NBA Basketball Preseason Prop Betting: Playoff Special Part 5
We’ll continue with our preseason NBA prop betting rundown. This will be part five of our team by team rundown of the ‘Playoff Specials’ prop bets from BetOnline.ag. As we’ve reminded you over and over again this is the best time of the year to get the best prices. It’s also the best time of the year to be a ‘contrarian’ and go against the big ‘public’ teams and positions: (all plays courtesy of BetOnline)
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NBA BASKETBALL PLAYOFF SPECIALS
NEW YORK KNICKS TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS
YES: +500
NO: -650
Really surprised that this price isn’t longer than it is. The Knicks were the worst team in the NBA last year and didn’t do anything much to improve the team in the short term. RJ Barrett out of Duke is a big time scoring threat but he needs some help and it’s not really clear if he has any. By way of comparison, a better Memphis Grizzlies team was a -1250 ‘No’ to not make the playoffs. The Grizz play in the brutal West but the Knicks should at least be -1000 to be on the outside looking in when the postseason begins.
NEW YORK KNICKS TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS—NO -650
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER TO MAKE PLAYOFFS
YES: +450
NO: -600
The Thunder’s roster was gutted due to free agency losing top two scorers Paul George and Russell Westbrook. They did bring in Chris Paul and have some serviceable players like Dennis Schroder and Steven Adams who are good for 13 to 15 PPG. Danilo Gallinari is also a new face but not sure what the Thunder will do with him and his $22 million plus per salary. Hard to believe that OKC will be MIA from the playoffs but harder to see them doing anything with this roster full of other team’s ‘spare parts’. No value in betting the ‘No’.
PASS
ORLANDO MAGIC TO MAKE PLAYOFFS
YES: -200
NO: +170
Name recognition isn’t the Magic’s forte but this is a talented young team committed to defense. Orlando finished fifth on the league’s scoring defense rankings last year just fractions below the Utah Jazz. Playing nasty defense isn’t as trendy as making a big name free agent signing but it wins and wins consistently. Magic finished the season on an 8-2 run and they’ll be back in the playoffs this year.
ORLANDO MAGIC TO MAKE PLAYOFFS—YES -200
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS TO MAKE PLAYOFFS
YES: -1250
NO: +800
There is nothing more dangerous for a coach—or a bettor—than a team that thinks they’re better than they really are. There may not be a team in all of professional sports that fits this description more than the Philadelphia 76ers. Somehow they extended the eventual NBA Champion Toronto Raptors to seven games. Al Horford was a nice pickup from Boston but they’d be better off finding a ‘pass first’ point guard to run the offense instead of Ben Simmons and his 7.7 assists per game. Lots of potential chemistry nightmares, lots of players who want the ball in their hands with only one to go around. Sixers are a shock omission from the postseason.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS TO MAKE PLAYOFFS—NO +800
PHOENIX SUNS TO MAKE PLAYOFFS
YES: +1000
NO: -1500
The Phoenix Suns had the second worst record in the NBA last year. Somehow they’re -1500 to not make the playoffs and the team with the worst record—the Knicks—are just -650. That’s because of the ‘New York’ on the front of their jersey. Devin Booker is going to be a big time NBA player but right now he just doesn’t have enough around him. Can’t lay this price though.
PASS
