The NBA playoff odds are posted all over the internet, and here at Bankroll Sports, we are going to be taking an updated look at the Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat series. We’ll go game by game and updated all of the NBA odds and final scores for each of the series, so be sure to join us throughout this series, as we will be keeping this and all of the posts up to date for the NBA playoffs.

Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat NBA Playoff Schedule

Heat Win Series 4-1

Game 1: Chicago Bulls 93 – Miami Heat 86
Game 2: Chicago Bulls 78 – Miami Heat 115
Game 3: Miami Heat 104 – Chicago Bulls 94
Game 4: Miami Heat 88 – Chicago Bulls 65
Game 5: Chicago Bulls 91 – Miami Heat 94

Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat Series Odds at
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Chicago Bulls +35000
Miami Heat -100000
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Bulls vs. Heat Series Updates
Game 1: Even the most staunch Chicago fan couldn’t have seen this one coming! In spite of the fact that the Bulls didn’t have either F Luol Deng or G Kirk Hinrich, they still were able to lock down defensively and hold the sluggish Heat to just 86 points, including only 37 in a very suspect first half that has to concern the champs. F LeBron James, G Dwyane Wade, and F Chris Bosh, who are used to combining for at least 60 points on a nightly basis, had just 47 between them on Monday, and that really was the difference in the game. Chicago used G Marco Belinelli and F Jimmy Butler for a total of 95 minute between them, and that was the difference in the game. Butler scored 21 and had 14 boards. G Nate Robinson scored 27 and had nine assists. Bulls 93 – Heat 86 (Bulls Lead Series 1-0)

Game 2: There was no G Kirk Hinrich and no F Luol Deng for the straight game in this series, yet this time around, the Bulls absolutely got their butts kicked, particularly in a stretch of 20:15 when the game went from 42-38 to 104-58. The de facto 62-20 run was one of the most impressive things that we have seen in our time of watching basketball, and we have seen some pretty darn impressive things. The Heat never really had to break a sweat in this one, as it was over from the get go. Six players logged double-digits of points for Miami, and those six outscored the entire Chicago team by 19 points. Forget about the others who tallied another 18. This could have been a 50-point game if the Heat had wanted it to be. Heat 115 – Bulls 78 (Series Tied 1-1)

Game 3: Once again, all of the players for the Bulls that we have been mentioning as players that have been sitting sat in Game 3, and the end result once again didn’t go Chicago’s way. It was another game littered with technical fouls, and C Nazr Mohammed was ejected after he shoved F LeBron James. Needless to say, that wasn’t what Head Coach Tom Thibodeau needed, knowing that he was already going to play four players at least 42 minutes in this game. The Bulls simply ran out of gas in the final stanza of this one, as they were level going into the fourth quarter and were unlucky to at least not cover the spread. C Chris Bosh scored 20 and brought down 19 rebounds to lead the way in a game in which Chicago really had just about everything going the way that it wanted. Miami helped salt the game away by shooting 26-of-30 from the charity stripe. Heat 104 – Bulls 94 (Heat Lead Series 2-1)

Game 4: The white flag isn’t quite in the air yet, but we’re hearing a fat lady starting to sing, and we think that she’s located in South Beach. G Dwyane Wade tweaked his knee again in Game 4, but that was about the only bit of bad news for Miami in this one. F LeBron James did his thing, scoring 27 points with eight assists and seven boards, while F Chris Bosh was the only other double-digit scorer on the team with 14 points. The impressive stats all came on the other side of the court. The Bulls were held to just 19 field goals for the game, and they had only 42 points through three quarters before scoring 23 in the fourth. G Nate Robinson shot just 0-of-12 from the field, and even if you take that out, the rest of the team only shot 30.6%. There’s nothing left that Chicago can do to stop its pending extinction this season. Heat 88 – Bulls 65 (Heat Lead Series 3-1)

Game 5: We’ll say this about Chicago: It never gave up. The Heat threatened early to blow Chicago out of the water for the fourth straight game. Head Coach Tom Thibodeau and company erased a 17-point deficit though, and the Bulls ultimately build a double-digit lead of their own late in the third quarter. There just wasn’t enough gas left in the tank though, as Miami outscored Chicago 28-14 over the course of the last 14 minutes of the game to win by three. Four players scored at least 15 points for the Bulls in defeat. F LeBron James scored 23 points in spite of his 5-of-14 shooting performance. G Dwyane Wade, playing on a bad knee, scored 18 and had six assists and five boards. Now, the Heat will have at least three days off, and potentially as much as a week off to rest to get ready for the Eastern Conference Finals. Heat 94 – Bulls 91 (Heat Win Series 4-1)

