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2020 NBA Pacific Division Predictions, Odds and Win Totals

Eric Rosales

by Eric Rosales in NBA Basketball

Updated Dec 17, 2020 · 6:00 AM PST

LeBron James defended by Kawhi Leonard
LeBron James and the Lakers will compete with the Clippers for the Pacific Division crown. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)
  • Defending champion Los Angeles Lakers favorites to capture Pacific Division
  • LA Clippers expected to contend, while Golden State and Phoenix will battle for playoff spots
  • See below for a preview of the Pacific and our pick to win the division

The Pacific is loaded, and will be almost always must-see TV throughout the regular season.

It houses the newly minted NBA Champions, the Los Angeles Lakers who are the favorites in the NBA Divisional odds, but they will be challenged if they get caught in any title hangover.

The Los Angeles Clippers are the team right behind the Lakers in NBA title odds, and this Pacific also boasts the last great dynasty we’ve seen in the Golden State Warriors, while the upstart Phoenix Suns are hoping to level up with the acquisition of Chris Paul.

The Sacramento Kings are the black sheep in what will be one of the toughest divisions in basketball.

2020 Pacific Division Odds and Win Totals

Team Division Odds Conference Championship Odds NBA Championship Odds Win Total Odds
Los Angeles Lakers -140 +140 +270 48.5 (Ov -115 | Un -105)
Los Angeles Clippers +125 +280 +650 48.5 (Ov -110 | Un -110)
Golden State Warriors +1800 +1200 +2500 38.5 (Ov +106 | Un -132)
Phoenix Suns +2400 +2800 +5500 37.5 (Ov -140 | Un +114)
Sacramento Kings +13000 +11000 +13000 27.5 (Ov -132 | Un +108)

Odds taken December 16 from FanDuel

We’re less than a week from tip-off after an historically low 71-day offseason. The Lakers’ Championship rings haven’t even been made yet! Let’s go team-by-team and find out how this West division will be won.

Los Angeles Lakers

  • 2019 Record: 52-19
  • Points per game: 113.4 (11th)
  • Points Allowed per game: 107.6 (4th)
  • Offensive Rating: 111.7 (T-10th)
  • Defensive Rating: 106.1 (3rd)

Analysis: Complacency isn’t an issue in Lakerland, as Rob Pelinka was hitting bombs this shortened offseason, retooling  a roster that was championship caliber already. How he was able to clip the Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell and runner-up Dennis Schroder is a stroke of genius — both would have been the third and fourth best players on the Lakers last season.

Veteran Wes Matthews is an upgrade over a deteriorating Danny Green, and if there’s a good year left in Marc Gasol it will be uncovered in LA, where his passing and defensive savvy will make a mark.

Getting Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Markieff Morris was important, and Talen Horton-Tucker is apparently an uncut gem who’s shown he may be ready to work after a standout preseason.

Of course, all those guys gravitate around LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the best 1-2 combo in hoops, making this a deep and formidable opponent on a nightly basis.

The backbone of this Lakers team is it’s physicality, particularly on defense. This was a top-5 unit both in points allowed and defensive rating. Their defense keeps them in every game, and they have the star power to close out to a win.

Key Offseason Moves

Key Additions Key Losses
Dennis Schroder Danny Green
Montrezl Harrell Rajon Rondo
Wesley Matthews JaVale McGee
Marc Gasol Avery Bradley
Dwight Howard

Los Angeles was 27-9 in the division, the only team with single-digit losses in divisional play in the West. The Pacific is merely the first step they’re chasing this year, and barring injury or a major LeBron drop-off in year 18, the upgrades and desire for a repeat keeps LA hungry.

Prediction: 50-22, 1st in Pacific

Los Angeles Clippers

  • 2019 Record: 49-23
  • Points per game: 116.3 (4th)
  • Points Allowed per game: 109.9 (T-13th)
  • Offensive Rating: 113.3 (2nd)
  • Defensive Rating: 106.9 (5th)

Analysis: We’re about to find out just how resilient the Clippers are, after a humbling playoff exit to the Denver Nuggets in Round 2, blowing a 3-1 lead series lead and some medium-sized shakeups this offseason.

The biggest is head coach Doc Rivers is out, as Tyronn Lue steps into the hot seat. He inherits a group that acted like they were dynastic, yet were more bluster than substance. Seeing Kawhi Leonard suit up from preseason Game 1 must have been a welcome sign, as worries about his achy knees and load management can at least rest until the regular season.

Losing Harrell to the Lakers hurt, but Serge Ibaka slots in as a better big, with the ability to loosen defenses and space the Clippers’ offense with his ability to hit jumpers.

Perhaps the biggest news, however, was Paul George, one-half of their dynamic duo with Leonard, inked a monster extension to stay with the Clips. They’re hoping Kawhi commits too — a deep playoff run certainly won’t hurt.

Key Offseason Moves

Key Additions Key Losses
Serge Ibaka Montrezl Harrell
Luke Kennard JaMychal Green
Landry Shamet
Rodney McGruder

Despite chemistry and cohesion being a major issue last year, this team still won 49 games in a shortened season. Pat Beverley will be back to annoy, Lou Williams will pour in buckets, and Leonard and George are a serious combo, even if they aren’t LBJ and AD.

