Bookmakers Not Worried About Losing Lamar

Monday (July 27) Las Vegas bookmakers said that the Lakers’ acquisition of Ron Artest is better than losing free-agent forward Lamar Odom. Director of the MGM/Mirage Race and Sports Book Jay Rood told the L.A. Times, “Getting [forward Ron] Artest is better than losing Lamar. The core of the team still is what it is, and as long as you keep Kobe [Bryant] and [Coach] Phil [Jackson], nothing changes.” The Lakers are an 8-5 favorite to win the NBA title at MGM/Mirage, with the Boston Celtics behind them and recent addition Rasheed Wallace, at 3-1. The Cleveland Cavaliers are next, with Shaquille O’Neal joining LeBron James at almost 14. The Orlando Magic are 13-2 and the San Antonio Spurs, 7-1.

Executive director of the Las Vegas Hilton’s Race and Sports book (which has the Lakers as the 2-1 favorite over the 3-1 Cavaliers and 5-1 Celtics), Jay Kornegay said, “We didn’t change anything when they got Artest, and if they lose Odom it’ll just be a wash. Odom’s a component, but he’s not a star. As the team has already shown, if they lose someone, they’ll find someone else.” If  Odom goes to the Miami Heat his effect at the sports book will be minimal; according to Rood he would drop the Heat from 25-1 to around 22-1.  Said Rood, “He might make Miami significantly better but they still have the Celtics, Cavs and Magic in front of them.”

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