Many NBA stars have put their fishing caps on, leaving only a handful of teams competing for the iconic trophy.
The playoffs are here, and there’s this tension in the air that not even the best betting tips can break. All sixteen teams want to prove to the league that they’re here to play, and the first eight can make their stands first. Betting odds won’t be enough to tell the story of the playoffs at this point.
Who do you think will make a roaring start to their playoff campaign? Let’s find out together.
Indiana Pacers @ Cleveland Cavaliers (April 16, 03:00 GMT+8)
The Cleveland Cavaliers are still the overwhelming favourites to emerge from the Eastern Conference despite finishing second to the Boston Celtics. LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin love have their eyes set on the Finals and will play to overwhelm the Pacers.
It’s not like the Pacers are going to be shut out by Cleveland, though: their last regular season game was a close affair that saw Paul George and LeBron James duel for points. Indiana’s supporting cast did enough to keep the game teetering until the end of the game.
The Cavs are favoured to win the first game of the series, and the Pacers can only upset the odds if their vets pull the attention away from Paul George. However, that is very unlikely to happen for the Cavs won’t allow such a hiccup to occur. Punters will be safe with betting for Cleveland -8.50 @ 1.94.
Milwaukee Bucks @ Toronto Raptors (April 16, 05:30 GMT+8)
This matchup is a synthesis of how much the Eastern Conference has grown over the years.
Both teams have played entertaining basketball using contrasting styles. While Milwaukee have youth and length on their side, the steady roster of the Raptors are bolstered by the fantastic play of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry. Giannis Antetokounmpo may look outplayed in this situation, but surely Jason Kidd will find a way.
Toronto won both of their home games against the Bucks and will likely win the first one again. However, Milwaukee will surely keep the score close. Milwaukee Asian Handicap +6.50 @ 1.99 is a good punt to consider.
Memphis Grizzlies @ San Antonio Spurs (April 16, 08:00 GMT+8)
This series is a duel between squads full of battle-hardened veterans. Mike Conley, Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph will definitely try to put the hurt on Pau Gasol, Tony Parker and LaMarcus Aldridge. However, they will be extra weary of Kawhi Leonard, one of the most dominant two-way players in the association.
Should they allow Kawhi to run rampant on both ends of the floor, Memphis will soon see themselves cleaning the AT&T Center with their jerseys. They haven’t beaten the Spurs at their home this season, so this is a lock for San Antonio.
The final score will likely be close, considering their regular season clashes. Those betting on this game should consider Memphis +9.00 @ 1.94.
Utah Jazz @ Los Angeles Clippers (April 16, 10:30 GMT+8)
This first clash is another exciting one between two strong teams in the Western Conference.
This is Gordon Hayward’s first playoff series as the star of the Jazz, and he has a strong supporting cast to help him take the fight to the Clippers. Meanwhile, the Clippers had a strong finish in April with six players averaging double digits.
In this series, there are three major areas to look out for: the point guard duel (Chris Paul vs George Hill), the tussle under the rim (DeAndre Jordan vs Rudy Gobert), and the exchange between the stars (Blake Griffin vs Gordon Hayward).
The Clippers have won three of their regular season matches and are expected to win the first game of the playoffs. It can end in double-digits, so Clippers -5.00 @ 1.89 is worth serious consideration.
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
