The NBA playoffs are finally underway and while a lot of fans are wondering who will take the NBA Finals trophy this year, many others are wondering what they can do to make a little money on the unfolding actions.
For those interested in the latter during NBA playoff season, why not tempt your friends with a few prop bets that will have you laughing, crying, and maybe even stomping around like a child? There might even be a little money in it for you if all goes well.
Milwaukee Bucks making it to the NBA finals, Yes/No?
It’s no secret that the Milwaukee Bucks are gunning for their NBA Finals appearance in decades and could end up going very far in the playoffs.
In fact, between sweeping the defending Eastern Conference champions, and Giannis Antetokounmpo putting up beast-like numbers in the opening series, the sky really could be the limit when it comes to a team like this.
With that being said, and a second-round match against either the Brooklyn Nets or the Boston Celtics becoming a certainty at this point, what are the chances of them making it all the way to the NBA Finals?
While they will still have to go through the Philadelphia 76ers, the Atlanta Hawks, the New York Knicks, or the Washington Wizards to reach the finals, they are 12-5 against these four opponents during the regular season.
This means, there’s at least a chance based on what happens going forward, but it really depends on how they come out of this break.
Prediction: Yes
How many games will the Los Angeles Lakers lose in the NBA playoffs? Over/Under 5.5
The Los Angeles Lakers took a surprise loss to the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the NBA playoffs, putting the all-star squad on the defensive heading into the second game of the season.
Now, the Lakers were able to rectify this by beating the Suns in game two, but they aren’t out of the woods yet.
The Suns already notched another victory to even the series, meaning that the Lakers have already taken two losses in the first round of the playoffs.
In the end, the Lakers have a lot of quality opponents to go up against in their conference, making it very easy for the organization to take a few more losses before all is said and done.
For reference, the Lakers lost a total of 5 games in last year’s playoffs, beating their first three opponents in five games. They were forced into a 6 game series against the Heat, but that didn’t stop the Lakers from eventually winning the title
Prediction: Over 5.5
How many NBA playoff series will go to a game seven? Over/under 6.5
There’s nothing quite like a series that goes seven games, which is why it is definitely an attractive option to bet on with friends. It even makes almost every game must-watch television in a way that no other bet really could
Not only is that evident by the fact that the bet isn’t officially over until the finals are complete, but it also gives both sides some time to trash talk in the meantime.
Seriously though, with three different series going to a game six in the first round, and three other rounds of basketball to play, this could be a wager worth investing in.
Prediction: Over 6.5
Will a 5th seed or lower make it to the NBA Finals?
Believe it or not, there are at least 3 teams that are ranked 5th or worse in the playoff seeding with a legitimate chance of making it to the finals, making this prop bet a little bit of a wild card.
Of course, one could argue that the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, The Washington Wizards, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Memphis Grizzlies are all still in the running, but it would take quite a strong comeback to overcome their respective deficits.
For the sake of sanity though, the teams with the best shots at achieving this lofty goal are the Los Angeles Lakers and The Portland Trailblazers, who are both 2-2 in their series.
While that only gives a team with a 5th seed or higher a 2 out of 8 chance of making it to the finals, which is roughly 25% If you add all the teams that are still technically in the running, that number jumps up to 87%, but you got to think of the viability of those comebacks happening.
In the end, this is going to be one of those gut-check prop bets that make you think for a while, but you might want to with yes on this one. Not only is that likely due to one of the teams being the Lebron James and Anthony Davis led Lakers, but also because of the talent pool that still exists in this playoff season.
Prediction: Yes
How many feuds will the NBA and WNBA have during the playoffs? Over/under 1.5
Let’s have some fun here and do an over/under on the number of feuds between the NBA and the WNBA during the playoffs.
While some might not think this won’t happen, one has to remember that the NBA is doing everything they can to advertise the WNBA’s ongoing season.
With that being said, and the constant comparisons being drawn between the two leagues, it’s safe to say that these two could clash before all is said and done. How many times they do so remains to be seen, and will depend on the kind of interactions the two leagues have with each other, but there is powder keg potential here.
In fact, with the WNBA’s pattern of calling out what they believe to be problematic behavior, it could be an easy way to make a couple of extra bucks.
Prediction: 2 feuds.
What say you about my prop bets? Winners or losers? Have you laid down any fun ones yourself, with friends or Vinny in Vegas? Let us know in the comments below.
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