We're reaching crunch time in the NBA Playoffs race, with the Playoffs set to begin on August 17. Although final positions are not yet clear, we know who'll be making the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, however the West still has four teams with a mathmatical chance of making playoffs.
Who will make playoffs in the Eastern Conference?
We already know who will make the playoffs in the East. Milwaukee have sealed the 1st seed, Toronto the 2 seed and Botson the 3rd. After Miami, Indiana and Philadelphia are currently in 4th, 5th and 6th, but that could change very quickly. Orlando and Brooklyn will be the 7th and 8th seeds, with the Nets very likely to maintain their spot as 7th seed.
Who will make playoffs in the Western Conference?
The Lakers are first seeds but elsewhere there's a real chance for teams to slide up or down the seeding depending on these final couple of games.
It's at the bottom where things get really interesting with four teams competing for that final spot. The Kings and Pelicans have been eliminated from playoff contention but the Memphis Grizzlies are at real risk of losing their place in the playoffs. The Trail Blazers are now level on wins with them having gone on a tear and going 4-2 in the bubble whilst the Grizzlies have only managed one win.
Just one win behind are the Suns who have been even more impressive with Devin Booker playing some of the best basketball of his career and leading them to a 6-0 record inside the bubble. San Antonio are also still in with a chance, although being two wins behind, and with Portland and Phoenix in such form, it's unlikely they make it.
Will there be a play-in?
As things stand there would be a play-in with Memphis and Portland now level. The play-in would take place on August 15 & 16, if it were to happen.
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What are the NBA Playoff Odds?
Unfortunately no sportsbooks are offering NBA Playoff odds on who will make the playoffs but over the weekend we revealed that the Phoenix Suns had been the most backed team to win the Championship, and that has continued, over the past three days they've been the most backed team to win. In part that will be down to their large odds of +10000, but it also shows that bettors are confident they'll make the playoffs.
One warning however, is that Portland are the second most-backed in that time. Bettors have been attracted to the red hot form that both teams have found themselves in. Whilst those two teams have taken up 14.76% and 13.8% of bets respectively, since Saturday, the Grizzlies account for just 0.48% of bets, marginally ahead of the Spurs, which is indicative of public support in either team making the playoffs.
NBA Championship Odds
Los Angeles Lakers +280
Milwaukee Bucks +280
Los Angeles Clippers +340
Houston Rockets +1400
Boston Celtics +2000
Toronto Raptors +2200
Denver Nuggets +3000
Miami Heat +3000
Dallas Mavericks +5000
Philadelphia 76ers +5000