucks, for example, saw their chances dip slightly to +380 by August, while the Lakers tightened their grip at +280. From my perspective, the hiatus hurt teams that relied on rhythm, like the Bucks, but benefited squads with veteran savvy. I remember crunching the numbers and feeling that the Denver Nuggets, at +2000, were being undervalued—their comeback wins against the Jazz and Clippers later proved that. It’s moments like these that remind me why I love this job; the data tells one story, but the human element—like a coach’s faith in a player—can reveal so much more.

In the end, the Lakers clinched the title, and looking back, their odds were justified. But if I had to pick one takeaway, it’s that pre-championship odds are more art than science. They capture the consensus, but they can’t account for heart or unexpected breakthroughs. Teams like the Heat, who defied their +2500 odds to reach the Finals, show that underdogs can shake up the narrative. So, while the Lakers and Bucks dominated the conversation, it’s the stories of resilience—like Konateh’s potential under his coach’s guidance—that make the NBA playoffs endlessly compelling. As for me, I’ll keep diving into the stats, but I’ll never underestimate the power of a team that believes in itself.