Ricky Dimon
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The NBA postseason is underway, and once the play-in tournament has concluded, the traditional playoffs will begin this weekend. With no clearly dominant team in the association this year, the title is somewhat up for grabs – and the odds indicate as much. No team is shorter than +265 (the Milwaukee Bucks) at DraftKings Sportsbook to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Milwaukee, which triumphed in 2021 before the Golden State Warriors picked up another championship last summer, is followed on the list of favorites by the Boston Celtics (+310) and Phoenix Suns (+425).
Before the first round begins, it’s time to take a look the odds and the best futures bets to be made
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NBA playoffs bracket and matchups
Milwaukee is the top seed in the Eastern Conference and awaits either the Miami Heat or Chicago Bulls in round 1. The Bucks would then going up against either the #4 Cleveland Cavaliers or the #5 New York Knicks. On the other side of the East bracket, #2 Boston is facing the #7 Atlanta Hawks and the #3 Philadelphia 76ers will begin their playoff campaign against the #6 Brooklyn Nets.
In the West, the top-seeded Denver Nuggets will get started against either the Minnesota Timberwolves or Oklahoma City Thunder. Assuming the Nuggets take care of business, their round-2 opponent would be the #4 Suns or the #5 Los Angeles Clippers. On the other side of the bracket are the #2 Memphis Grizzzlies and #3 Sacramento Kings. They are set for respective series with the #7 Los Angeles Lakers and #6 Warriors.
Here are the first-round matchups:
Eastern Conference
#1 Bucks vs #8 (Heat or Bulls)
#2 Celtics vs #7 Hawks
#3 76ers vs #6 Nets
#4 Cavaliers vs #5 Knicks
Western Conference
#1 Nuggets vs #8 (Timberwolves or Thunder)
#2 Grizzlies vs #7 Lakers
#3 Kings vs #6 Warriors
#4 Suns vs #5 Clippers
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NBA title odds
The top 2 teams – Milwaukee and Boston – hail from the Eastern Conference. However, the Western Conference boasts greater depth (at least according to the odds). Five of the top 8 favorites and 7 of the top 11 are in the West.
Here is the short list:
Milwaukee Bucks +265
Boston Celtics +310
Phoenix Suns +425
Golden State Warriors +950
Philadelphia 76ers +1000
Denver Nuggets +1100
Los Angeles Lakers +1600
Memphis Grizzlies +2000
Cleveland Cavaliers +4500
Los Angeles Clippers +5000
NBA champion pick: Milwaukee Bucks (+265)
Following last year’s NBA Finals, in my early look at the 2022-23 outright odds the Bucks were my best bet at +750. There is no reason to get off the bandwagon now – although getting them at +750 would obviously be a lot better than the current price. They are healthier than ever, have experience of winning the title 2 years ago and it looks like they have a favorable path through the Eastern Conference bracket. Title #2 for Giannis Antetokounmpo and company could be incoming.
Best longshot bet: Memphis Grizzlies (+2000)
When you can get a #2 seed at bloated +2000 odds, it’s an opportunity that should be taken. The Ja Morant shenanigans appear to be things of the past and Memphis went 13-5 in its last 18 games of the regular season. A draw that begins with the Lakers and could continue with the Warriors in round 2 is not easy by any means, but it would leave the Grizzlies well prepared for potential battles with the Nuggets in the West finals and the Bucks in the NBA Finals. I wouldn’t put anything past Morant’s realm of capability.
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