2013 Bulls vs. Heat Series Preview

Just as the New England Patriots were basically convinced that they had a bye through the first two rounds of the playoffs in the AFC this year, the Heat probably can be convinced that they have a bye in the first two rounds of the playoffs this year in the Eastern Conference as well. They made it through their first round without any hassles against the Milwaukee Bucks, taking all four games with ease. Now, they get the Bulls, who had to play a full seven games, including a triple-overtime game in Game 4, and who are incredibly banged up coming into this series.

It’s anyone’s guess as to whether G Derrick Rose is really going to try to suit up or not for this series. In the end, we have to think that Rose is done for the year, even if Chicago gets out of this series. The rest of the team is going to have to pick up the slack around him, and many of the bodies that would be in those roles are hurting as well. C Joakim Noah doesn’t show up on the injury report any longer even though he is playing through plantar fasciitis. Meanwhile, F Luol Deng was hospitalized prior to Game 6 against the Brooklyn Nets and might miss at least the start of this series. G Kirk Hinrich missed three of the seven games against the Nets with a hamstring problem. That being said, G Nate Robinson was able to really step up and have some big, big moments against Brooklyn, and he was actually the second leading scorer at 17.0 points per game in that first series. F Carlos Boozer was a rock in the middle for Head Coach Tom Thibodeau on both sides of the court, and he ended up averaging 17.4 points and 10.6 rebounds per game for the series, shooting 54.5 percent from the field.

And then there are the Heat, who were so not worried about Game 4 against the Milwaukee Bucks that they let G Dwyane Wade sit out for the game. Wade only averaged 13.7 points per game, and it almost seemed like he and his teammates were toying with Milwaukee. F LeBron James only averaged 37 minutes per game, and we know that he has the ability to play 45 minutes per game if he needs to as we go on in the second season. F Chris Bosh only averaged 12.8 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, and he too, is capable of much, much more. This is going to be a tougher series for sure for all of the Heat players, and virtually everyone is going to have to step it up. That being said, there is no doubt who the superior of these two teams are.

The Heat are going to have a score to settle with the Bulls. Chicago was the team that ended their 27-game winning streak back in the end of March. The Bulls also won a game earlier this year at American Airlines Arena, perhaps proving that they can indeed win in this series. That being said, it’s only a matter of time until the Heat turn on the jets, and we think they’re going to do just that when push comes to shove at the United Center in Games 3 and 4 of this series. Not only do we think that Miami is sweeping this series, but we think it is sweeping it without having to break a sweat. Four wins by at least a dozen points are in store as we see it.

Bulls vs. Heat Series Prediction: Miami Heat in 4

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The Brooklyn Nets and the Chicago Bulls will be playing in what should be a tight series in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Join us here at Bankroll Sports, as we look at the Bulls vs. Nets series schedule, as well as many our series predictions for what should be one of the top series to pay attention to in the opening round of the playoffs. Don’t miss out on any of the NBA betting action that you’ll find right here at Bankroll Sports!

Chicago Bulls vs. Brooklyn Nets NBA Playoff Schedule

Bulls Win Series 4-3

Game 1: Chicago Bulls 89 – Brooklyn Nets 106
Game 2: Chicago Bulls 90 – Brooklyn Nets 82
Game 3: Brooklyn Nets 76 – Chicago Bulls 79
Game 4: Brooklyn Nets 134 – Chicago Bulls 142 (3 OTs)
Game 5: Chicago Bulls 91 – Brooklyn Nets 91
Game 6: Brooklyn Nets 95 – Chicago Bulls 92
Game 7: Chicago Bulls 99 – Brooklyn Nets 93

Chicago Bulls vs. Brooklyn Nets Series Odds at
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Chicago Bulls +180
Brooklyn Nets -220
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Bulls vs. Nets Series Updates
Game 1: Amazingly, the Bulls were nowhere to be found defensively in Game 1 in Brooklyn. The Nets had 89 points on the board through the first three quarters, and they cruised to victory after that. C Joakim Noah came back into the lineup, only to play 14 minutes, while on the other side of the court, the four stars that were brought together this year, G Deron Williams, G Joe Johnson, F Gerald Wallace, and C Brook Lopez combined to score 73 points between them. Nets 106 – Bulls 89 (Nets Lead Series 1-0)

