DeMarcus Cousins: Clippers have ‘great chance’ to be next first-ever NBA Champion

DeMarcus Cousins: Clippers have ‘great chance’ to be next first-ever NBA Champion

Since the NBA’s inception in 1949-50, 20 of the NBA’s 30 existing organizations–including those that have moved at one point–have won at least one NBA Title. There have been five that have made the NBA Finals but have not won, and there are five others that have not made one entirely.

On DraftKings Sportsbook, there is a “future” available on whether there will be a first-time NBA Champion in 2023-24. The Denver Nuggets were the most recent first-ever champion last season, downing the Miami Heat in five games. For yes, the current odds are +250 (bet $100 to win $250) and -350 for no.

On DraftKings’ “Bully Ball with Rachel Nichols,” Nichols asked former 11-year NBA veteran DeMarcus Cousins if he would take that bet. He said yes, but cited one team that he’s taking over all the others: The Los Angeles Clippers.

“Outside of the Boston Celtics, there’s not a team with as much talent as this Clippers team,” he said. “They are coming together at the right time. They are going to continue to get better. I think they have the perfect coach in [Tyronn Lue] to coach this team to a Finals run. I think it’s a great chance the Clippers can make this happen. I’m excited to see that happen.”

Depending on where you look, the Clippers have the fourth-best odds to win the title, sitting in between +600 and +700; for perspective, DraftKings has the Clippers at +600, trailing the Milwaukee Bucks, Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics, who own the NBA’s best record.

Los Angeles has the fourth-best record in the Western Conference at 30-15; they sport the NBA’s fourth-best offense, 11th-best defense and fifth-best NET Rating, outscoring teams by 5.9 points per 100 possessions. 

Though in their troubled history, they have made it past the second round only once (2020-21). That’s not everything because that may not correlate to this year, but that’s not nothing. They have made the playoffs in 10 of the last 12 years, but have not been able to get over the hump.

The Clippers have a reasonable shot to make it out of the West this year with Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, James Harden (who is known to be a playoff flameout, but will be in a compromised role this time), Russell Westbrook and Norman Powell, among others. But I understand if the public doesn’t trust them.

Some may want to “see it before they believe it,” while others, like DeMarcus Cousins, may be in on them. What do you think? Let us know in the comments!

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