After the NBA playoffs tipped off on Saturday with a handful of one-sided contests, things got a little more interesting on Sunday and Monday, with the Thunder, Knicks, and Nuggets among the teams to pull out victories in games that went down to the wire.
All three days of the playoffs so far, however, have had one thing in common: The home team has won. The road teams have an 0-11 record entering Tuesday’s action.
It’s not necessarily surprising that the home teams are controlling the eight series so far. Those clubs are the higher seeds, and home-court advantage is often a difference-maker in the postseason.
Still, it’s somewhat rare for the higher seeds to be quite this dominant to open the playoffs, especially when we saw so much parity during the regular season. The No. 2 and No. 8 seeds in the East finished the season just four games apart, while only two games separated the No. 4 to No. 7 teams in the West.
The lower seeds are going to start picking up some wins at some point, especially in Game 3s when they get to play on their respective home courts. But will any of them actually make it out of the first round?
Currently, BetOnline.ag lists all the lower seeds as series underdogs, giving the Mavericks (+140) the best chance to erase its 1-0 deficit and win the series. Those odds aren’t surprising — Dallas finished the season strong, was only a game behind the Clippers in the standings, and seems unlikely to face a fully healthy Kawhi Leonard in the first round.
The Suns (+150) and Pacers (+195) are also viewed as viable candidates to pull off upsets over Minnesota and Milwaukee, respectively. On the other hand, despite only being down 1-0 in their series, the Pelicans (+660) and Heat (+5000!) are massive underdogs vs. the Thunder and Celtics.
Of the teams who have to climb out of a 2-0 hole, BetOnline.ag views the Sixers (+380) as the strongest candidates for a comeback, followed by the Magic (+640) and Lakers (+870).
We want to know what you think. Will any of the eight lower seeds make it out of the first round? If so, which ones do you expect to see in round two?
Head to the comment section below to share your thoughts!
The Magic aren’t doing it unless they bribe the officials. They’re suffering on offense between the Cavs’ defense and the lack of FT calls (they lead the league in FTA/G on the season). They’re lucky the games have been as close as they have been, honestly. Mobley and Allen have been suffocating them and the Cavs haven’t even been playing all that well yet (mediocre ball movement and they haven’t punished double-teams as much as they should have, for starters).
Full credit for their defensive intensity, though. Lots of physicality and they’re stopping the Cavs from getting open looks.
The Magic need a playmaking guard.
Which is sad since they are guard heavy with
Cole Anthony
Anthony Black
Fultz
Suggs
Harris
and Howard considered a guard
their best playmaker is Paolo
If Lakers lose one of the next 2, they go the Lake and catch fish
Coming in I thought the Suns and Mavs had best chance as lower seeds (no Kawhi). Now I’m not sure. Both Clippers and TWolves look ready for this.
I don’t see any lower seed advancing. Especially the Crying Sixers. Good thing these Babies have Nurse ….. Aaaaaahhh
In the East only PHI has a chance
In the West PHO and DAL are going through for sure.
There’s only one answer for this phenomenon…conspiracy! Refs! Gambling! Money!
But never, ever, ever, never, personal responsibility.
Since the dawn of the Stern Era, the NBA playoffs have tracked the chalk with an almost unnatural consistency. All this has been lucky for the NBA, since it’s allowed them to have the best of both Worlds. They can lead in playoff expansion (which brings in $$). While, at the same time, NOT having to suffer the indignity (and $$) of crowning a champion from among teams that haven’t been properly vetted and marketed for the role, or spend much of their precious air time discussing any teams outside their place in the league’s hierarchy.
Of course, a few times a decade, stuff happens, even in Stern World. The league almost always catches it in time, but seeing it play out is often more entertaining than the games themselves.
Suns have no depth as expected, Minn stuck with them the 1st half with Edwards and KAT doing nothing. Will KD cry and try to ruin another team by getting traded?
Mavericks and Sixers are the only teams with any chance.