Game 2: The Nets have lost home court advantage, and they have lost it over the fact that they just couldn’t shoot the basketball in the first or the third quarter on Monday. Chicago held down Brooklyn to a total of just 28 points in those two quarters combined. No one in the game scored more than 15 for the Bulls, but all three of C Joakim Noah, F Luol Deng, and F Carlos Boozer had double-doubles. G Deron Williams shot just 1-of-9 from the field, and that isn’t going to cut it. Bulls 90 – Nets 82 (Series Tied 1-1)

Game 3: In spite of the fact that the Nets rallied to a 24-14 edge in the fourth quarter, they were never able to get in front of the Bulls when they really needed to. Brooklyn scored just 52 points in the first three quarters of basketball, and that truly was its demise. Both teams had a tough time shooting the basketball, as the Nets shot just 34.6%, while the Bulls shot 39.7%. It was the second straight game where F Carlos Boozer, F Luol Deng, and C Joakim Noah all dominated in the paint, as they combined for 34 rebounds in this game to lead the way for Chicago. Bulls 79 – Nets 76 (Bulls Lead Series 2-1)

Game 4: What a game! There is certainly no doubt whatsoever that this is the game of the season this year. The Bulls and Nets needed three overtimes to settle their differences in Game 4, and the end result was that the Bulls took a 3-1 series lead. The stats in this game were remarkable to review. G Deron Williams scored 32 points, and he was one of the seven players that scored at least nine points in the game for Brooklyn. Chicago had eight players score at least eight points and were led by G Nate Robinson, who scored 29 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter or in the overtime periods. Five players fouled out. Three players played at least 57 minutes. Six others played at least 49 minutes. Five players logged double-doubles. It was simply remarkable. In the end though, Robinson was able to get the job done for Chicago, which now has a chokehold on this series. Bulls 142 – Nets 134 (3 OTs) (Bulls Lead Series 3-1)

Game 5: The truth of the matter is that Game 5 really didn’t look all that much different than Game 4 for the Bulls and the Nets. Brooklyn led by 14 points with just over three minutes left in Game 4, and it really found itself in the same sort of position on Monday night as well. The difference is that the Nets took this one by the throat and never let it go. G Nate Robinson was the hero of Game 4, but he just wasn’t able to deliver in Game 5 the same sort of way. He did score 20 points and dish out eight assists, but he was the only point guard that the team brought to the table in this game with G Kirk Hinrich out of the lineup. Brooklyn put six players in double figures, and both G Deron Williams and C Brook Lopez finished the night with double-doubles. Most impressive was the fact that the Nets shot 50.0 percent from the field against one of the best defenses in the league. We have ourselves a heck of a series going back to the Windy City on Thursday. Nets 110 – Bulls 91 (Bulls Lead Series 3-2)

Game 6: F Luol Deng went to the hospital with an illness prior to the start of Game 6, and as a result, Head Coach Tom Thibodeau only used essentially six players for the whole game against Brooklyn. The Bulls put forth a good effort, but 17 points from G Deron Williams, G Joe Johnson, and C Brook Lopez got the job done for the Nets. All five starters scored at least 14 points for the Bulls, but they were overmatched in this game. Nets 95 – Bulls 92 (Series Tied 3-3)

Game 7: The first ever Game 7 at the Barclays Center turned out to be one to forget from the get go for the Nets. Chicago, in spite of the fact that F Luol Deng and G Kirk Hinrich were both sidelined once again, put up 61 points in the first half and ultimately never looked back. The Nets went on their runs, but they were never able to take the lead in the game in the second half. Brooklyn never got closer than four. Both G Marco Belinelli and C Joakim Noah scored 24 points for the Bulls. The Nets’ season came to a close thanks to the fact that G Joe Johnson only shot 2-of-14 from the floor and 1-of-9 from beyond the arc. Head Coach PJ Carlesimo was fired after the game was said and done with, and Chicago moved onto a date with the Miami Heat. It was the first time that Chicago ever won a Game 7 on the road in franchise history. Bulls 99 – Nets 93 (Bulls Win Series 4-3)

2013 Bulls vs. Nets Series Preview

Anyone who thinks that they can call the series between the Nets and the Bulls must have a crystal ball. These two teams are very evenly matched, and if we had to guess, Chicago has the slightly better team, yet Brooklyn has the home court advantage for the series.

