The Cleveland Cavaliers went just 2-7 ATS over their last nine games, but with a 16-5 SU record over their last 21 games are still in good form coming into the postseason. The Cavaliers will begin their playoff push this Saturday against the Boston Celtics.
NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs: Betting preview, matchup odds
The Cleveland Cavaliers enter the playoffs as the heavy favorite to advance to the NBA Finals out of the East.
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Cleveland is currently going off at 11/5 on the odds to win the NBA championship at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. Far and away the biggest first-round favorite in the East, Cleveland is also going off at -3500 to win its series against the Boston Celtics, who would pay +1750.
Boston did win each of its last two games against the Cavaliers, but the most recent game between the two teams featured a Cleveland team that was resting its starters.
While Cleveland is being slated as the team to beat in the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks finished with the conference's top seed and begin their series against the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.
The Hawks are a -1250 favorite over the Nets at +800. Atlanta was 7-2 SU and ATS in its previous nine games before ending the season, on an 0-3 SU and 0-2-1 ATS skid in three meaningless games having already locked up the top seed. Brooklyn is 0-4 SU and 1-3 ATS against the Hawks this season according to the OddsShark NBA Database.
With Derrick Rose back in action, the Chicago Bulls are a -700 favorite against the Milwaukee Bucks. Rose left Chicago's final game of the season with knee soreness but is still expected to play in the postseason. Chicago will likely try to ease their star guard back into action slowly in this round.
Milwaukee is going off at +450 on the NBA betting lines at the sportsbooks to pull off the upset after going just 1-3 SU and ATS against Chicago this regular season.
Neither Toronto (16/1 to win the East) or Washington (25/1) is being given much of a shot at winning the Eastern Conference this season, but the two teams could provide the most evenly-matched and exciting first-round game in the East.
Toronto is a -190 favorite over Washington (+160) and has had the Wizards' number recently with a 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS record over the last eight games against them.
