16 NBA teams start the 2011 NBA playoffs in eight different cities this weekend. The NBA champion will be decided by four rounds of playoffs, each a best of seven game series in which the winner advances. Historically, the favorites have done extremely well in the NBA playoffs, and the Las Vegas experts expect more of the same this year.
2011 NBA Playoff odds:
Lakers: 21% ($100 wins $275)
Heat: 18% ($100 win $325)
Bulls: 17% ($100 wins $375)
Spurs: 11% ($100 wins $600)
Celtics: 9% ($100 wins $800)
Thunder: 6% ($100 wins $1300)
Magic: 5% ($100 wins $1500)
Mavs: 4% ($100 wins $1800)
Nuggets: 2.5% ($100 wins $2900)
Knicks: 1.7% ($100 wins $4500)
Blazers: 1.6% ($100 wins $5000)
Grizzlies: 1% ($100 wins $8500)
Hawks: .7% ($100 wins $11,000)
76ers: .6% ($100 wins $13,000)
Hornets: .5% ($100 wins $14,000)
Pacers: .4% ($100 wins $20,000)
It's interesting to note that the eight teams with the best odds above have a 91% chance to win the NBA title, leaving the bottom eight teams only a 9% chance. Lakers, Heat, and Bulls have a combined 56% chance to win the NBA title.
Series odds:
Bulls 96% over Pacers 4%
Lakers 95% over Hornets 5%
Heat 93% over 76ers 7%
Magic 83% over Hawks 17%
Celtics 77% over Knicks 23%
Spurs 76% over Grizzlies 24%
Thunder 67% over Nuggets 33%
Mavs 65% over Blazers 35%
COMMENT . . .
What do you think is the best bet listed above?