7 NBA Betting Predictions We Can Already Make about the 2018 Playoffs

Carmelo Anthony garnered some laughs when he guaranteed that the Oklahoma City Thunder would make the playoffs on Wednesday. Since the Thunder are sitting in fourth place in the Western Conference, it would take a significant collapse for them to miss out on the postseason, so Anthony’s prediction was much less momentous than he might have thought. In the Eastern Conference, Philadelphia center Joel Embiid suffered a concussion and fractured an orbital bone in a freak collision with teammate Markelle Fultz in a game this past week and is expected to be out until at least April 14, which could hamper the Sixers’ chances in the opening round of the playoffs. Check out some of our NBA betting predictions for the 2018 postseason in the Association.

7 NBA Betting Predictions We Can Already Make about the 2018 Playoffs

The Sixers just keep moving ⬆️in our Power Rankings. pic.twitter.com/mHOeJLwm8Q

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 26, 2018

Toronto won’t have trouble with anyone except Cleveland

The Raptors have a terrific starting five, with Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan in the backcourt and the likes of Serge Ibaka and Jonas Valanciunas inside. That balance has given them all kinds of offense this season and has helped them shut down opposing defenses. If they face Milwaukee in the first round (which they would if the season ended today), they would roll easily. Giannis Antetokounmpo has turned the Bucks into a nice team, but they haven’t shown the ability to stop elite teams. So while the Bucks might win one game in that series, they won’t threaten the Raptors seriously. The Cavaliers are another story, though, as they took down Toronto by seven last week, showing that they still have a large place in the Raptors’ collective heads.

Boston could go down in the first round

Marcus Smart (thumb surgery) and Kyrie Irving (knee surgery) could both miss the first round of the postseason. Gordon Hayward and Daniel Theis are still out as well. So even if the Celtics are lucky enough to draw Miami in the first round, they still could lose. Their offense, defense and depth take a huge hit with those players out, and Boston has not shown that signature defense with their key contributors out down the stretch.

Philadelphia won’t grab the third seed

Some prognosticators have the streaking Sixers moving past Cleveland to take the third seed, but with Joel Embiid out for extended time, I don’t see Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz lifting the Sixers past LeBron at this point in time. They do have the easiest remaining schedule of any of the East contenders, but while Philadelphia has a 16.0 net rating with Embiid, Simmons and J.J. Redick on the floor, they won’t have Embiid. I see them at the four-seed taking on Indiana.

Cleveland will breeze through the first round

Whether they’re playing Washington or Indiana, the Cavaliers shouldn’t have a lot of trouble moving to the second round. Victor Oladipo is on track to win Most Improved Player, but he won’t be enough to stop the Cavaliers’ new rotation. Since Kevin Love returned last Monday, the Cavaliers have put up 124.3 points per game in wins over Milwaukee, Toronto, Phoenix and Brooklyn. That included 132 points against a Toronto team that sees themselves as a defensive powerhouse.

Minnesota will make the playoff — but just barely

The tumbling Timberwolves have the second easiest schedule remaining, so even though they have been losing left and right lately, they should squeak into the postseason. Unfortunately, that means they are likely to end up in the eighth slot and face Houston. They have the 24th-ranked defense in the NBA, and they’ll be playing Chris Paul, James Harden and the rest of the league’s best offense. That series would only go four or five games at most.

The first round will be a gauntlet for Golden State

Without Stephen Curry, the Warriors have only put up a 4.3 net rating. Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Kevin Durant should be back for the opening round, but what if they face the Spurs? You know that Gregg Popovich will be more than ready to take advantage of Curry’s absence (although the Spurs will likely have less than 100% from LaMarcus Aldridge due to his knee issues. They have two legitimate stoppers in Kyle Anderson and Dejounte Murray. Even if Oklahoma City slides to the seventh slot, they have routed Golden State twice this season with Curry on the floor.

New Orleans will go down in the first round

There was a stretch after DeMarcus Cousins’ season-ending injury when New Orleans looked like they wouldn’t miss him, as Anthony Davis put the team on his shoulders. Then reality started to sink in. In their last 10 games, the Pelicans have been outscored by 0.6 points per 100 possessions. In the ridiculously tough Western Conference, any of the other top eight teams will take advantage of Cousins’ absence and eliminate the Pelicans.