Just like with every other sport, the semifinals and finals are always filled with mouthwatering encounters, and this year is no different. Surely, there remains more than enough star power to make the finals more interesting, with players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, Anthony Edwards, Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Julius Randle, and many others.
The playoffs are largely unpredictable, but surely there is no fun in leaving it all to chance, is there? Making a few guesses here and there and making a buck at that on available Canadian casinos is not such a bad idea, so why not? Let’s look at the odds for the teams available and which ones you should be putting your money on.
Eastern Conference News
Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have taken the team forward by qualifying for the finals of the Eastern Conference finals after beating Cleveland Cavaliers 4 to 1 in the series. 7′ 3” center Kristaps Porzingis has been vital for the Celtics this season, but despite his injury this season, he has had an able deputy in Al Horford. Porzingis is surely out for the first two games in the finals, at least, so Al Horford might continue his more-than-manageable streak for the Celtics.
The other semifinal in the Eastern Conference sees the New York Knicks locking horns with the Indiana Pacers. The series is tied at three games apiece, so it will be a real battle in Game 7 as both teams seek to finish their season on a high. Indiana Pacers have been more of an end-game challenger this season, as they roared back from losing the series 2-0 to getting an opportunity to knick it in Game 7. Knicks guard Tyrese Haliburton had much praise for veteran coach Rick Carlisle, who he says, “has challenged every bit of us this season.”
Madison Square Garden is the venue for a tight and interesting Game 7.
Western Conference News
On the Western seaboard, the youngest team in the league (and arguably the best drilled), Oklahoma City Thunder takes on the Mavericks. Thunder lead the series three games to 2 games and will be looking to sweep the series with this game and set up finals meet with any of the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Nuggets from Denver.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is well-rested, will be looking to continue his storming run alongside teammate Jalen Williams, who is averaging 21 points per game while attracting looks for his fashion style.
Meanwhile, Anthony Edwards’s Timberwolves are tied with Nikola Jokic’s Denver Nuggets at three games each, and each team will be looking to pick up the opportunity to play for a spot in the finals this year. That the Denver Nuggets are the current NBA champions and Jokic is the reigning Finals MVP, coupled with the Minnesota Timberwolves having the meanest defense in the regular season and having Rudy Gobert, who is a Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year finalist, surely adds more interest to this Game 7.
The Timberwolves will surely be looking up to 22-year-old Anthony Edwards to take them to their first finals appearance in twenty years. Nikola just cannot get more points off Towns now.
Eastern Conference Semifinals Odds and Potential Winners
After the Pacers sent the Bucs back home and the Knicks knocked out James Harden and the 76ers, the odds of both teams increased dramatically. Before the playoffs, the Knicks were given 1200 odds to get to the Eastern finals and 4000 to win the trophy, and the Pacers were given 2,500 odds to win the East and 10,000 odds to pick up the final trophy.
Well, now, the Knicks are good for 700 odds, while the Pacers peak at 900 odds. Being defending champions, the Boston Celtics surely have their odds higher than most at -1000.
Western Conference Semifinals Odds and Potential Winners
The Denver Nuggets are placed at -135 odds to get to the finals simply because of their last year’s championship domination. After all, they are, without a doubt, the best defense and offense team. Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic has the Nuggets playing like a wonderful orchestra, and surely there is more to see from this exciting team from Denver.
Oklahoma City Thunder are the least likely to win the Finals, much less the trophy, sporting 900 odds. The Dallas Mavericks are at 250 odds, and the Minnesota Timberwolves are at 750 odds. This means the Thunder are not expected to survive the finals, no matter who they meet and what they play on Sunday. The Mavs are certainly no pushovers, so it will be interesting to see how they fare.
Conclusion
The Nuggets are well poised to win the NBA trophy again this season, but the Celtics seem like the closest and toughest challenges in their way. It will be exciting to see how the Timberwolves and Celtics will fare. Nevertheless, it is surely a final to watch.
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Author: Team Dunkest
May 20, 2024 | 6:15 am
