If his time in Miami is anything to go by, LeBron James is way more successful when he’s playing with a good friend.
The four-time MVP won two consecutive championships while playing alongside buddy Dwyane Wade as part of a dominant Miami Heat team that also went to four straight finals. Now plying his trade in Los Angeles with the Lakers, LeBron is looking forward to playing with Anthony Davis, who joined the team this summer via a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans.
Davis and LeBron are well-known pals and share the same agent in Rich Paul. They attempted to team up during the past season but talks with the Pelicans blew up in the Lakers’ face, something which ultimately resulted in magic Johnson stepping down from his role as the team’s president of basketball operations.
These two superstars finally have what they want and will be playing with each other in a very competitive Western Conference next season. And, of course, it goes without saying – but general manager Rob Pelinka has put his neck on the line with a pretty bold claim. “For us anything short of a championship is not success,” he said last week.
For now, it’s all fun and games for these stars, but things will get really serious really soon. Davis was a guest of the James family for their iconic “Taco Tuesdays” just this week and their relationship of the court is as great as you could hope for for two teammates. But just how will it affect the Lakers’ chances of winning a title next season?
As mentioned earlier, LeBron is a proven winner in friendly company. His relationship with Davis should go a long way in helping bring the team success. The addition of DeMarcus Cousins could prove to be a huge factor as long as the big man remains healthy.
It’s pretty easy to tell that LeBron and Anthony’s closeness will be a huge positive for the Lakers, but it’s a new relationship being built nearby that could be the real deciding factor when it comes to where the title lands next year.
Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and the Clippers are forming a bond of their own out West and they’re expected to be the big dogs in the conference next season. Just when you thought the Lakers might sew things up after acquiring Davis and watching the Golden State Warriors lose both Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson – the latter to a serious injury – the Clippers pulled off the trade of all trades to bring the most sought-out star to their side of L.A.
The forward only recently led the Toronto Raptors to their first championship on the back one of the most impressive individual postseason runs in NBA history and he’s now part of what’s now arguably the most complete team in the league.
The Lakers have since been bumped to second favorites for the title next season and 888sport has odds of +375.00 them claiming what would be their first title since 2010. Bet365 has odds of +275.00 on them beating out all chasers to win the Western Conference and if you’re looking for the best sportsbooks from which to place your bets next season, then look no further than https://canadiansportsbetting.ca/top-online-canadian-sportsbooks/.
The Clippers, meanwhile, are at +200.00 to emerge Western Conference champions with William Hill and are +325.00 to win the championship outright with Betway. Bet365 has Kawhi at +200.00 to be named MVP but current holder Giannis Antetokounpo remains the favorite at +280.00.
