The NBA’s version of the Final Four is set, and three of the four teams still alive heading into the conference finals are not a surprise, for instance, two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors. Golden State tops the NBA odds to win the championship on its quest for a three-peat since it gets set to take on the Portland Trail Blazers at the Western Conference Finals. The Warriors are -165 favorites on the updated name odds on the NBA playoff lines.
The Blazers would be the longest shot on the championship lines of the four teams left at +1700 on these NBA playoff odds as they prepare to meet the Warriors starting on Tuesday in Oakland. The Milwaukee Bucks are the next choice to win the NBA championship at +230 and will confront the Toronto Raptors (+750) in the Eastern Conference Finals beginning on Wednesday.
The largest question mark with respect to handicapping the remainder of the NBA playoffs is that the standing of Golden State’s Kevin Durant, who had been enjoying another outstanding postseason run before suffering a calf strain in Game 5 of the team’s second-round matchup with the Houston Rockets. The harm had been feared to be much worse, and he may or might not be available in the Western Conference Finals; he has already been ruled out for Game 1.
The Warriors were able to advance with a huge road victory in Game 6 with no Durant, plus they could probably make it to the NBA Finals again if he does not playwith. Winning another name though may prove to be difficult without him whether the group plays Milwaukee or even Toronto.
Portland is very well-coached and has a backcourt that may give Golden State problem with Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. The duo combined for 50 points in a 100-96 upset of Denver at Game 7, with McCollum doing the majority of the damage with 37 points. Additionally they lacked 19 rebounds, nine assists and four steals involving them, demonstrating that they can do more than score.
The Blazers are deeper than the Warriors too, with the benches potentially becoming a bigger factor the longer the series goes. Portland has become more optimistic in this matchup also, winning four of the previous six meetings following an 11-game series losing streak and covering five of the last seven. Golden State is a -550 favored on the series costs on the NBA playoff betting board.
Bucks are Rested Moving in the Eastern Finals
In the East, the Bucks earned a while off by knocking out the fourth-seeded Boston Celtics in five games while the Raptors went the full distance of seven vs the third-seeded Philadelphia 76ers to get here.
Toronto’s Kawhi Leonard has been the best player in this year’s playoffs after removing Philadelphia having an unbelievable game-winning shot in Game 7 on Sunday and ending with 41 points in a 92-90 win. But Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo is your NBA MVP favorite for the regular season and also has a much better team surrounding him heading to the conference finals.
The Bucks have won four of the past five meetings both SU and against the spread, with three of those games happening on the street. Milwaukee’s capacity to acquire away from home is enormous considering this group routed Golden State 134-111 as a 5.5-point road underdog back on November 8 and has won in its last two trips to Oakland as well. Even the Raptors had the next-best road mark throughout the regular year at 26-15 supporting only the Bucks and Warriors at 27-14, so stealing a match or 2 may be the difference.
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