NBA Finals 2024 Preview
It’s finally here, and it’s better than ever – the court has never been exciting, tense, and close.
The odds on NBA matches are ever-changing; the further we go and the more we see courtside, the better the predictions will get. We are currently seeing the odds rise big for The Suns, who are the solid favorites for many right now.
The playoffs are already exciting, and what makes them even more interesting is that the 1-10 seeds had little between them—something we don’t typically see.
Let’s get into the favorites and the dark horses for your NBA betting.
Miami Heat
The Heat struggled their way through the 20/21 season. After securing 6th place in regular reason in the East, crashing out in the first round wasn’t what was expected.
The Bucks came in hot from the off, and the beating that the Heat took was a preview of the eventual winners – The Bucks. The sweep from Milwaukee was unsettling for Heat fans, but this time around, they are looking at little different.
In a shocking move (unless you are a Heat fan), they ended the regular season as the top seed and have that home-court confidence that it brings.
They are brilliant when it comes to defense, and after their stunning victory against Atlanta, the Heat look set for great things.
Milwaukee Bucks
Sometimes the team brings the magic, and the Bucks seemed to have it in the 20/21 seasons when they took their first NBA title in 50 years. To take the title, they had to beat The Suns.
The Buck’s big three make the team formidable and almost unstoppable; however, it’s likely to be an uphill climb with Middleton with an MCL injury. Impossible? No. With a stellar performance from DeRozan, even in a losing game, we can expect good things.
Utah Jazz
The Jazz might be the dark horse of the bunch, but they have merit. They were, without a doubt, the best team in the regular season, beating the Clippers. Nuggets and The Suns – and ending with a 52-20 record.
Rudy Gobert is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year; when combined with Bojan Bogdanovic, Donovan Mitchell, and Jordan Clarkson, you’ve got the makings of some Jazz magic.
They finished fifth in the West after a disappointing season in which they blew a series of significant leads in the fourth quarter, dropping them to the bottom of the Western Conference rankings.
They defeated Dallas to take a 1-0 lead in the series but then suffered a surprising loss in game two to a Mavericks team lacking Luka Doncic.
Phoenix Suns
Ending the year on a huge 64-18, The Suns are easily the favorite right now. The only fly in the ointment might be that Booker aggravated an old hamstring injury and is currently out for an unknown number of weeks, but that could also be a couple of games – it’s a grade 1 injury.
Bridges, Ayton, and Paul are more than capable of avenging some of the more painful losses from last year. Going from a 2-0 lead to a dramatic loss will be fresh in their minds, and this could be the chance to put it right.
The price on a Suns win was much lower after the win against the Pelicans, but with Booker’s injury and a heavy second-game loss, the price is up again.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics are one of the most formidable teams and have been playing solidly good games since the new year. In fact, they have won almost every game, which has positioned themselves as a team worth some conversation.
After the games against the Nets, the odds for the Celtics drop rapidly. Keep in mind that these were no.2 seeds, and this begs the question, why aren’t the odds already lower?
Well, since the Celtics will more than likely go head to head with the Bucks in the Eastern semis.
If they want to take it to the finals, they will need Tatum, Smart, and Brown to be on top form, and looking at their performance against the Nets – it’s likely.
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors savaged their own season by performing poorly over Christmas – despite leading the way up until that moment.
What makes the Warriors interesting is that they seem extremely comfortable in their matchup with the Nuggets right now. Their trio of Thompson, Curry, and Poole are showing up time and again.
Which Teams are Likely to Make the Finals?
Keeping in mind that the odds change fast, and injuries aren’t something that can be accounted for before they happen, here are the four favorites that are tipped for the top.
The Suns are arguable the best team in the league, but with Booker down, they are going in weaker.
The Golden State Warriors are looking strong, and if they sweep the Nuggets, then they are a safe bet.
With MVP Anetetokounmpo and a win in 2021, The Bucks are a strong contender.
Miami Heat rounds out the top for best bets for the NBA finals.
