Those who bet on the Kentucky Derby are always looking for the upstart, and this year in the NBA, that upstart was Chicago, who roared to the best record in the league during the regular season. They have a tough road out of the Eastern Conference, and we’re confident they’ll finish the job. But waiting for them in the NBA Finals: the two-time defending champions from Los Angeles.

Chicago played a physical five-game series against Indiana, and in particular, the health of Derrick Rose’s ankle was a question, although he silenced most of the queries with another MVP performance in the series clincher. The Bulls now have to wait for the Orlando-Atlanta series to end, and they should be able to beat either of those teams. The key is the other matchup between Boston and Miami, as those two teams are going to pound on each other, which makes Chicago’s road to the Finals that much easier.

The Lakers finally put their foot on the gas in their series against New Orleans in Game 5, and we’re pretty confident that they’ll end it on Thursday night. Kobe Bryant’s ankle was also an issue, but a pair of highlight-reel dunks showed that the five-time NBA champion was more than fine. Unlike the Bulls, we really don’t know what the Lakers’ road to the NBA Finals looks like, but in Game 5 against the Hornets, they showed that their size advantage should be enough to give them a chance to win their third straight title. Don’t bet against the Lakers in your online sportsbook.