Warriors Enter Playoffs Atop NBA Championship Odds

The Golden State Warriors begin their march towards a third straight NBA championship on Saturday when they play host to the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 1 of their opening-round playoff series as heavy 12.5-point favorites on the NBA playoff betting odds.

Golden State returns to NBA playoff action on a high after capturing top spot in the Western Conference standings for the fourth time in five years with straight-up wins in six of seven outings ahead of Saturday night’s game at Oracle Arena.

While the Warriors exhibited some uncharacteristic uneven play at times this season, and ranked 27th in the NBA with a 35-46-1 ATS record, they have never been shaken from their perch atop the odds to win the NBA championship, where they remain entrenched as heavy -225 favorites.

The Warriors have racked up a stunning 32-6 SU record during their two recent championship drives. And with just two total losses over their past four opening-round series, Golden State sits as a massive favorite on the first-round series prices, sporting -20000 odds of knocking off the Clippers.

However, there is no shortage of teams looking to challenge the Warriors this time around.

Over in the Eastern Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks look to end two decades of postseason futility as they take on the Detroit Pistons as heavy -6500 favorites on the NBA series prices.

The Bucks claimed top spot in the East while posting 60 wins for the first time since 1981, and trail only Golden State as a +650 championship bet on the NBA playoff odds. However, Milwaukee must overcome a dismal playoff history that features first-round series losses in eight playoff appearances since 2001, and bust out of a 3-3 SU run that ended its regular season.

The Toronto Raptors look to shake their reputation as playoff chokers as they prepare to battle the Orlando Magic as -1200 favorites on the NBA series prices. Winners of 58 games, the Raptors closely trail the Bucks as a +220 bet to win their first-ever Eastern Conference title, but have failed to get past the second round in four of the past five years.

While the NBA’s power trio dominate the top of the championship odds, there is plenty of value to be found further down the NBA playoff lines.

The Portland Trail Blazers quietly emerged as a force in the West down the stretch, posting SU wins in 14 of their final 17 games to climb into third place in the Western Conference standings, but lag as a distant +4000 wager on the NBA championship odds.

The Trail Blazers are also pegged as +110 underdogs on the NBA series prices after losing four straight to Oklahoma City. However, the Thunder have been prone to streakiness this season, and have made early playoff exits in each of the past two years.

A shaky second half dumped the Boston Celtics into fourth place in the East, and to a distant +1600 wager on the NBA championship odds. But after advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals in each of the past two years, the Celtics sit as an attractive +390 wager to return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010.

*Odds as of April 12, 2019

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