Betting the 2025 NBA playoffs: Futures bets to make, best longshots

NBA Playoffs 2024-25: Betting Insights and Expert Picks

The 2024-25 NBA playoffs are upon us, and the excitement is palpable as the play-in tournament kicks off on Tuesday, leading into the first round on Saturday. The winners of each best-of-seven series will advance to the conference semifinals, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. As we gear up for this thrilling postseason, the question on everyone’s mind is: what are the best bets to make before the playoffs get rolling? And which teams might be flying under the radar, potentially undervalued and overlooked?

To help navigate these questions, we’ve gathered insights from NBA betting experts Andre Snellings, Eric Moody, Eric Karabell, Jim McCormick, and Steve Alexander. They’ve shared their thoughts on the bets and teams that have caught their attention.

Odds are as of publication time. For the most up-to-date odds, visit ESPN BET.

Top Bet Before the Playoffs Begin

• Oklahoma City Thunder to win the NBA Championship (+170): Steve Alexander is sticking with his preseason prediction that the Thunder will win it all. He highlights their youth, talent, health, and depth, noting that OKC’s second unit is as good as half the league’s starters.
• Los Angeles Lakers to win the NBA Championship (+1400): Eric Moody believes that when LeBron James and Luka Doncic are locked in, the Lakers are formidable. With the fourth-best odds to win the championship, he backs them based on the playoff track record of both stars.
• Donovan Mitchell to win Eastern Conference Finals MVP (+275): Andre Snellings sees the Cavaliers as co-favorites with the Celtics to win the conference, especially with Jaylen Brown’s knee injury and Kristaps Porzingis’s limited play. Mitchell’s impressive stats against the Celtics bolster this bet.
• California is the NBA Championship Winning State (+1000): Jim McCormick finds this bet intriguing, given the strong finishes by California teams like the Clippers, Warriors, and Lakers. With multiple paths to payoff, this bet offers a fun angle.
• Boston Celtics to win the NBA championship (+180): Eric Karabell argues that despite the Cavaliers’ better regular season, the Celtics’ playoff experience makes them a wise bet.

Favorite Long-Shot Bets

• Los Angeles Lakers to win the NBA championship (+1400): Steve Alexander finds this bet enticing, noting the potential of LeBron and Luka, despite the loss of Anthony Davis’s defense. The Lakers’ depth may be lacking, but their star power is undeniable.
• Cleveland Cavaliers to win the NBA championship (+600): Andre Snellings sees the Cavaliers as a legitimate long-shot bet, given their 64-win season and +9.5 PPG average scoring margin.
• Lakers to make the NBA Finals (+600): Jim McCormick isn’t partial to the Lakers but sees their playmaking potential as a contender in the Western Conference.
• Denver Nuggets to win the NBA championship (+3000): Eric Karabell highlights Nikola Jokic’s triple-double prowess and the team’s motivation following a late coaching change.

Best Bet Among the Big Three Favorites

• Cleveland Cavaliers: Eric Moody points out the Cavaliers’ strong offensive and defensive ratings, along with Donovan Mitchell’s expected return, as reasons to bet on them.
• Cavaliers: Eric Karabell agrees, noting that while a Thunder-Celtics Finals is likely, the Cavaliers offer better odds.
• Oklahoma City Thunder: Jim McCormick praises the Thunder’s balance and dominance, likening them to the prime San Antonio Spurs.

Undervalued Teams Heading into the Playoffs

• New York Knicks: Eric Moody sees potential in the Knicks, despite their struggles against top East teams, thanks to players like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.
• LA Clippers: Steve Alexander highlights the Clippers’ strong season and the potential for a Cinderella story if James Harden performs in the playoffs.
• Milwaukee Bucks: Eric Karabell notes the Bucks’ potential for a surprise run, especially if Damian Lillard returns.

Finals MVP Predictions

• Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers (+2800): Eric Moody sees Doncic as a strong candidate, given his playoff performance and the Lakers’ potential run.
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder (+175): Steve Alexander believes Gilgeous-Alexander should win the regular-season MVP and is a strong Finals MVP candidate if the Thunder win it all.
• Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics (+1600): Eric Karabell backs Brown, citing his previous Finals MVP honors and the Celtics’ experience.

Other Intriguing Bets

• Houston Rockets to win the championship (+8000): Steve Alexander sees the Rockets as a sleeper team with young talent and strong coaching.
• California is the NBA Championship Winning State (+1000): Eric Moody finds this bet appealing, given the presence of multiple California teams in the playoffs.