The Bulls are playing the underdog role this season after getting bounced out of the playoffs last year as the No. 1 seed in the East. They are clearly not the same team that they were when they had G Derrick Rose in the lineup, and they are most certainly going to be in some trouble without him in these playoffs as well. Chicago doesn’t necessarily have a lot of talent in the backcourt, but its frontcourt is amongst the best in the NBA. F Luol Deng, F Taj Gibson, F Carlos Boozer, and C Joakim Noah are outstanding, though at times this year, each has been through his share of injuries. Because this isn’t a particularly great three-point shooting team, scores are generally lower, but don’t let the fact that the Bulls ranked second to last in the league in scoring this season fool you. This is a club that really plays tremendous half court defense, and when that ‘D’ locks into place, it’s tough for any team to score even in the 90s against it.

The move to Brooklyn has been a successful one for the Nets. Gone are the images of this being one of the worst teams in the league, and in its place is a team that has a new stadium, a new head coach, and a new, winning attitude. Though most don’t believe that the Nets can compete with the best teams in the Eastern Conference, we do think that they have a special team that might be able to challenge the Miami Heat if they get that far in the next round. G Deron Williams and G Joe Johnson make for a great 1-2 punch in the backcourt, while in the frontcourt, C Brook Lopez is one of the best big men in the conference. The rest of the pieces around these three are suspect, but there aren’t many teams in the East that can boast that they have a Top 10 point guard, a Top 10 big man, and a Top 10 sharpshooter all on their team at the same time.

The truth of the matter is that the Bulls are in some trouble in this series. We know that they slacked through the regular season, and we know that they were devastated by injuries all season long, but we also know that those injury problems aren’t solved. A significantly worse Philadelphia 76ers team disposed of Chicago last year after it lost Rose for the season. We think that this is going to be a back and forth series the whole way, but in the end, the home court advantage is going to be the difference for the Nets to claim victory in this one.

Bulls vs. Nets Series Prediction: Brooklyn Nets in 7

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At the outset of the season, pretty much all of the expert NBA handicappers out there thought that the Miami Heat would be the representatives in the Eastern Conference Finals playing host to the first two games of the series. Of course, everyone thought that the Boston Celtics would be the team that they were playing. The Chicago Bulls crashed the party though, and they are the team hosting the first two duels in this series. Check out our NBA playoff picks for this very, very highly anticipated series.

NBA Series Prices
Chicago +170 vs. Miami -190 @ Oddsmaker Sportsbook
Chicago +160 vs. Miami -185 @ SportBet Sportsbook
Chicago +160 vs. Miami -200 @ BetUS Sportsbook

Series Trends and History
The Heat had a heck of a time trying to beat any of the best teams in the league on a consistent basis this year, and Chicago was definitely no exception. In fact, the Bulls swept the season series with three straight wins, and they went 2-0-1 ATS to show for their work as well. Yet the oddsmakers are favoring the Heat in this series in spite of the fact that both of these teams have clearly hit their stride.

Miami reached this point in the playoffs by taking care of the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics, both of which happened in five games. Chicago didn’t have to work all that hard either. Sure, the Bulls know that they struggled a bit more with the Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks than perhaps they should of, but when push came to shove, winning out in five games and six games respectively, especially since the last two came in awesome fashion against the Hawks, was nothing to forget about.

The Heat are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games against teams with a winning record. They’re also 7-2 ATS in their last nine road games. However, there is definitely a problem going against teams from the Central Division. Miami is only 0-5 ATS in its last five against the Central Division. To make matters worse, it is 0-5 ATS in its last six playoff games as an underdog.

The Bulls, on the contrary, have absolutely nothing to worry about. They dominated this year at home, going 36-5, and they are now 5-1 in the playoffs here at the United Center in the postseason. Chicago is 36-16-2 ATS in its last 54 games against teams with a winning record SU. It is also 12-2-2 ATS in its last 16 home games against teams with a winning road record.

Underdogs are 3-0-1 ATS in the last four games in this series. The home team though, is 5-2-1 ATS, while the Heat are just 1-3-1 ATS in their last five trips to the Windy City.

