NBA Playoffs Betting Predictions: Favorites to Win Conferences, Surprises and Upsets for the Postseason

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As there are less than 20 games left in the NBA’s regular season, the league is gearing up for the postseason. While the top six teams in each conference will avoid the play-in tournament, the 7th-10th seeds will have to enter that tournament to make it into the official first round of the playoffs. In looking at the playoff standings now, there are some clear-cut favorites, while there are a few surprise teams lurking that could make a run at the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Let’s take a look at some teams that have a great shot at making the playoffs so you can plan your bets against the NBA Playoffs Odds.

Favorites, Teams that Could Surprise, and Upsets for Playoffs | NBA Betting

The Favorites

When looking at some playoff scenarios, there are a few teams that stand out as favorites to make it to the finals. In the West, the Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors are the two favorites. While the Warriors have been slumping, and the Suns have faced some injury issues, the Memphis Grizzlies have snuck up the standings. Ja Morant is playing as a man possessed, and the Grizzlies could just be the best team in the conference.

In the East, there’s a log jam at the top of the standings. While the Miami Heat leads the conference, four other teams are within five games of the top spot in the East. While Miami has the talent to win, they also are one of the best defensive teams in the league. Now that the Philadelphia 76ers have arguably the most unstoppable duo in the game in James Harden and Joel Embiid, they’ve quickly become many experts’ favorites to win it all. While the Bulls have struggled to defeat many of the league’s top teams, once they’re healthy, they could win the East. And how can we forget the defending champions, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the Milwaukee Bucks?

Surprise Teams

Out West, two teams led by two of the league’s top superstars could make some noise in the playoffs. Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks, and Nikola Jokic and his Denver Nuggets are teams that the top seeds want to avoid in the first round. After a slow start, Doncic has really picked things up, and after making some key acquisitions at the trade deadline, the Mavs are poised for a playoff run. Jokic can do it all, and if the Nuggets can defend well enough, they could be a hard out.

In the East, the Boston Celtics were left for dead early in the season. Experts couldn’t figure out why the Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brown duo weren’t clicking. Well, that was then, and this is now, and the Celtics have shot up the Eastern Conference standings. If they continue to play well, the Celtics could shock everyone in the East.

Upsets

Since acquiring CJ McCollum, the New Orleans Pelicans have come back to life. They’re in a position to be in the play-in tournament right now. If Zion Williamson could return in time for the play-in games, this team could knock off a higher seed.

The Charlotte Hornets are a team that could cause some problems in the East. With a young, up-and-coming squad full of energy, this is a team that the higher seeds want to avoid. LaMelo Ball could take a game over, and Miles Bridges has emerged as a budding superstar. Watch out for the Hornets!