NBA Odds: Los Angeles Lakers Pegged As Huge Favorites Over Denver Nuggets In West Finals

The Los Angeles Lakers are predicted to have a cakewalk on their way back to the NBA Finals.

Despite facing palpable warning signs from the surging Denver Nuggets, the Lakers still got the confidence of the bookmakers as LeBron James and crew are heavily favored to win the Western Conference Finals.

The Lakers are pegged -650 as favorites to seize the WCF title, while the Nuggets are huge underdogs at +425, according to Odds Shark.

The Nuggets served notice in the NBA after they completed yet another 3-1 comeback at the expense of the Clippers on Tuesday, which, in the process, sabotaged what could have been the first-ever Battle of Los Angeles in the Conference Finals.

Led by Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, the Nuggets have earned the tag as the ultimate shock troopers after achieving two straight come from behind series victories this postseason.

But while the threat is glaring, analysts believe it won’t be enough to stop the Lakers from making their trip back to the Finals for the 17^th time in franchise history.

“This is perhaps the best chance for LeBron, now 35, to win a title with the Lakers. He doesn’t have to go through the Clippers or the Bucks,” Shaun Powell of NBA.com wrote.

“LeBron for those reasons should be the most motivated player on the floor, bringing a sense of urgency. That doesn’t necessarily translate into victory and a happy ending, though. He’ll need at least a few blockbuster performances from his tag-team partner, Davis.

“That’s because the Nuggets are bringing good flow and the belief that anything’s possible; their 6-0 record in elimination games is sufficient evidence of that. But the Nuggets’ depth must show up for this to be a surprise series. Lakers in six.”

The Lakers were hardly challenged during the first two rounds of the Playoffs: dispatching the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round, then the Houston Rockets in the second - both of which did not last more than five games.

Although they are well-rested, the Lakers are still wary of too much complacency as they brace to avoid being the next prey to Denver’s upset genes.

"Anyone of these three teams remaining can beat us, and the Denver Nuggets are a terrific basketball team,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said, per ESPN.

"So while we have players that have been there, we've not been there as a group yet. So we're still super hungry to get the job done, recognizing and respecting the opponents that are still remaining."

Game 1 of the best-of-seven series starts on Friday, 9 p.m. Eastern Time.