The Heat and Lakers have identical odds of winning the NBA championship in 2012-13, according to the Vegas Insider projections. It's clear what the Lakers have been able to do this offseason, by signing-and-trading for Steve Nash before trading for Dwight Howard without giving up Pau Gasol, is being felt around the league.
Vegas Insider says both the Heat and Lakers have 11/5 odds to win. The young Oklahoma City Thunder and Chicago Bulls are right behind them, while the Spurs round out the top five. It looks like Vegas is thinking along the lines of fans and experts alike -- that LA put itself in a position to return to the Finals for the first time in three years, while the Heat are on pace to get there for the third straight year. The odds are below the jump.
From Vegas Insider:
| Miami Heat | 11/5 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 11/5 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 9/2 |
| Chicago Bulls | 10/1 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 15/1 |
| Boston Celtics | 25/1 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 25/1 |
| Indiana Pacers | 30/1 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 30/1 |
| New York Knicks | 30/1 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 30/1 |
| Denver Nuggets | 40/1 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 40/1 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 40/1 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 60/1 |
| Houston Rockets | 100/1 |
| Orlando Magic | 100/1 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 100/1 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 100/1 |
| Utah Jazz | 100/1 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 100/1 |
| Phoenix Suns | 100/1 |
| Sacramento Kings | 100/1 |
| New Orleans Hornets | 100/1 |
| Golden State Warriors | 100/1 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 100/1 |
| Toronto Raptors | 100/1 |
| Charlotte Bobcats | 100/1 |
| Detroit Pistons | 100/1 |
| Washington Wizards | 100/1 |
Read more on the Heat at Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. Head over to Silver Screen And Roll and SB Nation Los Angeles for more on the Lakers.