At the onset of the week, the Milwaukee Bucks opened as the NBA betting favorite to win the 2023 NBA Playoffs championship. Following the Bucks are the Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, and Golden State Warriors. Golden State is the defending NBA champion but has suffered from an inconsistent season. Milwaukee and Phoenix met in the 2020 NBA Finals, with the Bucks prevailing in six games. Last year the Celtics lost to the Warriors in the 2022 NBA Finals. Denver is seen as a potential emerging power. While Philadelphia combines ability and a value price.
2023 NBA Playoffs Overview
| Date and Time: | Playoffs Begin April 11, 2023, and Finals Begin June 1 |
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2023 NBA Championship Odds at SBG
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Milwaukee Bucks | +240 |
| Boston Celtics | +360 |
| Phoenix Suns | +500 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +850 |
| Denver Nuggets | +950 |
| Golden State Warriors | +950 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | +1900 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | +2700 |
| LA Clippers | +2700 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +3600 |
| All Other teams | +6500 or Higher |
2023 NBA Playoffs SBG Odds Overview
The NBA Playoffs begin on April 11 with the play-in tournament. Seeds 7-10 in each conference will meet, with the two winners advancing to the regular sports betting playoffs. Naturally, the NBA championship odds are largely based on branding. To illuminate, the teams with the most recent or sustained success will draw most of the future market action.
For example, the Milwaukee Bucks won the 2020 NBA championship. For the past several seasons, the Bucks have been one of the biggest winners in the Association. And then Giannis Antetokounmpo is arguably the best player in the game. It all adds up to a brand that the casual sector can’t resist. Especially when the Bucks posted the best record in the NBA to earn the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
Celtics Bring Recent Success and Historic Brand
Second seed in the Eastern Conference belongs to the Boston Celtics. Boston has always been among the most popular brands on the NBA board. The Celtics rate with the Lakers as the most successful brands in NBA history. Last year’s appearance in the NBA Finals adds to the Celtics’ appeal. Boston beat the Bucks in the 2022 NBA Playoffs. And that will cause influence with much of the casual sector. But a deeper dive shows that Milwaukee was shorthanded by key injuries. That is not the case this season.
Suns Rising in Esteem With Betting Public
At the beginning of the season, the Phoenix Suns were plagued with injury and ownership problems. Those problems drove down their NBA betting value and appeal with the casual sector. However, the Suns were one of the strongest teams in the Association down the stretch. Gamblers recall how Phoenix won the 2020 Western Conference championship. And that memory is baked into the cake on the future board.
Nuggets of Gold From Denver?
The Denver Nuggets are the top seed in the Western Conference. Yet the Nuggets have fallen in esteem with the betting public. The rise of the Phoenix Suns explains part of that. Wise Guys like Denver as a team that could be one of the hidden gems in the Western Conference. Denver combines ability and price for an attractive package. Additionally, Denver has one of the NBA’s elite superstars. In the past two years, Nikola Jokic won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award.