They were the only team a year ago to rank top-5 in both offensive and defensive rating. The Clips can challenge, but getting their identity right will trump seeking wins and division crowns.

Prediction: 47-25, 2nd in Pacific

Golden State Warriors

  • 2019 Record: 15-50
  • Points per game: 106.3 (28th)
  • Points Allowed per game: 115.0 (24th)
  • Offensive Rating: 104.4 (30th)
  • Defensive Rating: 113.0 (26th)

Analysis: Golden State’s triumphant return to one of the elite teams in basketball — as well as jumping back into their dynasty after a one-year hiatus — was literally over before it started. Just hours before the Dubs were to make the second pick in the NBA Draft, it was reported Klay Thompson suffered an Achilles tear while scrimmaging during a workout.

Now? It’s going to be an absolute dog fight to get to the playoffs.

The good: Steph Curry is healthy and looks like he’s ready to reign fire on the league after breaking his hand five games into last year. Warriors’ management also did a better job of fielding an NBA-level roster, with additions like Kelly Oubre (acquired after Klay got hurt), Kent Bazemore and Brad Wannamaker. I believe they also nailed the draft with James Wiseman, who has the size and tools to be the next great athletic big in the NBA.

The bad: Wiseman and Draymond Green both tested positive for COVID-19, and his debut is on delay. And Steve Kerr’s group is still thin, especially after their starters.

For Golden State to be in the thick of the division chase or a playoff berth, someone else is going to need to rise up. Here’s hoping it’s Andrew Wiggins, the top pick of the 2014 NBA Draft. He put up perhaps the least impactful 21.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists on 44.7% shooting last year between Minnesota and Golden State.

Key Offseason Moves

Key Additions Key Losses
James Wiseman Klay Thompson (injury)
Kelly Oubre Jr
Kent Bazemore
Brad Wannamaker
Nico Mannion

It’s weird when most of the bones of a franchise that’s just a year removed from competing in five straight NBA Finals is starting to look whole, and you’re predicting a down year. Their margin for success, and error, is razor thin.

Prediction: 37-35, 4th in Pacific

Phoenix Suns

  • 2019 Record: 34-39
  • Points per game: 113.6 (10th)
  • Points Allowed per game: 113.4 (20th)
  • Offensive Rating: 111.3 (12th)
  • Defensive Rating: 110.8 (17th)

Analysis: If there’s a team poised to make a leap, they reside in the Valley of the Sun. Phoenix ended last season as the only team to go a perfect 8-0 in bubble play, and while it didn’t get them into the play-in game, they let it be known that their time was coming.

And then management went out and got Chris Paul.

The veteran point man had a renaissance last year in OKC, staying mostly healthy while leading the Thunder to the fifth seed in the West. He averaged 17.6 points, 6.7 assists and 5.0 rebounds while shooting 48.9% from the field.

He’ll be coming to a squad that finished last year 10th in the league in scoring and 12th in offensive rating. Paul will also have something he didn’t have in OKC – a bonafide superstar to close out games in Devin Booker.

The key to everything, however, may rest in how DeAndre Ayton develops. If they big man becomes the force Phoenix envisioned when they took him first overall in the draft a few years back, the Suns will be fire.

Key Offseason Moves

Key Additions Key Losses
Chris Paul Ricky Rubio
Jae Crowder Kelly Oubre Jr
Langston Galloway Ty Jerome
E’Twaun Moore Aron Baynes
Jalen Smith Jalen Lecque
Abdel Nader

Phoenix will be in the play-in picture at least this season, and Paul’s leadership, as well as some nice veteran additions and 10th overall pick Jalen Smith can help bring this franchise back to good times.

Prediction: 39-33, 3rd in Pacific

Sacramento Kings

  • 2019 Record: 31-41
  • Points per game: 110.1 (22nd)
  • Points Allowed per game: 112.1 (17th)
  • Offensive Rating: 109.5 (18th)
  • Defensive Rating: 111.4 (19th)

Analysis: It can’t all be good times in the Pacific, and this is where we present you the Sacramento Kings. It’s hard to watch them and just think “Man, if they just drafted Luka…”

That’s water under the proverbial bridge, and what they have in NorCal is a good but not great group of players — still hoping a few can bud into superstars. The closest to that projection is De’Aaron Fox, who was inked to a massive extension this summer. He averaged 21.1 points and 6.8 assists in 51 games last season, shooting 48% from the field, but just 29.2% from distance.

Losing Bogdan Bogdanovic to free agency certainly stings, but the draft produced a player that many believe has star power in Tyrese Haliburton. The combo guard has the size and shooting ability that slots right alongside Fox, though that may not rub Buddy Hield the right way.

The addition of big man Hassan Whiteside may take some pressure of Marvin Bagley, who needs to get out of the “player they drafted instead of Luka shadow” quickly.

Key Offseason Moves

Key Additions Key Losses
Tyrese Haliburton Bogdan Bogdanovic
Hassan Whiteside Kent Bazemore
Harry Giles III
Alex Len

It’s safe to say that Sacramento appears to be on the right track. But in the ultra-competitive West, that’s not going to cut it.

Prediction: 25-47, 5th in Pacific

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