NBA online betting sites are now shifting to the conference semifinal playoff battles. In this article, we have the NBA Series Futures Update for Round 2. When will a series come to an end? At VegasBetting, it is time to look closer at this. Also, we peek at which teams may just advance as well.
Golden State-Memphis | |
---|---|
5 Games | +250 |
6 Games | +130 |
7 Games | +170 |
Milwaukee-Boston | |
5 games | +129 |
6 games | +139 |
7 games | +310 |
Phoenix-Dallas | |
4 Games | +260 |
5 Games | +150 |
6 Games | +370 |
7 Games | +370 |
The defending Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns opened up their playoff run in not so grand style. They struggled mightily with the New Orleans Pelicans before finally eliminating them. In this round, not only has Phoenix gone up 2-0 on the Dallas Mavericks but Phoenix humbled their interior defense. In the NBA Series Futures, experts were surprised to see the “when will the series finish” see strange-looking numbers. How strange? This one arguably is hard to believe yet somehow not surprising.
A further examination of the numbers looks at it this way. Phoenix is more favored to close this series out in five games than for the series to go six or seven.
So, Phoenix keeps going to this play and Dallas has little or no answers on how to stop it. That is the simple part here. The Mavericks cannot provide a stout with enough interior defence, or one that moves fluidly. This allows the Suns to pile on the points in the paint as options open up. Now, it is not the only play Phoenix has used well to build a 2-0 series lead. However, Phoenix keeps finding ways to produce the free points Dallas needs to stop.
Now, let’s dig into that debate for NBA Series Futures Picks. Could Phoenix actually sweep this series or is it just safer to bet on the five-game scenario here?
It is something how the idea of a Phoenix Suns sweep in this series is possible in the odds. The teams do seem somewhat evenly stacked until we get to that interior. Again, Dallas has some players that can do damage on the other end. However, at the defensive end, Phoenix has been able to do whatever it wants in this series and whenever.
Now, the duo of Chris Paul and Devin Booker gives Phoenix a chance to sweep this series from Dallas. Phoenix scored 71 points in the second half on Wednesday including 40 in the further quarter. Paul led the way for Phoenix with 14 points and his mid-range jumper over Luka Doncic just kept happening. Dallas has to find a method to let Doncic guard some less potent players. He cannot cover Paul and have Dallas expect to succeed.
The feeling is that Dallas splits at home before Phoenix closes this one at home. As tempting as that sweep future looks, opting for the safer five-game prediction at plus money is not a bad thing.
Throw the records out as Golden State believed this might be an easy breather and then they realized it was Memphis. The Grizzles infuriate everybody at some point. This is just how they play. Memphis is young and they are going to make mistakes. However, they are fast enough to force Golden State into a few more miscues than they feel comfortable with.
Memphis was on fire without Ja Morant. At one point, there was a 20-game stretch where the Grizzlies won 18 games. That .900 winning percentage is just incredulous. Part of why this series is tied is the overall athleticism of Memphis. They can match and even surpass Golden State for stretches.
Again, the problem is this. Can the Grizzlies keep this up for an entire seven-game series? The answer feels like no and when one looks at the series futures, oddsmakers are in agreement. However, fewer bettors believe this will end in five games. The trend has sent the numbers for six games to be the nice, round number Golden State will need to eliminate Memphis.
The Golden State Warriors do have a couple of additional gears and part of that starts with Stephen Curry and his ability to just assert his will. With Klay Thompson and Joran Poole slashing and dashing, then Draymond Green creating space in the interior, ultimately Golden State is too tough to beat over the course of a seven-game series even for Memphis.
For this Series Futures pick, our best bet is to now take the Golden State Warriors despite quite a battle. The Warriors should advantage to the Western Conference Final in six games.
The Milwaukee Bucks expect to win this Round 2 series with Boston. However, Boston has the scoring with Jayson Tatum, the defence of Marcus Smart and company, plus the Celtics can be irritating to play against.
Thankfully, Giannis Antetokounmpo has a way of just willing his team to victory. Even against a tough Boston team that could potentially win a title, Milwaukee has enough and they are the underdog still.
There is little value with the Boston Celtics ultimately. Milwaukee’s number at +110 on some sites is just too hard to pass up. Considering that they are the defending champions, this is worth a look along with the prediction of six games (+139).
MyBookie went a good deal longer with the series futures odds (+310) to go the distance and that is fair considering the margin for error. Instead, look at the five or six game options before they begin to diverge too much.
See the best Vegas online betting sportsbooks where you can bet and try to add some dollars:
Chris Wassel AA, AAS CURRENTLY Sports Writer and Journalist RESIDES IN Rahway, NJ EDUCATION Union County College, Montclair State University EXPERTISE Business, Writing, Sports, Food, Grilling, Olympics, Injuries, Politics, and more Summary Member of FSWA, FSGA, and a variety of Sports Betting Groups. Works on injuries for a variety of sites. Edits articles from NASCAR to football and beyond. Occasionally runs sites like mynhltraderumor.com and Full Press Hockey/Bets. Does a podcast for Full Press Hockey and a few other sports too. Experience Chris Wassel has 20+ years of sports journalistic experience in various disciplines. His ability to play sports is well documented. Most people in the business just write. However, Chris will race cars and even a super Moto bike from time to time. There is that fitness and hiking/cycling aspect too. Chris has climbed mountains from Mount Washington to Mount San Jacinto in Palm Springs, California. For those that do not know. Chris also dabbles in food eating contests and challenges. Having a unique background with friends including Joey Chestnut and Casey Webb, Chris has the ability to eat a whole 16-pound turkey or a 32 inch meat lover's pizza. Since 2013, Chris does focus on things like fitness, fishing, and sports. One would be surprised that Chris runs, hikes, and rock climbs. There are even those occasional mini-triathlons. One truly can pack a lot in a small package. Chris can lift things over his body weight with ease. Also, if there is a NASCAR rain prop, Chris can tell you if there will be a Monday race. Throughout his career, Chris has worked at a wide range of places from Amazon to USA Today to a variety of rumors and fantasy sports sites. Finally, Chris has been nominated for quite a few awards from the Fantasy Sports Writers Association for Hockey Writer Of The Year. Also, there have been a number of high-stakes fantasy trophies and rings that Chris sports in his house. Education Chris received an Associates from Union Country College for business and accounting. Chris did sports journalism work at Montclair State University covering the hockey, baseball, and football teams. Quote from Chris Wassel "Shut up and play.”