The NBA Playoffs are almost here! The final week of the regular season will be a seeding frenzy, especially in the Western Conference. The next few games could determine the difference between hosting a first round series as the 4-seed, and having two play-in games just to advance as the 10-seed.
The play-in is sure to be thrilling once again. With the Cavs and Thunder stumbling a bit down the stretch, is there a major upset on the horizon?
Let me know your predictions for the seeding, play-in, and overall NBA playoffs! We'll see who nails the pick from the very start. Here's the current overall odds:
Oklahoma City Thunder +170
Boston Celtics +190
Cleveland Cavaliers +550
Los Angeles Lakers +1400
Golden State Warriors +1400
Denver Nuggets +3000
New York Knicks +3000
Got any underdog picks for me? 😉
@butfirsttea Sure thing! The Milwaukee Bucks (+25000) have won 5 games in a row and have the talent of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard leading them, both who have a lot of postseason experience. A first-round series win in the 4-5 matchup could set up a second-round clash with the flailing Cavs. They have some real upside at +25000 odds to win it all. (A $100 bet would net you $25,000!!)
If you're seeking even longer odds, the Orlando Magic (+75000) are much better than their record indicates. When both Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are healthy, which they finally are, Orlando is a totally different team. It's a riskier pick with how young they are, but with the ability to turn a $20 bet into $15,000, it could be worth taking a flyer on.
Meanwhile in the Western Conference, the Memphis Grizzlies (+25000) are also being heavily undervalued. A 1-8 stretch dropped them from the 3-seed to the 10-seed, though they have since won three straight and bounced back to the 7-seed. Avoiding the play-in would help their chances a lot, but the Grizzlies should realistically have odds closer to that of a team like the Houston Rockets (+8000).
Any underdog is going to face a tough task trying to topple the Thunder and Cavs/Celtics, but the field is much more wide-open than many people think.
