The NBA Conference Finals matchups are officially set. After Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Denver Nuggets in a thrilling seven-game series, the NBA will crown a different champion for the sixth consecutive season. Let's dive into the latest NBA Playoff Picture:
2023-24 NBA Playoff Picture
Eastern Conference Favorite: Boston Celtics -1100 To win Conference
Boston has been the most dominant team in the NBA this season. Their 64 wins and 122.2 offensive rating both pace the Association.
Jayson Tatum (+110 NBA Finals MVP favorite) is smack dab in the middle of his prime and ready to banish the ghosts of playoff past. Many prognosticators shook their heads when Brad Stevens traded for Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. Now, those moves look like masterstrokes for the NBA Championship favorites.
The Celtics are undoubtedly the team to beat as they chase their NBA record 18th Championship banner. Joe Mazzula's team has run roughshod through Miami and Cleveland, losing a combined two games. Boston leads the NBA playoffs with a +11.3-point differential. They're also first in 3-point percentage differential (+3.8), rebounding differential (+9.1), and blocks per game differential (+3).
Western Conference Favorite: Minnesota Timberwolves -168 To Win Conference
After holding the Nuggets to under 90 points three times in their second-round series, the Minnesota Timberwolves defense can keep them in games against anybody. Minnesota makes its first conference finals appearance in 20 years while leading the Western Conference playoffs in both defensive (107.6) and net (+8.5) ratings.
The Timberwolves are on a spectacular 8-3 ATS run while going 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games against the Western Conference. Crucially, the Mavericks are just 1-6 SU in their last 7 games on the road in Minnesota. Dallas will have to solve those road woes to have any hope of upsetting the tenacious Timberwolves.
Armed with the flair and scoring ability of superstar Anthony Edwards (+290 to win NBA Finals MVP), and backstopped by Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, the Timberwolves are bonafide NBA Championship contenders.
How to Bet on the NBA Playoffs
Now that you've chosen a few teams to make the postseason, you might want to look into other playoff futures and NBA Finals bets -- no worries, because we've got a wealth of information for you to browse through. Handicappers can use our daily NBA Computer Picks to aid in their quest to beat the books. Make sure you place your futures sooner than later, as the closer we get to the end of the regular season, the tighter the odds get.
