NBA Playoff Odds

NBA Odds to Make the Playoffs

Minnesota Timberwolves (-170)– The Timberwolves missed out on the playoffs last year on the last game of the season losing to the Denver Nuggets. Their status this year seems cloudy at the moment with the western conference only getting better and the recent news of Jimmy Butler wanting to be traded. Assuming they do go through with this and trade Butler this could push the Timberwolves back into an interesting spot between rebuilding and competing.

Utah Jazz (-600)– The Jazz are one of the most intriguing teams this season and I am a bit worried they could be due for some regression this season. They come in with the 10th best odds in the NBA to make the playoffs after surprising a lot of people last season after it was thought they would not even be in the picture. In a very tight western conference Utah could lack the firepower to come out in one of the top 8 spots.

San Antonio Spurs (-150)– The new look Spurs will be without Tony Parker (Hornets) and Manu Ginobli (Retirement) this season but they were able to add DeMar Derozan in the Kawhi Leonard trade that sent him to Toronto. The Spurs are expected to be a middle tier team this season and there is no telling how long it will take for this new look roster to mesh without the veterans who have been with the team over the past decade or so.

Chicago Bulls (+600)– One of my sleeper teams this year is the Chicago Bulls. Without LeBron James in the eastern conference everything opens up a bit in what was already a weak conference to begin with. The Bulls will have Zach LaVine for a full season and have added Jabari Parker (Free Agency) and Wendell Carter Jr. (Draft) this offseason. Their depth in the front court with Lauri Markkanen, Bobby Portis, Robin Lopez, and Wendell Carter Jr really intrigues me here especially with Markkanen’s play last season. If they can stay healthy a starting lineup with Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine, Jabari Parker, Lauri Markkanen, and Wendell Carter Jr/Robin Lopez with some very solid options off the bench could easily make the playoffs in the eastern conference.

Detroit Pistons (-190)– The Pistons acquired Blake Griffin last season and things didn’t really seem to mesh the way they had hoped in that short amount of time they had and they ended up as the 9 seed. They were also without starting PG Reggie Jackson for most of the season. If the front court duo of Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin can find a way to work I can see the Pistons having a season much like the Pelicans last year where they may be able to sneak in and put up a fight but ultimately lack the backcourt/bench players to make a real impact in the playoffs.