Nets overtake Lakers in 2021 NBA Championship odds

The Brooklyn Nets changed the NBA landscape when they traded for James Harden in mid-January. They have since added even more firepower to their roster by acquiring former All-Stars Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge over the past month.

Meanwhile, the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers suffered a blow as LeBron James joined Anthony Davis on the sidelines after enduring a serious ankle injury on March 20.

Over the last two weeks, the 2021 NBA Championship odds have shifted in Brooklyn’s favor. The Nets have seen their odds move from +320 to +260, while the Lakers' odds have lengthened from +250 to +290. Are the Nets worthy title favorites?

How many All-Stars can one team support?

On March 8, the Brooklyn Nets announced they were signing six-time All Star forward Blake Griffin. On March 27, the Nets signed seven-time All Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge. While both players may be past their prime, they can still be key veteran contributors.

Add these two to a roster that already includes one-time All Star DeAndre Jordan, seven-time All Star Kyrie Irving, nine-time All Star James Harden, and 11-time All Star Kevin Durant and it almost seems unfair to the rest of the league. However, can this team gel together and play like a true All-Star team?

The Lakers added more talent themselves

On March 26, Andre Drummond and the Cleveland Cavaliers agreed to a buyout, which allowed the two-time All-Star center to pick his team. Drummond chose to join the defending champions in Los Angeles.

The Lakers now have four current or former All-Stars themselves. This may not be the stunning six that the Nets have, but they have a little more team chemistry. The combination of size, athleticism, and shooting between Drummond, LeBron, AD, and Marc Gasol will be deadly for any team to go against in a seven-game series.

No one is immune to the injury bug

We mentioned the injuries to LeBron James and Anthony Davis earlier. James will likely be out until late-April or early-May. Davis has not played since Feb. 14 due to a serious calf injury, and likely will not return until early to mid-April.

The Lakers have gone 11-11 without Anthony Davis in the lineup. They are also 2-4 since LeBron’s injury against the Hawks. The Brooklyn Nets have had their own injury concerns, as Kevin Durant has not played since Feb. 13 due to a hamstring injury.

This season is wide open

Most of the title talk centers around the Lakers and Nets, but they aren’t overwhelming favorites. The Lakers have fallen to the four seed in the West and could continue to fall with LeBron and AD both out for an extended period.

In the West, the Utah Jazz and the Phoenix Suns deserve some respect, and in the East you cannot forget about the Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks. However, the team to look out for is the other squad in LA; the Clippers.

The Clippers (+500) made a very underrated move at the trade deadline by picking up a veteran championship point guard in Rajon Rondo. Kawhi Leonard is a proven winner himself and will look for revenge on the league after losing to the Nuggets in the bubble.

Count out the Clippers at your own peril.