NBA Playoff Picture Update

There is less than one week left in the NBA regular season. The Eastern Conference is pretty much set with Cleveland, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Brooklyn likely squaring off in the play-in tournament. However, the Western Conference is a little more up in the air. The Los Angeles Lakers could still play their way into the playoffs despite losing six straight games, and the Minnesota Timberwolves are desperately trying to chase down the No. 6 seed in order to avoid the play-in tournament entirely. That will make for an exciting last several days of the season.

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EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF ODDS

• Milwaukee Bucks +235
• Brooklyn Nets +320
• Boston Celtics +425
• Philadelphia 76ers +450
• Miami Heat +500
• Chicago Bulls +3500
• Toronto Raptors +4500
• Cleveland Cavaliers +7500
• Atlanta Hawks +11000
• Charlotte Hornets +30000

Although Brooklyn is currently the No. 10 seed, the Nets have the best chance to make the playoffs of the four teams that will take part in the play-in tournament. However, it seems a little silly that the Nets making the playoffs is being considered a fait accompli given what we have seen from them this season. They have the third lowest odds to win the NBA title, but they will probably need to win two games to make it to the postseason.

The best bet to make the postseason in the Eastern Conference is Atlanta. The Hawks are currently +115 underdogs to make the playoffs although they are in line to be the No. 8 seed. Atlanta has won five straight games and the Hawks knocked off Cleveland and Brooklyn last week. They shouldn’t fall below the No. 8 line with remaining games against Washington and Houston, so the Hawks will likely have two chances to make the playoffs.

WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF ODDS

• Phoenix Suns +115
• Golden State Warriors +425
• Memphis Grizzlies +600
• Utah Jazz +900
• Dallas Mavericks +1000
• Denver Nuggets +1200
• Los Angeles Clippers +1800
• Minnesota Timberwolves +4500
• Los Angeles Lakers +15000
• New Orleans Pelicans +25000
• San Antonio Spurs +100000

The Los Angeles Lakers were the favorites to win the Western Conference at the start of the season. They have been the most disappointing team in recent memory though, as they might miss out on the expanded postseason entirely. Los Angeles has lost six straight games and only has one easy game left (home vs. Oklahoma City). The Lakers’ other three games are on the road against Phoenix, Golden State, and Denver, so they are long shots to make the playoffs at 16-1.

Minnesota and the LA Clippers are currently the heavy favorites to make the playoffs. The Timberwolves are 25-13 at home this season, and they are -750 to make the postseason at this point considering they are just 1.5 games behind Utah for the No. 6 seed.

As for the Clippers, they are getting healthy at the right time. They are locked into the No. 8 seed, and Paul George just returned to the team. Norman Powell might be cleared by next week too, and that would give the Clips a significant edge.