The second half of the NBA season is currently underway after All-Star Weekend. There are still more than 20 games left for each team and much left to decide. It looks like 22 of the 30 teams are still in the hunt for the 16 postseason spots.
For the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat are even at the top. But the top seed would go to the Celtics since they have a better winning percentage. They would host the eighth seeded Indiana Pacers. Indiana leads Charlotte by 1.5 games. Milwaukee is back four games and Detroit is back 6.5 games from the last playoff spot. As it is now, Miami would host Philadelphia, but the 76ers are looking good with a 7-3 record in their last 10 games. Third-seeded Chicago would host sixth-seeded New York and fourth-seeded Orlando would host fifth-seeded Atlanta to round up the conference.
In the Western Conference, San Antonio leads Dallas by six games for the top spot. The Spurs would host Utah, but Memphis, Phoenix, Houston and Golden State are all easily within striking distance for the last playoff spot. Even with the second best record in the West, the Mavericks would get the fourth seed if the Spurs won the Southwest Division. That would currently leave Dallas with Portland. Then, the Lakers would get the second seed and Oklahoma City would get the third seed. Portland, New Orleans and Denver are all tied for fifth best in the conference.
There is still a lot to be decided, but the sportsbooks have Miami leading the odds for the Eastern Conference and NBA Championship. San Antonio is next in the NBA Championship odds with a firm hold in the West right now.
NBA Conference Winner Odds (provided by Ladbrokes)
Eastern Conference
Miami Heat: 4/5
Boston Celtics: 23/10
Chicago Bulls: 8/1
Orlando Magic: 9/1
New York Knicks: 20/1
Atlanta Hawks: 80/1
Western Conference
San Antonio Spurs: evens
Los Angeles Lakers: 6/4
Dallas Mavericks: 10/1
Oklahoma City Thunder: 12/1
New Orleans Hornets: 33/1
Denver Nuggets: 80/1
Utah Jazz: 80/1
NBA Championship Odds (provided by Ladbrokes)
Miami Heat: 15/8
San Antonio Spurs: 5/2
Los Angeles Lakers: 7/2
Boston Celtics: 9/2
Chicago Bulls: 14/1
Orlando Magic: 16/1
Dallas Mavericks: 20/1
Oklahoma City Thunder: 25/1
New York Knicks: 33/1
New Orleans Hornets: 66/1
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