All Eyes on the NBA Conference Odds: Examining the Favorites to Win the Finals!

Previous Betting News

After the drama of the play-in and the opening round, we are set to begin Round 2 of the NBA playoffs, which means we are now in the conference semi-finals stage of the proceedings. We are now down to the final 8 teams, but it is perhaps not the 8 teams that we expected to see at this point. We have lost the #1 seed, the Milwaukee Bucks, in the Eastern Conference, as well as the #2 seed, the Memphis Grizzlies, in the West, so who knows how things will play out from here on in. The bookies certainly seem to think they have some idea, as the odds have been updated as we head into Round 2. Let’s take a look at the current NBA Championship odds for each of the remaining teams.

Updated NBA Odds to win the Championship | NBA Lines

Boston Celtics

Odds: +132

With the Milwaukee Bucks now gone, the window of opportunity for the Celtics is now very much wide open. The were taken to 6 games by the scrappy Atlanta Hawks in the opening round, but they now have a much tougher task ahead of them, with the Philadelphia 76ers up next.

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MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

Denver Nuggets

Odds: +540

It was a rather smooth ride through the opening round for the Nuggets, who eased past the Minnesota Timberwolves in just 5 games. Next up, they will face the Phoenix Suns in what has the potential to be the best series of the second round. The Nuggets remain the favorite to come out of the West, but this will not be an easy one.

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MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

Golden State Warriors

Odds: +540

It’s always tough to bet against the defending champions, but at what point does their troubles on the road really come into play. The Warriors are coming off a huge series win over the Sacramento Kings, but they needed all 7 games, as well as an amazing performance from Steph Curry in Game 7 to make it happen. Next up is the Lakers.

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MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

Phoenix Suns

Odds: +590

As you can see from the odds, the bookies think the series between the Suns and the Nuggets might be a bit of a coin flip. I tend to agree, and I believe we might be looking at a 7-game series here. The Suns took out the Clippers in 5 games but find themselves a game down to the Nuggets after losing Game 1 on the road.

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MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

LA Lakers

Odds: +850

The Lakers had to make it out of the play-in before stunning the Memphis Grizzlies in Round 1 proper. This is a team that no one really wanted to face in the postseason, and the Warriors might just find themselves on upset alert if they cannot fix their road woes.

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MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

Philadelphia 76ers

Odds: +1175

If I were being asked to make a dark horse pick at this stage of the proceedings, my money might well be on the 76ers. They swept the Brooklyn Nets in Round 1, and while the Celtics are a much tougher out, this is a team that has some momentum going.

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MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

Miami Heat

Odds: +2100

The Heat stunned the Bucks in 5 games in Round 1 and are already off to a big start in this round, winning Game 1 on the road against the New York Knicks.

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MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

New York Knicks

Odds: +3000

Both the Heat and the Knicks are playing with house money at this point after ousting higher seeds in Round 1. The Knicks took out the Cavaliers in 5 games, but they are going to need a big performance in Game 2 versus the Heat, as going on the road in an 0-2 hole might be a bridge too far.

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MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

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Previous Betting News

We are almost approaching the Conference Finals in both conferences in the NBA, and with none of the matchups decided as of yet, let’s take a look at the updated NBA Conference Championship odds.

NBA Updated Conference Odds for the Final Conference Semifinals Games

Phoenix Suns (+225)

Finishing with the best record in the league, the Suns have a three-level scorer in Devin Booker, a playmaking savant in Chris Paul, and a ton of depth in Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges and others. Booker has proven he can score on the game’s biggest stage, but if CP3 is able to keep his durability, the Suns are by far the favorites to get to the Finals.

Golden State Warriors (+225)

The Warriors go wherever the deadly shooting of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole take them. One night this team is unstoppable. But if the shots don’t fall, this team all of a sudden becomes very vulnerable. Effort is also a concern with this group, as they’re coming off a 39 point loss to a Ja Morant-less Memphis Grizzlies team. 

Milwaukee Bucks (+400)

Don’t sleep on the defending champs, as Giannis Antetokounmpo is continuing to prove that he is built for the postseason. Without Khris Middleton, the Bucks are still holding a 3-2 lead over the Boston Celtics at the time of this writing. Jrue Holiday has also really stepped up for his team on both sides of the floor, averaging 21.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 2.4 steals in the Boston series thus far.

Miami Heat (+550)

The Heat go as far as Jimmy Butler takes them, as one thing you can never question out of Butler is the effort he gives on a night in and night out basis. Bam Adebayo also has the versatile skill set out of a big man that makes him an absolute weapon in the playoffs. With the shooting the Heat have to space out the floor, this team will be a hard out.

Boston Celtics (+1000)

Jayson Tatum has emerged into an absolute superstar, but Jaylen Brown is also a threat to get hot in these games. With Al Horford, Marcus Smart and Grant Williams all being the identity of this defense, they could very well end up in the Finals if they can climb out of the 3-2 hole against Milwaukee.

Philadelphia 76ers (+3000)

If the Sixers had Joel Embiid healthy in Games 1 and 2, they could’ve been in the driver’s seat. While they were able to even up the series at 2-2, the Heat have home court advantage in Game 7 if the Sixers were able to force it that far. 

