A sense of optimism is building that the 2019-20 NBA season can be saved despite being derailed by the coronavirus pandemic, with many in the sport reportedly on board with a plan to see out the campaign in a designated “bubble city.”
The Athletic’s Sam Amick cited several owner and player sources as advocates for resuming the NBA season in the coming months—June has been mooted as a likely date—and those questioned on the matter have appeared flexible to adapt as the landscape shifts.
Sports bettors in New Jersey can place wagers on who will win this year’s championship via BetMGM, with the Milwaukee Bucks leading as +240 (3.40) favorites to clinch their first title in almost half a century.
The franchise won its only Finals series to date in 1971 and is again in the frame to top the NBA peak, though the Los Angeles Lakers follow closely behind at odds of +250 (3.50).
Both teams lead their respective tables—in the Central and Atlantic divisions—as things stand, with Milwaukee having won a league-wide high of 53 games this season (12 losses).
LeBron James’ Lakers are also at slightly shorter odds of +115 (2.15) to top the Western Conference with BetMGM, which looks all but certain given they’ve won five games more than the second-place Clippers despite having played one fewer.
The Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics are two of five teams priced at +2000 (30.00) to win this year’s Finals, sitting level with the Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat.
Toronto are defending champions after beating the Golden State Warriors in last season’s series and could be enticing at that price as they seek back-to-back crowns.
The coronavirus has killed more than 140,000 people worldwide as of Thursday, per theCenter for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.
It remains uncertain when major sports will get back underway following the pause caused by the pandemic, but league organisers appear eager to find some way of finishing this campaign when it is safe to do so.