Keys to the Series
Key 1: Home Court Advantage – The Bulls were never supposed to be able to snare home court advantage in the playoffs, but they did just that by playing well down the stretch and snaring the top overall seed, not just in the Eastern Conference, but in the entire league as well. We’ve already mentioned this great record for Chicago in its own backyard, but the Heat have yet to lose a game at American Airlines Arena as well in the playoffs. Things are amped up another notch in the playoffs, especially in a series like this, and the crowd can really be that sixth man on the court quite a bit. Chicago just cannot lose one of these first two games in this series, or the Heat are most likely going to end up winning this series in six games.

Key 2: The Role Players – Head Coach Tom Thibodeau knows that Derrick Rose, Carlos Boozer, and Luol Deng aren’t going to be able to do all of this by themselves. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen also had men like Steve Kerr and Dennis Rodman in the Bulls’ great runs in the 90s. Kerr was the man with ice running through his veins, and the truth of the matter is that Kyle Korver could be the same type of player. We know that the Heat have three superstars in LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, but these three cannot win games by themselves. Whether it is James Jones, Mario Chalmers, Udonis Haslem, or any of the other role players that this team has, someone else is going to need to step up to be able to run with the Bulls.

Key 3: Series Fit For a King, or an MVP? – LeBron James has had a heck of a career, but the truth of the matter is that he has never won the big one. The Cleveland Cavaliers were never in a position where they were supposed to win the NBA Finals, but this time around, James and his new team in Miami are favored to win it all on the NBA Finals odds. Derrick Rose has stood in the face of every situation that he was never supposed to get through, and he has really played well in all of them. We know that both of these men are going to be taking 20+ shots per game. Though neither one is going to be able to win this series on their own, they can both lose it on their own. Rose and James are going to be the spotlight players in this series, and the NBA is going to know which one of its stars is really going to bring it into the next generation.

The Chicago Bulls never really had all that much of an issue getting into the second round of the playoffs, and they’re hoping that they can run just as easily into the Eastern Conference Finals as well. The Atlanta Hawks are standing in their way though, and this could make for a great series for NBA picks.

NBA Series Prices
Chicago -800 vs. Atlanta +550 @ Oddsmaker Sportsbook
Chicago -900 vs. Atlanta +600 @ SportBet Sportsbook
Chicago -900 vs. Atlanta +550 @ BetUS Sportsbook

Series Trends and History
The Hawks know that they have their work cut out for them in this series, but they do have some good news on their side. They really did play well in the first NBA betting battle of the year against the Bulls, winning 83-80 at home. However, these two teams met twice more in the month of March, and neither of those meetings went all that well, with Chicago winning 94-76 and 114-81. In both cases, the Bulls went on one massive push that was able to just destroy the spirit of the Hawks.

More good news for the Hawks: They’re 7-3 ATS over the course of the last 10 meetings in this series, and they have won seven of those 10 outright as well. The bad news is that Atlanta is just 0-7-1 ATS over the course of the last two times that they were in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Chicago is 6-1 ATS in its last seven against the Southeast Division, but it is just 1-7 ATS in its last eight games against teams with a losing road record.

Keys to the Series
Key 1: Health – Obviously, staying healthy is a big time key in any series, but both teams suffered what could be catastrophic losses in the close out games of their respective series at home last week. Kirk Hinrich was knocked out for the Hawks with a hamstring strain an injury which is likely to at least have him sidelined against one of his former teams for at least the first game in this series. On the other side, Carlos Boozer has a toe injury that he suffered after scoring just two points in Game 5 against the Indiana Pacers. He is listed as probable, but Head Coach Tom Thibodeau knows that Boozer might be limited in what he can do with this injury.

Key 2: The Early Lead – We know that in the NHL playoffs, the team that has scored the first goal has gone on to win a slew of games. No, we’re not saying that the team scoring the first basket ends up winning most of the NBA playoffs betting affairs, but we do know that NBA picks in this series will revolve around which team gets the early edge. For Atlanta, the trick is just going to be staying close. In games that it either stuck close or got out to the early lead against the Orlando Magic, it went 4-1 SU and 5-0 ATS. The one game that it did, it was absolutely blown to bits. The Bulls know that these Hawks are generally a lazy bunch that gives up after falling behind early. The hope that Chicago has is that it can step on Atlanta’s throat early and often in this series to take away all of its fight.

