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Best NBA Finals bet among favorites, long shots for Philadelphia 76ers

We take a look at the matchup odds for the 76ers in the NBA Finals and pick out two potential bets to consider.

By Ameer Tyree
Joel Embiid , Josh Richardson, and Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers react against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Wells Fargo Center on February 11, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Although the Philadelphia 76ers have been underwhelming since losing Jimmy Butler and bringing in Josh Richardson and Al Horford, you can’t count them out just yet. They won’t be competing for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, but the duo of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are healthy and ready to make a final push. Can they make progress after last year’s crushing defeat at the hands of the Toronto Raptors? I think it’s entirely possible if they get some momentum. Let’s take a look at the odds for some potential championships matchups the 76ers could end up in.

Philadelphia 76ers NBA Finals matchup odds

Best Favorite: 76ers vs. Lakers (+2500)

Philadelphia has to figure out how to make Al Horford effective in its system, and also needs to figure out how to space the floor properly with Simmons and Embiid on the court together. Rumors about Simmons being willing to shoot from range continue to float around, and that could be the game changer that pushes the 76ers over the edge. They have the length and defensive versatility to match up against any team, and Embiid is one of the most dominant post scorers in the game when healthy. A matchup with the Western Conference favorite isn’t out of reach, and Simmons would be matched up against the do-it-all point forward he’s been compared to so often over the years.

Best Longshot: 76ers vs. Rockets (+8000)

The sixth-seeded Rockets are likely to be the most popular sleeper pick out of the Western Conference with the Lakers and Clippers so close in the odds. Their ability to compete win against the top contenders makes this bet appealing, but a Denver Nuggets matchup (+1200) is also worth a look. They’re higher in the standings than Houston and have a slimmer Nikola Jokic under wraps that could make a huge difference down the stretch.

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