Sam Panayotovich
FOX Sports activities Betting Analyst
Now that the Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Warmth and Orlando Magic have formally punched their tickets to the 16-team playoff area, the NBA postseason can start for actual.
Play-in, schmay-in.
I’ll admit, it’s thrilling that we not want to observe which superstars are taking nights off for load administration or which bum groups do and don’t care in regards to the day-to-day basketball grind. Thank goodness.
Listed below are seven NBA betting ideas heading into Spherical 1.
Whew, the Celtics and Thunder are costly!
By way of collection costs, Boston is as excessive as -6000 in Las Vegas to advance previous the Magic within the opening spherical. So, you’ve obtained to put $6,000 to win $100, one thing I wouldn’t advise, regardless of how free an area it appears. Oklahoma Metropolis isn’t as costly towards Memphis, however -4500 can be steep.
LeBron James will be crushed early in collection
Once I was a younger reporter in Chicago, I lined just a few Bulls’ playoff collection towards King James and his groups misplaced Sport 1 thrice. It’s in all probability not truthful to say LeBron doesn’t prioritize a collection opener, however he’s 31-23 all-time in postseason Sport 1s. Michael Jordan (27-10) would by no means! It’s far more tough to dethrone King James the deeper a collection goes, however I used to be glad to guess some Minnesota Timberwolves +5 in Saturday’s premiere.
All people needs a chunk of the LA Clippers
Six weeks in the past, the Clips had been 30-1 to win the Western Convention. Then they closed the common season on a ferocious run, successful 18 of their final 21 contests. That’ll get the eye of any sports activities bettor. Now you’re fortunate to seek out something increased than 15-1 within the West market and LA is a horny first-round guess towards the Denver Nuggets. Denver opened as excessive as -190 to advance to the second spherical, however most books are dealing LA -120.
When will Damian Lillard return?
That’s the million-dollar query in Milwaukee. Lillard is not taking blood-thinning medicine, per ESPN’s Shams Charania, so he’s actually trending in the appropriate course. Lillard received’t play in Saturday’s opener, however given the best way the NBA areas out its first-round video games, perhaps he might play subsequent Friday when the collection shifts to Milwaukee. If the Bucks can earn a break up in Indianapolis, the cavalry can be ready to guess ‘em to win the collection.
There’s cash to be made in different markets
Basketball handicapper Rick Camp joined “Wager Sweats” this weekand he mentioned a number of angles in a few of the unique markets. He positioned bets on Nikola Jokić to make two 3s in each recreation towards the Clippers (+2000), Anthony Edwards to have 5 assists in each recreation towards the Lakers (+2000), and Mikal Bridges to have probably the most steals in Knicks-Pistons (+2500). These are enjoyable markets the place you guess a little bit to win so much and Camp loves taking pictures.
Houston is just a bit forward of schedule
There’s a purpose the Rockets are a large underdog (+150) towards Golden State regardless of being a 2-seed with house court docket benefit. Certain, Houston can simply win a few video games, however it’s tough to examine Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Inexperienced getting bounced of their first best-of-seven collectively. I’ve no difficulty laying -170 on the Warriors to advance, particularly contemplating the market opened nearer to -200. Let’s purchase the dip.
Wager the Celtics to succeed in NBA Finals
Kudos to the Cleveland Cavaliers for successful 64 video games and securing the No. 1 within the top-heavy Japanese Convention. I’m nonetheless not a believer. Boston boasts the very best beginning 5 in basketball and, barring harm, I don’t see it slipping on any banana peels on its method again to the NBA Finals. You possibly can lay a comparatively low cost -150 value on the Celtics successful the East for the second straight 12 months and I think about that’ll be costlier down the street.
Sam Panayotovich is a sports activities betting analyst for FOX Sports activities and the BetMGM Community. He beforehand labored for WGN Radio, NBC Sports activities and VSiN. Observe him on Twitter @spshoot.
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