NBA Perfect Ten: Play-In Edition
The dust has nearly settled and the seedings are set. Let’s take a look at the Play-In matchups along with the rest of the first round in each conference as the NBA Playoffs get underway.
Eastern Conference Play-In Games
#8 Atlanta at #7 Miami: The winner of this matchup earns the 7th seed and a date with the Celtics in the first round. The loser will face a win-or-go-home matchup with the winner of the #9 vs. #10 game. Both teams come into this matchup with full rosters. Miami took the season series 3-1 and won both games in Miami.
Odds: Miami -5.5
Conference/NBA Title Odds: Miami (+6000, +25,000), Atlanta (+15,000/+35,000)
Analysis: I wouldn’t be feeling great as a Hawks fan if rumors are already swirling about a potential Trae Young trade this off-season. That said, this has been a tightly played series despite Miami taking three of four games. Young has certainly shown that he can take over a game in the playoffs so it will be interesting to see who the Heat decide to cover him with.
#10 Chicago at #9 Toronto: The loser of this game will be eliminated from the playoffs while the winner earns another game for the right to play the Bucks in round one of the playoffs. The Raptors won the season series 2-1, winning both games at home.
Odds: Toronto -5
Conference/NBA Title Odds: Toronto (+15,000, +35,000), Chicago (+50,000/+100,000)
Analysis: Chicago arguably has two of the three best players in this matchup in Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan but both have been banged up on numerous occasions this season. Toronto has playoff-ready experience in guys like Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet and a distinct home-court edge.
Western Conference Play-In Games
#8 Minnesota at #7 LA Lakers: The winner of this matchup earns the 7th seed and a date with the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round. The loser will face a win-or-go-home matchup with the winner of the #9 vs. #10 game. The Timberwolves won the season series 2-1. The Lakers are the healthier of the two teams coming in while Minnesota will be without the services of suspended center Rudy Gobert.
Odds: Lakers -7.5
Conference/NBA Title Odds: Lakers (+700, +1,800), Minnesota (+10,000/+30,000)
Analysis: The last game of the season could not have gone much worse for the T-Wolves. Center Rudy Gobert threw a punch at a teammate, resulting in his suspension for this game while forward Jaden McDaniels fractured his hand after punching a wall in frustration. The Lakers are where they want to be, in the playoffs with LeBron James and Anthony Davis ready to go.
#10 OKC at #9 New Orleans: The loser of this game will be eliminated from the playoffs while the winner earns another game for the right to play the Nuggets in round one of the playoffs. The Pelicans took three out of four games from the Thunder during the regular season.
Odds: New Orleans -5
Conference/NBA Title Odds: New Orleans (+25,000, +60,000), OKC (+50,000/+100,000)
Analysis: New Orleans was hopeful to get Zion Williamson back from injury in time for the play-in round but he’s been ruled out. Both teams have played much better since the All-Star break while the Pelicans hold an edge in playoff experience. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads a Thunder attack that is nearly all perimeter based. If they are knocking down shots, in a win-or-go-home NCAA Tournament-style game, they could be a problem.
In parenthesis, conference odds and finals odds. Player MVP props are also in parenthesis. All odds Courtesy of Draftkings.com.
By Mark Ruelle