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Wednesday, March 09, 2011

Surging Lakers Take On Struggling Heat in Potential NBA Finals Preview

The Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers will meet this Thursday in a clash of NBA contenders not seen since, well, the Christmas Day match up between the same two squads.

Bet on Lakers vs. Heat with Bodog’s online sportsbook.

For the duration of the 2010-11 season there has never really been any doubt as to which two franchises bear the brunt of expectations as the final playoff stretch fast approaches - until now.

Heading into the week of their big clash, the Heat have struggled, dropping four consecutive games between Feb. 27 and Mar. 6. It is little consolation for Miami that all four games have come against top tier competition.

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and company know that in order to reach the heights many thought they would, they’ll have to get through the top teams in either conference anyway.

Though the Heat prevailed in their December game against the Lakers - quite convincingly in fact (96-80) - the Lakers have flourished of late while Miami looks desperate to pick up the pieces of a scrambled season.

The Los Angeles Lakers are winners of seven straight games at the end of February and into early March, and the Lakers are closing in on the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks for the top spot in the Western Conference.

According to Bodog’s online sportsbook, the Lakers have league-best 3/1 odds of winning the NBA championship.

Though there are a number of worthwhile title candidates in San Antonio (5/1), Dallas (12/1) and even Boston (9/2) and Chicago (9/1), the only real test for the Lakers, in the eyes of oddsmakers, is Miami, also with 3/1 odds.

We’ve seen the Heat go through rough spells on a number of occasions already this year, but they consistently seem to find ways to iron out their problems. Is the rest of the league finally figuring out how to stop their three-headed monster?

Get all your NBA odds at Bodog.

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