Picking the 2009-2010 NBA Champion

With the National Basketball Association season opening next Tuesday, basketball betting fans are locking-in their picks for the most popular preseason prop bet: Odds to win the NBA Championship.

Bettors will not be shocked to see the defending NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers as the favorite to take home the silverware in June.

NBA Championship betting odds at betED.com have the Lakers at +200 odds.

Los Angeles finished the regular season with a 65-17 SU record, and went on to beat the Orlando Magic 4-1 in the NBA Finals to capture its 15th NBA title.

And the Lakers, who were a dominating 44-8 SU in the Western Conference last season, are huge favorites to win the conference again, at -135 odds.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, who were bounced by the Magic in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals, are at +300 to take the NBA Championship, and +120 to win the East.

The Cavs, who added veteran Shaquille O’Neal in the offseason, finished with the best record in the NBA last season at 66-16 SU and were 40-12 SU against Eastern Conference opponents.

The Boston Celtics, the 2008 NBA Champs, are at +400 to win the title this season.

Boston finished 62-20 SU last season and lost to the Magic in seven games in the conference semifinals.

Boston, which was 41-11 SU in the East last season, are at +160 to win the conference.

Some longshots to win the 2009-10 NBA Championship are the New Orleans Hornets at +4000 and the Atlanta Hawks at +6000.

Check out betEd.com’s NBA betting odds for game lines and great props throughout the NBA season.