Betting On The NBA Playoffs

The NBA playoffs are one of the most exciting and highly anticipated events in sports. Each year, the top teams from the regular season compete in a best-of-seven series to determine the champion of the league. With the high stakes and intense competition, the NBA playoffs also offer an exciting opportunity for sports bettors to get in on the action.

Understanding the ins and outs of NBA playoff betting will help you make wise choices and possibly win big, whether you are an experienced bettor or new to sports betting. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive guide to NBA playoff betting, including strategies, tips and key information to help you make the most of this thrilling event.

NBA Playoff Format Explained

The NBA playoffs are a post-season tournament that takes place after the regular season ends. The playoffs determine the champion of the NBA, which is the top professional basketball league in North America.

The top eight teams from each of the two conferences—the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference—begin the playoffs. These teams are chosen based on their regular-season performances.

There are five teams in each division in each conference’s three divisions. Based on their win-loss records, the teams are ranked inside their respective divisions. Regardless of division, the top eight teams from each conference are chosen to compete in the playoffs.

Once the playoff teams are determined, the teams are seeded based on their win-loss records. The team with the best record in each conference is awarded the top seed, and the team with the worst record is awarded the eighth seed.

The playoffs consist of four rounds, each of which is a best-of-seven series. In the first round, the top-seeded team plays the eighth-seeded team, the second-seeded team plays the seventh-seeded team, the third-seeded team plays the sixth-seeded team and the fourth-seeded team plays the fifth-seeded team.

The winners of each series move on to the second round, where they play against each other in a best-of-seven series. This continues until only two teams are left, one from the Eastern Conference and one from the Western Conference.

These two teams then play each other in the NBA Finals, which is also a best-of-seven series. The team that wins the NBA Finals is crowned the NBA champion for that year.

NBA Play-In Tournament

For the 2020–2021 season, the National Basketball Association (NBA) implemented a new structure called the NBA Play-In Tournament to choose the conference playoff teams. It is also being used for the 2022–2023 season as a result of its success.

The Play-In Tournament involves teams seeded 7-10 in each conference, with the 7th and 8th seeds playing each other in a game, and the winner of that game earning the 7th seed in the playoffs. The loser of the 7th vs. 8th seed game then plays the winner of the game between the 9th and 10th seeds, with the winner of that game earning the 8th seed in the playoffs.

This format gives teams that finish just outside the top six in each conference a chance to still qualify for the playoffs. The Play-In Tournament is a single elimination format, meaning that teams only have one chance to win and advance.

The NBA Play-In Tournament is typically held at the end of the regular season, after all 72 regular season games have been played. This year, the play-in kicked off right after the end of the 2022-23 season. 

What teams made it to the NBA playoffs?

NBA playoff teams are selected based on their regular season performance. The top eight teams from each conference (Eastern and Western) qualify for the playoffs; teams seeded 7-10 in each conference move on to the play-in to compete for a playoff spot. 

Here are all the teams in the playoff bracket for this season. 

Eastern Conference Teams

• Milwaukee Bucks
• Boston Celtics
• Philadelphia 76ers
• Cleveland Cavaliers
• New York Knicks
• Brooklyn Nets
• Miami Heat
• Atlanta Hawks
• Toronto Raptors
• Chicago Bulls

Western Conference Teams

• Denver Nuggets
• Memphis Grizzlies
• Sacramento Kings
• Phoenix Suns
• L.A. Clippers
• Golden State Warriors
• L.A. Lakers
• Minnesota Timberwolves
• New Orleans Pelicans
• Oklahoma City Thunder

How To Bet on the NBA Playoffs

Betting on the NBA playoffs can be an exciting way that sports fans can get more involved in the games. Here are some steps to follow if you want to bet on the NBA playoffs:

1. Choose a Sportsbook: The first step is to choose a reputable sportsbook that offers NBA playoff betting. Make sure to read reviews and check their odds, bonuses and promotions before signing up.
2. Understand the Odds: Before placing any bets, it’s important to understand the odds. NBA playoff betting odds will show you the likelihood of a team winning a game or series. The favorite team will have negative odds (ex: -200), while the underdog will have positive odds (ex: +180).
3. Decide on a Betting Strategy: There are many ways to bet on the NBA playoffs, including point spreads, moneylines and over/unders. Determine which type of bet you want to place and how much you’re willing to risk.
4. Research the Teams: Do your research on the teams you’re interested in betting on. Examine the whole playoff roster and the playoffs schedule. Understand the teams that are playing and who they are up against, how they did in the 2022-23 season and consider their performances in past playoff seasons. 
5. Monitor Line Movement: Keep an eye on line movement, which is when the odds shift due to betting action. This can impact the odds and potentially change the value of your bet. Keeping up with betting trends can help you anticipate line movement. 
6. Place Your Bet: Compare odds and betting lines to find the best value on a bet you’d like to place. Once you’ve decided on your wager, fill out your bet slip. Make sure to confirm your bet before submitting it.
7. Monitor Your Bets: Keep track of your bets and monitor the playoff meeting closely. The road to the 2022-23 NBA Championship is likely to be full of surprises. 

Reading NBA Playoff Odds

To read NBA playoff odds, you need to understand how they are presented and what they represent. Here is a breakdown of the different components of NBA playoff odds:

1. Point Spread: The point spread is the number of points that the favorite team is expected to win by. For example, if the point spread is -6, the favorite team would need to win by at least 6 points to cover the spread. If the point spread is +6, the underdog team would need to lose by less than 6 points or win the game outright.
2. Moneyline: The moneyline represents the odds of a team winning the game outright. Negative odds (-) indicate the favorite, while positive odds (+) indicate the underdog. For example, if the moneyline is -200 for Team A, that means you would need to bet $200 on Team A to win $100. If the moneyline is +180 for Team B, that means you would win $180 for a $100 bet on Team B.
3. Over/Under: The over/under is the total number of points expected to be scored in the game by both teams. Bettors can place a wager on whether the final score will be over or under the given number.

Here is an example of NBA playoff odds for a hypothetical game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors:

• Point Spread: Lakers -5.5, Warriors +5.5
• Moneyline: Lakers -230, Warriors +190
• Over/Under: 225.5

In this example, the Lakers are the favorite with a point spread of -5.5, meaning they must win the game by at least 6 points for a bet on them to be successful. The Warriors are the underdogs with a point spread of +5.5, meaning they can lose the game by up to 5 points and still win a bet placed on them.

The moneyline shows that the Lakers are heavily favored to win the game with odds of -230, meaning you would have to bet $230 on them to win $100. Meanwhile, the Warriors have odds of +190, indicating they are the underdog and a $100 bet on them would return $190 if they win.

Finally, the over/under is set at 225.5 points. If you believe the final score will be higher than 225.5, you would place a bet on the over. If you think the final score will be lower than 225.5, you would place a bet on the under.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that the odds can shift in the days before the game depending on factors like player injuries, public betting and line movement. Before making a wager on the NBA playoffs, it is always a good idea to do your homework and pay close attention to the odds.

Popular NBA Playoff Markets

When it comes to the NBA playoffs, there are a number of popular betting markets that attract both novice and experienced bettors alike. Here are some of the most popular NBA playoff markets:

1. Series Winner: This wager is on the outcome of a playoff series. A series winner bet covers the entire series, as opposed to a moneyline wager for a single game. For instance, a bettor would wager on the Los Angeles Lakers to win the seven-game series against the Portland Trail Blazers.
2. Point Spread: A popular wager that evens the playing field by giving the underdog side a handicap is the point spread. When one team is vastly favored over the other in the NBA playoffs, point spreads can be especially helpful. For instance, if the Milwaukee Bucks are a 12-point favorite over the Orlando Magic, a point spread bet on the Magic could be a profitable wager if they lose by 11 or fewer points.
3. Total Points (Over/Under): In an Over/Under bet, the bettor wagers on whether the total combined score of both teams in a game will be over or under a predetermined number. For example, if the over/under for a game between the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets is set at 223.5, a bet on the over would win if the final score was Houston 120, Denver 105 (total points: 225).
4. Player Props: With player props, bettors can wager on individual performances during a playoff game. These bets can be exciting for sports fans because the playoff roster represents the top players in the entire league. For example, a bettor might bet on LeBron James to score over or under a certain number of points or to record a triple-double. Player props can offer some of the most lucrative odds during playoff seasons.
5. Championship Winner: This is a bet on which team will win the 2022-23 NBA Championship at the end of the playoffs. This type of bet is typically placed before the playoffs begin and is often considered the most popular and exciting of all NBA futures bets.

Betting on the NBA Finals

The NBA championship series, which pits the two best teams from the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference against one another in a best-of-seven series to decide the league champion, is the pinnacle of the NBA playoffs.

In championship futures betting, you select your wagers prior to the start of the postseason. This type of betting is particularly popular because it allows fans to participate in the action early and potentially win big. There is more risk when you bet early. 

The NBA futures odds are usually set by oddsmakers, and they can change throughout the season based on factors such as team performance, injuries and trades. The odds can even shift during the playoffs. 

The biggest benefit of championship futures betting is that if you place your wager early in the season, you can win a sizable payoff if your selected team wins the title. The odds for the title, however, might fluctuate throughout the season, so it’s crucial to monitor the betting lines and modify your plan as necessary.

NBA Championship Futures

Online sportsbooks typically offer a variety of NBA Championship future bets. Here are some of the markets you could expect to see: 

1. Championship Winner Bet – This is the most common type of NBA championship futures bet, where you simply pick the team that you think will win the championship. For example, if you think the Brooklyn Nets will win the championship, you can place a bet on them to win the NBA Finals.
2. Conference Winner Bet – This type of bet involves picking the team that you think will win their respective conference and make it to the NBA Finals. For example, if you think the Los Angeles Lakers will win the Western Conference, you can place a bet on them to be the Western Conference champions.
3. Division Winner Bet – This bet involves picking the team that you think will win their respective division. For example, if you think the Philadelphia 76ers will win the Atlantic Division, you can place a bet on them to be the Atlantic Division champions.
4. Over/Under Win Total Bet – This bet involves predicting the total number of wins a team will have during the regular season. For example, if you think the Milwaukee Bucks will have over 54.5 wins during the regular season, you can place a bet on the over.
5. Player Prop Bets – These bets involve predicting specific outcomes for individual players. For example, you can place a bet on LeBron James to win the NBA Finals MVP award or Kevin Durant to score the most points in a game.
6. Coach of the Year Bet – This bet involves predicting which coach will win the NBA’s Coach of the Year award. For example, if you think Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns will win the award, you can place a bet on him to be the Coach of the Year.

NBA Playoffs FAQs

Who is favored to win the NBA playoffs?

The Milwaukee Bucks are the current odds-on favorites to win, presenting with +265; however, the Boston Celtics are not far behind at +320. As the playoffs unfold, team performance could cause some shifts in the odds. 

Who is favored to win the NBA Finals 2023?

At +265 to win it all, the Milwaukee Bucks seem to have the best chance of winning the 2022-23 NBA Championship.

How do NBA betting odds work?

NBA betting odds show the probability of a team winning a game or the championship. Odds are expressed as positive or negative numbers indicating the underdog and favorite, respectively. Positive odds indicate the amount that can be won with a $100 bet.

Is NBA easy to bet on? 

Betting on the NBA can be easy for experienced and novice bettors who understand the basics of sports betting. However, it requires knowledge of the teams, players, betting markets and odds. To succeed, bettors must also have discipline, patience and a good betting strategy.

How often do underdogs win in NBA?

The frequency of underdog wins in the NBA depends on many factors such as team strength, injuries, home-court advantage and more. In general, underdogs win around 35-40% of the time, although this varies from season to season.