7 Betting Predictions We Can Already Make about the 2019 NBA Playoffs

Most of the NBA teams have either eight or nine games left in the regular season, but there is still some suspense with regard to playoff positioning. In the Eastern Conference, the first three seeds look to be set, with Milwaukee leading Toronto by four games and Philadelphia by 8 ½ games. The 76ers lead Indiana by two games — but Philadelphia has dropped two in a row. Then comes Boston, 12 games out of first, but then we have a mess of five teams (Brooklyn, Detroit, Orlando, Miami and Charlotte) who are 2 ½ games apart and have three playoff spots to fight over. In the Western Conference, it would take a major rally by Sacramento — and a collapse by one of the 5-8 seeds — for the Kings to make the playoffs. Golden State and Denver are tied atop the conference, and then Portland and Houston are tied, four games back, and then the Clippers, Jazz, Thunder and Spurs are two games apart in the fifth through eighth seeds. So there could be some shifting, but the eight teams appear to be set. We have seven NBA playoffs betting predictions that we can make about the coming postseason.

7 Betting Predictions We Can Already Make about the 2019 NBA Playoffs

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Stay away from DeMarcus Cousins in fantasy leagues

The NBA playoffs have gotten smaller as far as lineups go, particularly in crunch time. Big men are important during the regular season, but when the speed of the game goes up, centers are more of a liability than anything else. Cousins came back from a lengthy absence due to a torn Achilles tendon, and Cousins has shown the decreased mobility that most athletes show when they return from that sort of injury. He played six games in January and posted a 97.9 defensive rating with a +12.6 net rating. In February, though, that defensive rating dropped to 113.8 and his net rating dropped to -6.7, the worst of any Warrior in the rotation. He doesn’t rotate quickly, and he doesn’t communicate well, which makes him a target. Plus, the Warriors already have a physical player for the center in Draymond Green — and Golden State has added Andrew Bogut.

Pascal Siakam will make a big splash for Toronto

Speaking of hybrid big men, none is more exciting than the Raptors’ Siakam. He stands 6’9” and can fly up and down the court. He has appeared at center for Toronto in 334 possessions, and in those possessions the lineups have posted a +21.3 net rating, scored 123.7 points per 100 possessions, while permitting just 101.8. They have forced turnovers on a fifth of possessions. Expect that lineup to appear frequently in the postseason.

Golden State will still win the West

This might seem obvious, but Houston and Denver have made significant charges this season. Last year, Houston came within a game (and a Chris Paul hamstring) from sending the Warriors home, and they can push the Warriors hard again, but Golden State simply has too much talent. Houston has Chris Paul and James Harden. Denver has a talented lineup around Nikola Jokic. Golden State has Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. Which team in the West can compete with that?

Milwaukee will win the East

The Bucks currently hold the 14th highest average margin of victory for any team in the three-point shot era. Nine of the 13 teams above them on the list won titles. It is true that the East also features Toronto, Philadelphia and Boston, and it is also true that the Bucks have not made it out of the first round of the NBA playoffs in ages. Their defense gives up too many threes because they focus on defending the rim. Even so, their dynamic approach is winning, and winning big — and they have the system to get out of the East and into the Finals.

Boston will lose in the first round

Right now, the Celtics would open the playoffs in Indiana against the Pacers. The Celtics were ranked highly in the preseason, but several factors, including the delay in Gordon Hayward’s return to full strength and the lengthy injury to Kyrie Irving, have played a role in keeping the Celtics from playing more consistently. Also, the Celtics just don’t seem to have the same chemistry that got them to the East Finals last year. Indiana, even without Victor Oladipo, has rolled to the fourth seed in the East and has a more consistent system.

Philadelphia will make it to the East finals…and lose

The 76ers have the best starting five on paper in the NBA. They have translated that into some huge wins this season. However, the chemistry has proven tenuous at other times, perhaps most notably because of Jimmy Butler’s lack of opportunities to score points thanks to the other talent on the floor. That inconsistency won’t hurt Philadelphia in the early rounds, but it will keep them from beating Milwaukee.

Utah will beat Portland in the first round

The Trail Blazers fell apart in the first round last year because they had no interior game, and their outside shooting got cold. They haven’t done much to address that situation this year, and the Jazz have the inside-out game to frustrate Portland. So despite the great play of CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard, the curse of Sam Bowie will last another season.