The last couple of games have proven just how important secondary players are to NBA championship odds. Michael Jordan proved that. It wasn’t until Scottie Pippen came on board, as well as a host of others, that MJ could really prove his worth.

Los Angeles Lakers - Lamar Odom could be the biggest factor in this year’s Lakers odds, including bigger than Kobe Bryant. Odom has an insane skill set for a man his size, and he dominated the Nuggets in Game 5′s win with 19 points and 14 rebounds. Not only can he play in the post, but he can bring the ball up the floor, and he may be the best 6’11″ passer in the NBA. When his heart is in it, of course.

Denver Nuggets – Chris “Birdman” Andersen brings insane rebounding and defensive skills to the Nuggets off the bench, but it’s more the energy he contributes. The Denver fans love Andersen, who has bounced back from a drug suspension, and that sparks the crowd. His play in Game 4 was the difference.

Cleveland Cavaliers – Pick one. Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 16 in Game 5 with Mo Williams adding 24, meaning LeBron James didn’t have to score 40 again (he ended up with 37, but whatever). I’ll take Ilgauskas because Williams is supposed to be scoring. Ilgauskas brings Dwight Howard out of the paint, leaving James space to do his thing.

Orlando Magic – Mickael Pietrus gets the nod over Rafer Alston because Alston was awful in Game 5, and Pietrus not only adds points off the bench, but he gets the task of guarding James as best he can. Pietrus hasn’t shut down James, but really, who can? But he makes him work, which makes James tired by the end of games. If they win Game 6, which they are favored to by NBA odds, Pietrus will have a huge hand in it.

Also before Saturday’s Game 6 between Cleveland and Orlando, check out some boxing betting action. There are two fights in Finland and Florida worth watching, which will pass the time.

David Stern must have set the NBA championship odds at the beginning of the season and laid money on them, because he’s doing his best to make sure that the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers are in the Finals, with the help of his officials, but it may be backfiring.

The Lakers odds to win their series with Denver are still good, but there have been alarming discrepancies for both teams in three of the five games thus far. Phil Jackson has earned a $25,000 fine for complaining after Game 4, but he got the upper hand in Game 3. George Karl has also complained, and the technical situation is out of hand. Denver’s Kenyon Martin has had three of the six Ts against him rescinded by the league.

But Cavs Magic betting players are being treated to one of the most inconsistent and quasi-blatant reffing exhibitions of all time. Look, I’m a big LeBron James fan, but dude is averaging 16 foul shots a game. SIXTEEN! At the end of Game 4, James forced a trip to the line by putting his head down and barging into Mickael Pietrus, praying to get the call. You don’t think he was going to get it? If you don’t , you also don’t think that Rachel Alexander has a Belmont Stakes betting chance in hell in a week. But the Magic are feeling it, too: Dwight Howard had a crap technical from Game 4 rescinded as well.

So basically, the Cavs aren’t out of it by a longshot, because they were getting shady calls on the road. In Cleveland, the Magic should just stayed lined up outside the lane, because that is where they’ll be all night. And the Lakers should be fine, with or without help. The NBA championship odds favorites aren’t done yet.

Now, I have no problem with guarantees, like, for example, if someone in the Rachel Alexander said that Belmont Stakes betting players should gamble the farm on the star filly, then fine. She’s actually done something. I don’t even have a problem with Mo Williams’ guarantee that the Cavs would win the series.

But after watching last night’s overtime loss to the Magic, man……Mo Williams needs to shut his mouth. He came out alright, and even had a decent night with 18 points. But he shot 5-of-15 from the field, missed all three of his long-range attempts, and almost half of his points were on foul shots. Because I (and a host of others) laid my faith in him, basketball odds players everywhere are now in trouble. Meanwhile, those who played the Cavs Magic betting matchup in favor of Orlando, well, I say good on ya. Dwight’s even hitting his free throws, and Rafer Alston is playing out of his mind. 

Still, I’m going for Cleveland one more time. Here’s hopin’. If Mo Williams doesn’t score at least 27 points, there is going to be hell to pay.

Basketball odds pick: Cleveland -7.5