Memphis Grizzlies (+4000)

The Grizzlies have proven that they can be a winning team without Ja Morant, but in the playoffs, when you’re facing other superstars, you need a superstar of your own to help get you going.

Dallas Mavericks (+5000)

Luka Doncic is capable of carrying this team to new heights, but they’re likely to be eliminated by the Suns in the next couple of games.

Previous Betting News

With the first round NBA playoff action nearing completion and the second round matchups starting to take shape, NBA betting enthusiast everywhere need some expert predictions on just what they can expect when the conference semifinals get underway on May 1.

Thanks to some expert analysis – and my active mind – you’re about to get a trio of fun-filled predictions on each expected second round series that all have a high probability of playing out just like I expect. Now, let’s get to it.

Analyzing The 2nd Round Of Action For The 2017 NBA Playoff Predictions

Eastern Conference

No. 1 Boston vs. No. 4 Washington

Prediction No. 1 – It’s I.T. Time

Isaiah Thomas may be a ‘little guy’ but I’m fully expecting his legend to continue to grow as he repeatedly torches the Washington Wizards and hit the game-winner late in Game 7.

Prediction No. 2 – Gortat…the New Moses

Washington center Marcin Gortat is going to look like the second coming of Moses Malone as he dominate Boston’s uninspiring big men down low. Okay, okay, first John Wall and Bradley Beal have to pass him the ball, but you get the idea.

Prediction No. 3 – Fight, Fight, Fight!

I’m expecting a scrap between Boston’s Marcus Smart and Washington’s John Wall. Both players are extremely feisty and are almost bound for a confrontation or two once Smart is assigned to guard Wall – and instructed to stop him at any and all cost.

No. 3 Toronto vs. No. 2 Cleveland

Prediction No. 1 – Lowry Pulls Houdini

I got a lot of love for my fellow Philadelphians like Kyle Lowry but I’m predicting Toronto’s all-star point guard to ‘disappear’ in at least two games against the Cavaliers when they meet in the second round. I know this isn’t a real bold prediction seeing as how Lowry pulled a disappearing act against the Cavs in last season’s Eastern Conference Finals, but it’s going to happen nonetheless.

Prediction No. 2 DeMar Disappears

Raptors’ all-star shooting guard DeMar DeRozan will also disappear in at least two games against Cleveland as well. Again, I’m not making a real bold prediction a DeRozan also disappeared against the Cavs a couple of times last year as well.

Prediction No. 3 – Punky Brewster Lives!

LeBron James will punk the entire Raptors’ roster – for the second straight postseason. Every team need a ‘wild man’ that will stand up to James while inspiring his teammates to do the same. Unfortunately, Toronto doesn’t have that type of player on their roster, which I why they’ll go meekly into the offseason once again.

Western Conference

No. 1 Golden State vs. No. 5 Utah

Prediction No. 1 – 0-100…Real Slow!

The Dubs might bounce the Jazz out in five games, but I don’t think they’re going to hit the 120-mark in doing so. Utah plays elite defense and while they struggle to score, they play at a slow pace that won’t allow Golden State to reach 120 points.

Prediction No. 2 – In Jail Without the Bail!

I know Golden State center Javale McGee has been playing some jaw-dropping basketball lately, but I’m banking on Utah’s Rudy Gobert to put McGee on lockdown with his height and athleticism. McGee has dominated Portland’s front line, but he’ll find the going much more difficult against Gobert and Utah’s sting defense.

Prediction No. 3 – KD Says Hello!

After battling some late-season injuries and coming back with some modest play against the Blazers, I’m fully expecting Kevin Durant to go off in at least two games against the Jazz despite the fact that Utah plays outstanding defense. It’s unfortunate for Gordon Hayward or whoever ha to guard him, but Durant is due for a few breakout games and he’ll get them against the Jazz, seeing a how there isn’t a player in the league capable of stopping him.

No. 3 Houston vs. No. 2 San Antonio

Prediction No. 1 – Leonard’s Legend Grows!

Make no mistake about it, San Antonio Spurs’ superstar Kawhi Leonard is the bet two-way player in the game today (sorry Klay Thompson). I’m fully expecting Leonard’s legend to grow even more as he both, puts the clamps on James Harden while lighting up Houston’s mediocre defense.

Prediction No. 2 – LaMarcus Aldridge Gets Punked…Some More

I have no idea what the hell has happened to Spurs power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, but he’s playing some absolutely pitiful basketball while getting consistently ‘punked’ by Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. Right now, I’m thinking Clint Capela, Montrezl Harrell and the rest of Houston’s big men stand just as good a chance of ‘punking’ Aldridge as Gasol and Randolph.

Prediction No. 3 – Ryan Anderson Find His Strok

Houston veteran forward Ryan Anderson struggled mightily in  averaging just 7.4 points per game in the first round after putting up 13.6 point per game during the regular season, but I’m banking on Anderson’s shooting stroke to return against the Spurs simply because he’s proven to be too good of a shooter to be mired in an extended shooting slump.