Key 3: Controlling the Paint – Atlanta absolutely cannot let this series turn into a knock down, drag out series, or it is going to be in a heck of a lot of trouble. The Hawks really showed nothing on the inside against Dwight Howard, as “Superman” had one heck of a series for the Magic. Carlos Boozer, even if he is injured, Luol Deng, and Joakim Noah have to absolutely be licking their chops about the prospects of going against Zaza Pachulia and the likes. Instead, Atlanta has to make this an outside, in series and not an inside, out one. Jamal Crawford and Joe Johnson have to be knocking down shots from the outside to try to keep the pressure off of the bigs in the middle. If it doesn’t happen, this really could be an incredibly short series, as Chicago won’t make mistakes in a game based on the glass.

The intense NBA Playoff action has got off to a great start as most teams have at least played 2 games in their opening round match-ups. There have been few upsets and unexpected outcomes like the underdog Chicago Bulls upsetting the defending NBA Champions the Boston Celtics in the opening round. Cleveland, Los Angeles, and Boston are among the most heralded big names heading into the post-season as they are leading favorites to make it to the NBA Finals. However, we will take a look at few of the teams that could play the spoiler role and be the Cinderella type story usually only found in March Madness. If you also have any confidence that these underdogs may have what it takes to pull of big upsets, take advantage of betting odds now while you could really cash-in to make huge profits.

Chicago Bulls

Chicago upset over Boston may have opened a lot of eyes, but this was really not that big of a surprise. The Bulls rallied to close out the season winning 12 of their last 16 games which also included a victory over the Celtics. The emergence of Derrick Rose towards the end of the season has given the Bulls a much needed boost. Rose also dropped 36 in the opening round two point victory in Boston. Chicago’s ability to at least split the two games in Boston was better than expect considering how well the Celtics have played at home. The Bulls could really have a chance to put the defending Champions a way if they could take advantage of the home games. If the Bulls can indeed come out victorious in the series, they will get winner of Philadelphia and Orlando in the semi-finals. Both of those teams have been inconsistent and closed out the season poorly. Of course for anyone to make the NBA Finals out of the Eastern Conference they would have to find away to beat Cleveland at home. Still the +3500 odds are eye catching and even though it may seem nearly impossible for the Bulls to put together this type of run, it is definitely worth the consideration.

Denver Nuggets

Is it that surprisingly that Los Angeles is huge -450 favorites to win the Western Conference. Probably not considering how they have dominated the teams out West all season with a demanding 44-8 record in the conference. However, history tells us that the odds to make it back to the NBA Finals after losing in the Finals the year before are against you by a fairly good margin. Taking the consideration that something will happen to the dominate Lakers along the stretch; there is only one team that could really step up to challenge in the West and that is the Denver Nuggets. Sure the Lakers won 3 out of 4 over the Nuggets through the regular season and it would seem absurd to bet against them. However, Denver is rather streaky team that can put together strings of wins. After a dominating 113-84 victory in Game 1 over New Orleans, you would not expect their to be too much trouble in the series. The next series would include two tough post-season teams in Dallas or San Antonio. Here again Denver talent should prevail and keep building some confidence that will give them a new attitude with the Lakers when the opportunity for a championship is on the line. The +800 odds help make this scenario look better as well. It comes down to this, sure the Lakers are everyone’s favorites to win the West but if anyone can beat the Lakers then who would it be? We say Denver.

Orlando Magic

Think we would forget one of most dominant teams from earlier in the season? Sure Orlando gave up an 18 point deficit to Philadelphia in an embarrassing loss in game 1, but they may have been the best thing to happen for Orlando. Expect them to come out firing in Wednesday’s second game with the 76ers. Remember Orlando for large majority of the season contended with Cleveland and Boston for Eastern Conference supremacy. However, after the injury to Jameer Nelson midway through the season the Magic’s momentum took a crucial blow. Even without Nelson, Orlando handed Cleveland their biggest loss of the season when they blew out the Cavaliers 116-87 back on April 3rd. The most likely scenario that plays out in the Eastern Conference will be Orlando rallying back against Philadelphia and then taking down either Chicago or Boston in the semi-finals. This would set the stage for a classic 7 games series with Orlando and after that huge victory a few weeks ago does anyone really think the Magic will doubt if they can beat Cleveland? Dwight Howard ability to control the glass will make a big difference in the long run and if Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis can find away to score some points then rest assured you have not heard the last from the Magic.

