NBA Perfect 10 (May 15)
The second round of the NBA Playoffs inches toward a finish and there are several series up for grabs and three of the four series are officially in elimination mode. Let’s dive into this week’s Perfect Ten.
Perfect Ten
Eastern Conference
#1 Boston Celtics (-650/-135) vs. #4 Cleveland Cavaliers (+40,000/+100,000) - The Celtics can close this series out on Wednesday at home. After another game 2 meltdown, the Celtics took control of the series with two straight wins in Cleveland. They are the prohibitive favorites to win the Eastern Conference and should be heavily favored against either the Knicks or Pacers.
#6. Indiana Pacers (+1500, +7500) vs. #2 New York Knicks (+550/+2000) - Just when the Pacers looked like they may have wrestled control over from the Knicks in this series, they laid an egg in New York on Tuesday night. This series seems destined to go seven games and game 7 almost seems too close to call. The Knicks depth has been sorely tested in this series and the Pacers’ inability to rebound has kept them from taking control. I like the Pacers to tie the series back up in game six but game 7 is anyone’s ballgame. Both teams are poorly suited to match the Celtics although the Knicks’ confidence is a plus and the Pacers’ ability to shoot their way into games could make that series interesting as well.
Western Conference
#1. OKC Thunder (+260/+800) vs. #5 Dallas Mavericks(+500/1300) - Like the Knicks/Pacers series, this series feels like it will go seven games. OKC has proved that they could take a punch, battling back to steal game four when it looked as though the Mavs were about to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. I think the Thunder can take game five at home and the Mavs will bounce back in game six. In a potential game seven, I’d lean on the experience of Doncic and Irving to help lead the Mavs into the Western Conference Finals.
#2. Denver Nuggets (-115/+275) vs. #3 Minnesota Timberwolves (+700/+1600) - The Nuggets took the T-Wolves best punch and countered with a near knockout blow, including a game 5 win that pushed the Wolves to the brink of elimination. The formula was simple: Jamal Murray got comfortable offensively and Nikola Jokic forced Gobert away from the rim. This is more than likely the toughest opponent for the Nuggets in the Western Conference and they could roll easily in the conference finals.
In parenthesis, conference odds and finals odds. Player MVP props are also in parenthesis. All odds Courtesy of Draftkings.com.
By Mark Ruelle
