NBA Perfect Ten (Playoff Edition 4/30/24)
With the first round nearing an end, it is time to look at the top ten teams left in the NBA Playoffs and their chances of capturing the title. There are still some series to be decided so the list could include multiple first-round teams from the same series. Let’s take a look at the Top Ten teams left in the NBA Playoffs.
Perfect Ten (Playoff Edition 4/30/24)
#10. Cleveland Cavs (+6500) - The Cavs have had four very strange games vs. the Magic. In the first two in Cleveland, the Cavs dismantled the Magic and completely shut down their offense. In games three and four in Orlando, it was the Cavs that couldn’t find their offense. With two of the final three games in Cleveland, I expect the Cavs to survive and advance into round two.
#9. Philadelphia 76ers (+6500) - Despite being down 3-1 heading into tonight’s game at New York, the Sixers are a more viable championship threat than Milwaukee, Orlando, or Miami, three other teams still alive. The Sixers have the pieces to come back in this series and tonight’s game could say a lot. The Knicks got by on emotion and a dominant performance by Brunson in game four. If both Mitchell Robinson and Bojan Bogdanovic are unable to go tonight, they could be in trouble.
#8. Indiana Pacers (+4000) - The Pacers will eventually finish off the Bucks, either tonight in Milwaukee or back home against the Bucks on Thursday. The Pacers can score but can they defend enough to be a viable contender in the Eastern Conference?
#7. LA Clippers (+4000) - The uncertainty of Kawhi Leonard’s availability for the rest of the series and playoffs puts the Clippers’ title hopes in doubt. It may be asking a lot of James Harden to play like his former MVP-self in the final three games of this tightly contested series with Dallas.
#6. Dallas Mavericks (+1700) - It feels inevitable that the Mavs will get both Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic flowing at the same time and put away the banged-up Clippers. That duo can keep the Mavericks in any series and could carry them past the inexperienced Thunder in the second round.
#5. New York Knicks (+1400) - The Knicks need just one more win in their series vs. the Sixers to advance so they are in good shape. The injuries to Robinson and Bogdanovic could prove to be a bigger problem in the second round. The Knicks have thrived with rebounding and depth and both could be an issue if that duo can’t return.
#4. OKC Thunder (+900) - The Thunder proved to be mature beyond their years in the regular season and that carried over into a first-round sweep of the Pelicans. The Thunder have depth, scoring, and moxy but do they have the leadership if they face any adversity? That will be tested in round two against either the Mavericks or Clippers.
#3. Minnesota Timberwolves (+1100) - The Wolves rolled over a Phoenix team that dominated them in the regular season. Anthony Edwards is making his mark and staking his claim near the top of the NBA mountaintop already. With Rudy Gobert in the middle, this could be the one team that can give Nikola Jokic and Denver a run for their money.
#2. Denver Nuggets (+215) - The Nuggets took care of a Laker team that is likely better than at least one of the other teams still alive in the Western Conference. The one lingering concern is the status of Jamal Murray’s calf. If he stays healthy, the Nuggets look like a solid choice to get back to the NBA Finals.
#1. Boston Celtics (+125) - The Celtics responded well to the shocking game two loss at home to the Heat by blasting them in each game in Miami. They should put the Heat away on Wednesday and can then gear up for the winner of the Cavs/Magic series. Kristaps Porzingis’ calf injury seems to be minor and the Celtics still haven’t played their best basketball.
Odds in parenthesis are to win the NBA Title and come Courtesy of Draftkings.com.
By Mark Ruelle