Bettors Already Declare Lakers Season Over

Hope springs eternal for sports fans at the start of the regular season. From contenders to rebuilds, there's still the slight chance that something unexpected and positive could happen.

The NFL, for example, has had a last place team go from worst-to-first in every year since 2002 with the exception of 2014 and 2019.

However, for one set of NBA bettors, there's little to no hope represented in the L.A. Lakers this season.

According to BetMGM's John Ewing, the Lakers, despite a healthy roster of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook, opened the season at +230 to not make the postseason, and -250 to get in. After getting blown out to the defending champion Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night, the Lakers' odds plummeted on the negative side, with 96% of the bets on L.A. to miss the playoffs.

Can the Lakers Still Contend This Season?

I'm not going to hold their one brutal performance as a barometer for how I think their season could go, but the Lakers' offseason was not one that left fans feeling that they were headed in a positive direction.

Right now at FanDuel Sportsbook, the Lakers' over/under for regular season wins is set at 43.5, juiced to the over at -122 and even-money at under 43.5. While a 44 win season would put them at 44-28 on the year, it may not be enough to make them a serious contender in an improved and deeper Western Conference.

Much of the summer was focused on trying to move Russell Westbrook, but they failed to find a trade partner. Instead, L.A added some more depth in guard Lonnie Walker and forward/center Marvin Bagley, and acquired point guard Patrick Beverley for Jalen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson. They also saw Kentavious Caldwell-Pope go to the Denver Nuggets, and Malik Monk to the Sacramento Kings, losing some key outside shooting in the process.

L.A. moved on from Frank Vogel despite winning a championship several years ago, but new head coach Darvin Ham doesn't have the same type of depth that other contending clubs have in the Western Conference.

L.A. is currently as high as a 6-point underdog at home against their inner-city rival in the Clippers this evening. If they get blown out in their home opener for the second straight game, the newest splits update from the sportsbooks should be very interesting.

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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.