Nine Eastern Conference teams headed to Orlando to complete the 2019-20 NBA regular season, and eight have remained to take part in a traditional NBA postseason — four rounds of best-of-seven series that will culminate in the presentation of the Larry O’Brien Trophy to the league champion. The difference, of course, is that all of the playoff games will take place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports as the NBA winds down its season in the “bubble.”
We have sports betting thoughts on each of the four matchups in the Eastern Conference side of the bracket.
NBA Betting:
Early Predictions: Eastern Conference Matchup Games
Milwaukee Bucks (1) vs Orlando Magic (8)
The last time the Milwaukee Bucks won an NBA title, the year was 1971, and their center was Kareem-Abdul Jabbar, and their point guard was the “Big O” — Oscar Robertson. They went 52-8 in their first 60 games, but then they went 4-9 over their last 13. They did not look all that solid in “bubble” play, though, losing to Miami and Dallas down the stretch.
It has been ten years since the Orlando Magic made it to the second round of the playoffs; in 2010, they made it all the way to the East finals. Last year, the Magic made the postseason but left in the first round, bounced out by the Toronto Raptors. Could the Magic push Milwaukee to the brink? Or even send them home?
Final Series Prediction:
Bucks win in six | Bet on the Game Now!
Toronto Raptors (2) vs Brooklyn Nets (7)
The Raptors continued a strong run before the COVID-19 pandemic when the season resumed, winning 27 of their last 32 games. No team finished the season with a better run. Even without Kawhi Leonard, the team has continued to play shutdown defense and has a number of impressive scorers.
Brooklyn looked to be headed to a lost season after inking Kevin Durant — knowing that he would miss the entire season. However, Spencer Dinwiddie has turned into a clutch player. He has made seven baskets to put the Nets up in the last minute of the fourth quarter or overtime this season, the top mark in the NBA. Can he lead the Nets to an unthinkable upset?
Final Series Prediction:
Raptors win in five | Bet on the Game Now!
Boston Celtics (3) vs Philadelphia 76ers (6)
The last time Philadelphia beat Boston in a playoff series, Moses Malone and Dr. J were still patrolling the floor for the 76ers, and the year was 1982. The 76ers will miss Ben Simmons, the whole player in the history of the league to have career averages in assists and rebounds that are BOTH over 8.0. Without Simmons, center Joel Embiid will have to up his game, as the 76ers have gone just 7-8 without Simmons on the court this season. With that crucial injury, it is hard to pick Philadelphia here.
Final Series:
Celtics win in five | Bet on the Game Now!
Indiana Pacers (4) vs Miami Heat (5)
T.J. Warren has filled up the basket for the Pacers in the bubble, putting up 31 points per game and an effective field goal percentage of 66.4. There have only been four players to put up 30 or more points and 65 percent or greater effective field goal percentage other than Warren. Those players are Charles Barkley, Steph Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Miami is getting terrific play out of Kendrick Nunn, Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro, young players getting plenty of mentoring out of Jimmy Butler. Nunn and Robinson are averaging over 13 games per season, the first time a team had two undrafted players hitting that mark while playing in more than 70 percent of the team’s games in a season since the 1956-57 season. Can the Heat get enough defense to slow down the Pacers?
Final Series:
Heat win in six | Bet on the Game Now!
