Lakers given long odds to win 2013 NBA championship

With Kobe Bryant sidelined with an Achilles’ tear, the Lakers’ chances of winning a title this postseason may be slim.

According to gambling website Bovada, the Lakers have 40-1 odds of winning the 2013 NBA championship.

Bovada also gives the Lakers 15-2 odds of advancing past the Western Conference to the NBA Finals.

The Miami Heat are Bovada’s prohibitive favorite with 2-3 odds; the Oklahoma City Thunder are second at 17-4, followed by the San Antonio Spurs (10-1) and New York Knicks (16-1)

Even if Bryant were healthy, the team’s up-and-down season wouldn’t make them favorites.

Bovada isn’t completely sour on the Lakers. Despite the team’s struggles, the Lakers have better odds than the Memphis Grizzlies, Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks.

The Clippers, Denver Nuggets and Indiana Pacers are tied ahead of the Lakers with 25-1 odds.

The Lakers start the postseason on Sunday against the San Antonio Spurs.

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Email Eric Pincus at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.