NBA Playoff Futures
April 18, 2008
The NBA playoffs kick off this weekend, and in the Western Conference it is shaping up as one of the most fascinating post seasons ever.
Bodog Sportsbook has posted some great odds for the results of the first round matchups.
There's some juicy action to be had in this first round. There's so many matchups that will be close and that makes for some uncertainty in the hearts of the oddsmakers.
Over at Bodog, thiey have posted odds to most of the first round contests. These are the ones we thik they may have gotten wrong...
Washington Wizards 2.20 > Bet now at Bodog
Cleveland Cavs 1.80
Phoenix Suns 2.20 > Bet now at Bodog
San Antonio Spurs 1.71
Dallas Mavericks 2.25 > Bet now at Bodog
New Orleans Hornets 1.69
Our picks are in bold. We think these three underdog teams have a great chance of causing an upset.
Wiz V Cavs
The x-factor here is Lebron James. He is capable of taking a team all the way to the finals, just like last year. But the difference is that this year his new supporting cast doesn't seem to have bonded yet. The Wizards have been playing well as a team and have the x-factor of Gilbert 'Agent Zero' Arenas coming off the bench. We think the Wizards can steal this one.
Suns V Spurs
Since the Suns acquired Shaq, everyone has been saying they did it for one reason and one reason only - to combat Tim Duncan in the playoffs. The big diesel is made to roll through the playoffs, as he has proven with 4 titles & 3 Finals MVPs in 6 Finals appearances. Duncan just doesn't seem to be effective against the big body of Shaq and the rest of the spurs are a year old and carrying a few injuries. Get on the Suns in this one.
Mavs V Hornets
The Mavs are playoffs experienced, going to the Finals with many of the same players just two seasons ago. The difference is now they have Jason Kidd as well. The Hornets put together an awesome season, rallying behind MVP candidate Chris Paul but not many of their team have ever played a playoff game, let alone won a series. Chris Paul is great, but we think he'll falter in the playoffs just like all the great players before him have when first trying to take a team all the way. The Mavs should win this one and we're not sure why the oddsmakers have them so long.
That's our picks of the best bets in the first round. You can bet at Bodog by choosing the NBA futures. Or you can also bet on the result or the points spread of every single game in the playoffs.
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