The regular NBA season is now nearing its end and despite being this late in the season, it is not yet clear exactly how the playoffs will go. The play-in tournament is set to conclude on April 14 before the playoffs commence a day later.
NBA playoff viewership has been at an all time high in recent years. Last season, the major sporting channels averaged 3.71 million viewers for each game. This represents a 14 percent from the previous year and suggests just how highly anticipated the playoffs are this time around.
There have been a number of notable events this season, almost too many to recount.
Back in November, the Golden State Warriors were the very first defending NBA champion to begin the season 0–6 on the road. Then Miami Heat star Duncan Robinson became the quickest player to hit 800 3-pointers.
For the Cleveland Cavaliers, at the beginning of the new year, Donovan Mitchell became only 7th player in NBA game history to score more than 70 points in a single game in a game against the Chicago Bulls.
However, perhaps notable of all was when LeBron James took fellow Lakers star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s place as the all-time leading scorer in NBA history. The new record was set on February 7 in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The moment it happened was on a fadeaway in the 3rd quarter of the game. Fittingly, Kareem was in attendance and celebrated alongside fans as his record was broken.
Look ahead to the playoffs and championship
Source: thesportsgeek.com
Now is the time that NBA fans are beginning to look for the odds of certain teams to win the championship. The NBA Playoff odds change as the competition progresses, but the latest figures and NBA betting news can be found in real-time online.
There is a great sense of thrill that comes with betting on the NBA playoffs, at this point in the season the stakes are so high and the players are putting everything they’ve got into performing well and making their fans proud. Whether its a moneyline bet, a point spread or a prop bet, placing a wager adds a certain level of excitement and suspense.
The top six from each conference will automatically make it into the playoffs. Then teams in 7-10 positions will battle it out for their chances in the play-in tournament. Game one of the finals is set to take place on June 1, with the final Game 7 (if needed) planned for June 18.
Who is looking likely to take home the championship?
Source: kdvr.com
The Milwaukee Bucks are in with a chance. They do not have the best NBA advanced statistics but have developed a strong defense during the season. They had a 16 game streak and have started to pull away from the Celtics in the Eastern Conference.
The Denver Nuggets are amongst the favorites this season in the Western Conference. Their defense is suffering but they have one of the best offenses in the competition.
With superstar Donovan Mitchell, The Cleveland Cavaliers also have a fair chance at the NBA championship title. However only time will tell if they can continue into the playoffs as their performance has faulted in the most recent events.
But what about the Boston Celtics? Top level players Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have carried the team this season and they were just two games from winning the championship in the previous season.
The Phoenix Suns should not be overlooked either. Their acquisition of superstar Kevin Durant could help see them through the playoffs but he has only played a small number of games for them so far.
With top offense and top defense, The Philadelphia 76ers also have a fair shot at the championship NBA game. Things are tough in the Eastern Conference but with much of the season spent in 3rd seed they could still make a run for the playoffs.
On the whole, if looking at which teams inspire the most confidence and have played consistently well over the season, it seems that the Boston Celtics may have the best shot at succeeding in the playoffs and ultimately the championship game. However, by the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns are both looking to be worthy contenders at this point in the season.