The NBA regular season will end later this week as we head towards the post-season. The Cleveland Cavaliers have locked up home court advantage throughout their Eastern Conference playoff run and are one game away from clinching home court advantage in the NBA Finals if they can make it that far in the playoffs. The Cavaliers are coming off a huge blowout win over the defending Champions the Boston Celtics 107-76 on Sunday. The Cavaliers big win over the number 2 ranked team in the East is actually Cleveland’s biggest victory in franchise history over the Celtics. The Cavaliers amazing home game run extended to a mark of 38-1 inside Quicken Loans Arena with the victory. The Cavaliers appear to be big favorites considering they will get the majority of the games at home were they have been unstoppable. However, the Eastern Conference has been extremely tough this year as Orlando blew out Cleveland a few short weeks ago similar to the Cavaliers big win over Boston. The 3 horse race all season out of the East will carry over to the post-season. In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers are still the big favorites after a big win over Denver last Thursday night. The return of Andrew Bynum will only be more beneficial for the Lakers who have appeared as the top notch team in the West all season. However teams like Denver, Houston, and Portland have really closed out the year strong and could be teams to put together impressive runs in the playoffs. We give brief breakdown of the major contenders for the 2009 NBA Playoffs along with their odds to win it all.

Eastern Conference

Cleveland Cavaliers (7/5)

The Cavaliers extremely impressive home record makes them big favorites in the NBA playoffs. Their 38-1 record is among the best ever string of runs by a home team in NBA history. Lebron James is averaged 28.3 points per game, but more importantly is getting a lot of help from the rest of the team. Cleveland only lost one game all season at home meaning for them to be beaten in the playoffs a team is going to have to win at least one game in Cleveland while sweeping the Cavaliers away from Cleveland. Good luck with that.

Boston Celtics (4/1)

The Celtics chances to repeat as NBA Champions took a big hit with their embarrassing loss to Cleveland. However, Boston has played very well to close out the season winning 8 of their last 10 games. The Celtics are another team that plays very well at home with a 34-6 record for the season. However, Boston is only 4-4 against Orlando and Cleveland on the year meaning they have been anything but dominant over the top teams in the East. Still the Celtics know what it takes to be Champions, but can they do it again?

Orlando Magic (8/1)

The Magic got the big win over Cleveland back in the first week of April, but they have now lost 3 of their last 4 games. Orlando got off to a tremendous start to the season, but really suffered a hit with the loss of Jameer Nelson despite putting together some solid winning streaks in recent weeks. Also, Rashard Lewis will likely miss the final games of the regular season with a knee injury and the Magic simply look to be too banged up down the stretch to be a legitimate threat as they appeared earlier this year.

Team to Watch – Chicago Bulls (100/1)

The Chicago Bulls have won 4 straight games and 12 of their last 15 games during that stretch. Chicago has put together a solid home record this season that is always crucial during the post season. If the Bulls can keep up the momentum and get some more big performances from Ben Gordon, they could really pull off a string off upsets and perhaps take down either Boston or Orlando who they will be likely playing in the opening round.

Western Conference

Los Angeles Lakers (8/5)

Thursday night’s victory over the emerging Denver Nuggets was icing on the cake for Western Conference bragging rights. The Lakers simply looked too strong for their closest competitors in the West and are big favorites at 4/9 favorites to make it to the NBA Finals. The Lakers got beat by a streaking Portland team on Friday 106-98, but they still appear to be too strong in terms of being beat in an entire series. The Lakers have had more problems with the teams in the Eastern Conference this season and until someone proves us wrong we will ride the Lakers bandwagon.

Denver Nuggets (20/1)

The Nuggets are really playing well to close out the season despite their setback to the Lakers last Thursday. Carmelo Anthony and J.R Smith are becoming a dynamic duo posting big figures every night. The Nuggets have put together wins in 13 of their last 15 games The Nuggets could face the Dallas Mavericks in the opening round if things were to stay the same. Denver would not mind the pairing considering they are a perfect 4-0 on the season against Dallas. If the Nuggets could keep the momentum rolling I am sure they will be eager to get their chance at a series with the Lakers.

Portland Trailblazers (25/1)

The Trailblazers are in a heated battle with the Houston Rockets for 3rd place in the West as both teams stand at a mark of 52-28. The Trailblazers and the Rockets have also both put on a solid 4 game winning streak as Portland will get the Thunder and the Nuggets in the final two games. The battle for 3rd dictates whether they will get New Orleans or San Antonio in the playoffs. The Trailblazers have played the most solid basketball the 2nd half of the season and they should give teams problems if they can stay hot.

