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Detroit Pistons: NBA Finals odds shift after Lillard trade

By Aaron Kellerstrass

Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts to a call during the second quarter of a game against the Detroit Pistons (Photo by Amanda Loman/Getty Images)
Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts to a call during the second quarter of a game against the Detroit Pistons (Photo by Amanda Loman/Getty Images) /
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The entire league is buzzing about the Damian Lillard trade that sent the superstar to the Bucks and made things more difficult for the Detroit Pistons and other teams in the Eastern Conference.

It’s not a given that the Bucks will be better after this trade, as they lost a valuable two-way player in Jrue Holiday and some of their depth by shipping out Grayson Allen in the deal. The Bucks won 58 games last season, best in the East, but they hope the addition of Lillard can help them get over some of their half-court offensive problems in the playoffs.

I wouldn’t be shocked if the Bucks didn’t win 58 games next season, but for them it is all about the rings and showing Giannis Antetokounmpo that they have every intention of competing for them as long as he is there.

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The oddsmakers think Lillard increases the Bucks’ chances of making the NBA Finals, as they got a bump in the odds that could entice bettors.

Detroit Pistons: NBA Finals odds shift after Lillard trade

Sportsbooks don’t actually adjust odds based on what they think will happen, they do it to get the maximum number of bets to ensure they don’t lose money.

So you can never think of odds as an endorsement, as they are really just a way to draw in bettors.

But according to Fanduel, the Bucks are now the favorites to make the NBA Finals at +360, overtaking the Boston Celtics, who were the favorites prior to the Lillard trade.

Here are the top five in odds to make the NBA Finals:

  • Milwaukee Bucks +360
  • Boston Celtics +500
  • Phoenix Suns +550
  • Denver Nuggets +650
  • Los Angeles Lakes +1200

If I were going to bet one of those teams to make the NBA Finals, I’d probably go with the defending champion Nuggets, though the Lakers are tempting at those odds as well.

The Detroit Pistons are at the bottom among the teams deemed to have no chance to make the NBA Finals with +50000 odds to do so. If you like throwing away money, this is the bet for you.

It’s wild how one player can shift the odds for an entire league but that’s exactly what happened when Damian Lillard went to the Bucks.

Next. Dream starting five for the Pistons five years from now. dark

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