Prior to the playoffs, the Lakers were 2nd in the favorites to win the NBA championship this season, that odds are based on the healthy squad of the Lakers.  So if one star is down, the odds will not be justifiable anymore. The odds have changed now.

https://www.oddsshark.com/nba/championship-odds


But before Harden was traded, Brooklyn was not in the top favorite, it was the Lakers.

You see, it changes depending on the status of the team, Lakers are just unlucky they have injury problems this season.

I have to say I do not usually say that Refs are bad for a game because it is a quick easy way to get out, and I do believe that NBA refs are the worst refs in any sports, I watch almost all the famous sports and by far very easily NBA refs are the worst, only close competition is premier league refs.

However refs usually make horrible calls for both sides, I have never seen a ref be bad towards just one team because they do not really favor one team over another or at least make that known with calls, gotta give it to them they are always acting honest when it comes to teams, they suck for BOTH teams which is not good at all of course but at least fair. This game however was different, I have seen many many different times when Clippers got the favored call, Luka Doncic was murdered basically and he couldn't get most of the fouls, he would have 2x amount of FT if he got the calls he should have gotten.

Yeah, but Bucks though is a improve taam, they have matured and invested on players that can play defense. So for me it will be a close series, the only talent the Nets have is the big 3 and then Joe Harris. The Bucks have Giannis Middleton and Jrue Holiday. Brook Lopez did play good against the Wizards, and I'm thinking he can continue with his high percentage hook shot against Blake.

This will be a really intresting match bucks won in the last two matches. Harden didnt play for them this was a big minus for that squad maybe thats why they lost those games. But i think this will probobly be one of the intresting matches in the play offs maybe another 7 match game

Not happening now as Kyrie and KD is really taking over.

Almost end of the 3rd with only 3 minutes left 83-75 in favor of Nets no Harden no problem as of the moment, role players like Harris and Griffin is standing up to help the two superstars while Claxton also protecting the rim, The chemistry are enough to compete with the visiting Bucks, one more quarter and we will see who's gonna take this game..

^^ Nets already proved in game 1 that they can win without Harden, and one of their superstars stepping up in Griffin. Huge game for him, I haven't seen the entire game but see him making three's and then playing good defense and rebounds. Bucks has no answer for him, even Giannis cannot penetrated against the good defense of Griffin. Was a close game early, but Nets took over in the third, sure they live up the the betting odds as the favorite.

They needed a big body to stop Giannis from getting a momentum to attack the paint and Griffin is the best choice for that position.
Coach Nash did a good job analyzing the outcome of the game.
Now it will be the Bucks problem on how they would react after losing. I saw big errors that I hope they will see after reviewing the game.
One is they cannot handle one on one defense with Kyrie and Durant. Lopez also lettting Griffin free in the three point line which should not happen and we witnessed how he punished them for leaving him open. They lack trusting each other to get the rebound.

Yes, they didn't miss Harden after all because Blake Griffin and Joe Harris cover for him as both have a good game against the Bucks. I want Giannis though to really penetrate and challenge Blake or Durant in the middle, but it seems that Giannis weakness is still there, one on one fronting. He can post, but when he try to go one on one facing Blake, it seems that Giannis cannot get past Blake's defence and opted to pass the ball. It seems that Giannis is still not comfortable with this approach on his game and really need to improve it.

It's actually Blake Griffin here who made a big difference for the team, he is playing with the hustle and he was rewarded for that. Durant and Irving, we know they can contribute but Blake Griffin just steps us his game big time.

There is, if you look at the betting odds before the season starts, you got Lakers, Bucks, and Nets who are the top 3 favorites to win a championship, and Lakers are the only one that is down now, well that is due to injury problems but they are done still.

This season is quite different compared to the past as one of the early favorites is down and it makes the competition more unpredictable.