Team to watch – Houston Rockets (20/1)

The Rockets have put together 4 straight wins along with Portland. The only difference is Houston beat up on the Trailblazers 102-88 to start their winning streak. The Rockets have what it takes to match-up with the other teams from the West in the playoffs giving them a chance to knock off some wins in the postseason. The only thing is the Rockets have failed to beat the Lakers once this season at 0-4 meaning any dream type run at an NBA Finals may be more of a dream than a reality.

The Boston Celtics are off to one of the best starts in NBA history at a record of 27-2. While it is still very early in the season, the Celtics can see a glimpse of history in the making. The Celtics are on pace to challenge the 1996 Chicago Bulls for the best record ever in a season. The 1996 Bulls finished their brilliant campaign with a final record of 72-10 and capped it off with an NBA Championship as well. Boston is off to a mind blowing pace through the early half of the season. The Celtics have 53 games remaining this season and the competition will likely pick up. However, if Boston could keep up similar pace they could quite possibly achieve the best season ever in the history of the NBA.

Boston is one of the most historical franchises in NBA history. The Celtics have an amazing 17 NBA Championships that is by far more than any other franchise in NBA history. Boston has established the best start in NBA history at a mark of 27-2. Only two other teams can compare to that kind of start. Both the 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers and 1969-70 New York Knicks started their seasons 26-2. They also both went on to win NBA Championships. With last nights 110-91 victory over the 76ers, the Celtics have now won 19 straight games which equals a team record. Boston is making their claim as one of the best teams to ever take the floor in professional basketball.

Celtics’ coach Doc Rivers has done a fabulous job getting his guys to play premier defense. Despite all the offensive weapons, the Boston defensive schemes have been major reason for their success. This season the Celtics are only allowing 91.4 points per game which ranks them as the 2^nd best scoring defense in the NBA. Boston also ranks first in the NBA in defensive field goal percentage. The Celtics are only allowing opposing teams to shoot 41% from the floor on average which is by far the best in the league. The Celtics have only allowed teams to score over 100 points 7 times this season in the 30 games played. That statistic alone is pretty remarkable considering how high scoring the entire NBA has become. However, Boston has stayed with an old school type of basketball that focuses on defense first and it has paid off big time.

Offensively the Celtics are as talented as any team in the league. Unlike the Los Angeles Lakers or Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston seldom has one player stand out game in and game out. Unlike other top teams that are led by star players such as Kobe Bryant and Lebron James, the Celtics can have any of their starting five post a big night. Other teams have the stress of worrying how their start performer will play every night. When those players are off a lot of times the entire team struggles. The Celtics do not have those worries because they have a number of players who can pick up the slack on any given night. Boston is led by a trio of stars in Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett. The Celtics average 50 points per game just between those 3 standouts. Boston benefits from having this type of talent considering when one player is off his game others will pick it up. Many teams can not afford there star players to struggle. However, Boston can play at a top level every night despite individual performances. This reason alone is why they are the most consistent team in the NBA.

Boston is on their way to accomplishing probably one of the most prestigious records a team could capture in the regular season. Boston remaining schedule will most certainly wear down the players and they are likely to lose this blistering early season pace. However, if the Celtics do stay on path they could legitimately challenge the 76’ Bulls for the best record of all-time. Boston has a huge match-up with the Los Angeles Lakers on the horizon to take place on Christmas Day. The game will mark a battle between powerhouses in effort to gain NBA supremacy. Each team will be trying to prove they are the best in the NBA and a win will go along way for each team’s confidence about where they stand in the league. If the Celtics could escape Los Angeles with a victory, the momentum could definitely last the rest of the season.

The Celtics simply have to keep similar pace in tact. Even if Boston were to lose twice as many games in their next 29 games, they would still be on pace to end the season with around 9 losses. This means that every game could be one loss or one win away from breaking the record at season’s end. So far this season Boston has faired well against the best competition in the NBA. Orlando, Cleveland, and Los Angeles have the best records in the NBA behind Boston by 5 games or more. Boston is 2-0 against these teams this season with convincing wins in both games against Orlando and Cleveland. The Celtics will get the Lakers next up the Thursday night and will try to stay perfect against the elite teams in the NBA. The Celtics appear to be headed for a probable chance at history. Unless some drastic things change, Boston will get their chance to stake claim as the best team in the history of professional basketball. Record or no record, for now sit back and watch one of the best teams to ever take the floor and applaud their strive at greatness.