Place Your NBA Bets: Can't Count Out the Champs

Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant face off starting Wednesday when the Spurs take on the Lakers in the Western Conference finals. (AP Images)

Say what you will about the entertainment value of the San Antonio Spurs. All that matters for bettors is one thing: Those guys know how to win. Heading into Monday's seventh and deciding Western Conference semifinal game against the upstart New Orleans Hornets, the Spurs were made five-point underdogs.

Looking back, how could anyone bet against them, let alone spot them points? The Spurs dominated the Hornets from the tip, jumping out to a nine-point halftime lead and holding on for a comfortable 91-82 road victory.

And that's why they're the champs.

The Spurs move on to face the Los Angeles Lakers in the conference finals, which start Wednesday at Staples Center. (The Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics square off in the East on Tuesday.)

While the Hornets might have choked on their inexperience, don't expect the same from Kobe Bryant, who led the Lakers to three consecutive titles from 2000-02.

Another thing going for the guys in gold is the fact that the Spurs will only have a day to rest up before playing again. Remember that San Antonio is not a young team anymore. Tim Duncan is 32, Michael Finley and Kurt Thomas are 35, Bruce Bowen and Brent Barry are 36 and Robert Horry is 37. That's, like, really old, and it's part of the reason why the younger Lakers are getting 13/10 odds to win the NBA title while the Spurs are at 4/1.

Read the rest of "Place Your Bets: Can't Count Out the Champs" in Bodog Nation today!