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After LeBron James' signature over the summer, there seemed to be a good reason for the Los Angeles Lakers to be big favorites in Las Vegas to qualify for the playoffs.
But after a 118-109 defeat against the modest Phoenix Suns on Saturday night, the view in Vegas is worse than ever.
The Lakers now have +600 odds (a $ 100 bet would win $ 600) to qualify for the playoffs at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, by far their worst side of the season. They are a staggering favorite -900 to miss the post-season.
Los Angeles had a score of +240 to qualify for the playoffs before Saturday's game and had a rating of -110 at the All Star break.
SuperBook Risk Vice President Jeff Sherman told ESPN that the bookmaker had taken more than six digits by betting on the Lakers pillar since the All-Star break, the action being "pretty balanced" between the yes and no.
Before the season, the Lakers were very favored to participate in the playoffs, the opening odds of the SuperBook being -450 (+350 to miss the playoffs). Although 59% of punters thought the James Lakers would miss the playoffs, more than 83% of the money allowed them to win. This was heavily influenced by a bettor who bet $ 50,000 to reach the playoffs at -500 odds, for a potential profit of $ 10,000.
The Lakers are 30-33 and 4½ behind the Los Angeles Clippers for eighth place in the Western Conference. According to ESPN's Basketball Power Index, the Lakers now have a 0.9% chance of playing in the playoffs.
James has reached the playoffs in 13 consecutive seasons. This season is the latest in a season where a team led by James has a record of less than .500 since the Cleveland Cavaliers finished their rookie season 35-47 in 2003-04.
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