The NBA playoffs are upon us and bettors know that this tends to be a top-heavy postseason. While there are the occasional surprises, generally speaking, the top seeds in each conference make the most consistent runs.
This year, the top two teams in each conference have some significant vulnerabilities. Does that mean they’re ripe for an upset? Let’s take a look at the weakest points of the main contenders and check out their odds to win it at all at BetAnySports.eu Sportsbook.
NBA Milwaukee Bucks
Weak Point: Team Health, Status Of Khris Middleton
The Bucks finished as the top team in the Eastern Conference this season. It’s impressive they did it given that former All-Star Khris Middleton only played 33 games this year. While they can get away with that in the regular season, it will likely sink them – at some point – in the playoffs.
Not only does the team need a healthy Middleton – he underwent an MRI on his knee late in the season – they need him to be effective. He scored just 15.1 points per game this season, which is far off the 20+ he’s average over the last three seasons.
Odds To Win NBA Championship: +240
Boston Celtics
Weak Point: Extra Rest.
The Celtics mostly look like a complete team but what’s their issue with rest? When they get extra days off, they’re not as effective. In the playoffs, there are often extra days, so they’ll have to play better when they have more time to prepare.
On the year, the Celtics were 48-17 when they had either no rest of one day’s rest. They were an impressive 10-3 in back-to-backs. However, on two days’ rest they were 6-6, 1-2 on three days’ rest. It’s an oddity and we’ll have to see if this is an aberration or something more serious.
Odds To Win NBA Championship: +370
NBA Denver Nuggets
Weak Point: Faded Down The Stretch.
The Nuggets finished with the top seed in the Western Conference but let’s be honest here: they limped into it. This was a team that was 7-10 down the stretch and were criticized by head coach Michael Malone numerous times about their efforts. They needed a win to clinch the top seed but had several ugly losses – including a 124-103 loss to the lowly Houston Rockets, who outscored them 38-13 in the fourth quarter. Does that sound like a team that’s ready to make a run?
Denver has the talent on paper to win the West. However, the oddsmakers don’t believe they’re going to do it. The Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors have shorter odds to win it all.
Odds To Win NBA Championship: +1100
Memphis Grizzlies
Weak Point: Ja Morant
The Grizzlies looked like the team to beat in the West for much of the season…and then Ja Morant had a meltdown. He’s back from dealing with his off-court issues but if you look at his on-court production, he doesn’t look like he’s there yet.
Morant was a beast before the All-Star break, averaging 27.3 points, 8.3 assists, 1.3 threes and 1.0 steals per game. Since the All-Star break, he’s down to 21.8 points, 7.3 assists and 0.8 threes. He’s also going to the free throw line 0.6 less times.
The Grizzlies are a solid, balanced team and Morant can lead them to a Western Conference championship. However, if he’s off his game or not fully there mentally, this team is not a serious threat to win it all.
Odds To Win NBA Championship: +2400
