The NBA All-Star Break has passed. So has the trade deadline. Now it is time to start getting serious about the playoffs. What trades could have an impact? What rumored trades that never materialized will have an impact as well? Let’s look at the latest odds and see what the bookmakers think.

The NBA Favorites

Let’s talk about the favorites first, and we all know who that is. The Golden State Warriors. It’s not a trade they make at the deadline that will have an impact, but one made in the pre-season when they acquired DeMarcus Cousins from New Orleans. Boogie spent the first half of the season on the shelf due to injuries, but recovered and ready to go, he could make the already nearly unbeatable Warriors…well…unbeatable. Cousins is a game changer in more ways than one.

Golden State as of the games going into the final weekend of February, has a 2.5 game lead in the Western Conference for the top spot. That would put them against Los Angeles in the first round, but not the Los Angeles we would like to see them play. No, that would be the L.A. Clippers, who are in the eighth spot, five games over .500 despite unloading some of their top talent at the deadline. How are they still in the race? Will they be able to finish there? We shall see. One thing is certain you might as well try something a little different for the  next three months, even something like playing basketball themed slots at online casinos, and when you return Golden State will still be leading the race.

The Race Is On For The Clips

Right now, the Clippers have a 1.5 game lead over the Sacramento Kings and a 2.5 lead over the Los Angeles Lakers. The Kings are coming off a thrilling loss at Golden State on Thursday 125-123, in a game they could and perhaps should have won. A first round series of games like the one we saw last night would be very entertaining. But, in the playoffs, the Warriors might be a bit more focused than they are right now, so a four-game sweep wouldn’t be a shocker.

Can James Lift the Lakers To Make the Playoffs

But a series with the Lakers and Lebron James should be highly entertaining. It’s tough to count Lebron out of any playoff series, even if it’s a one vs eight match-up. Lebron certainly isn’t afraid of the Warriors, having met them in the NBA Finals the past three seasons, and winning on of those. Can he get the rest of the Lakers confident they can beat the Warriors? They should be. All they need to look at is the Cleveland Cavaliers record and realize Lebron can turn a bad team into a championship caliber team all by himself.

So, who do the odds-makers like to claim the eight seed? Odds on the Lakers making the playoffs are +240. Odds on them missing the playoffs are -390. Personally, I’d put a bet on them making the playoffs with those odds. If we’ve learned one thing the last decade, it is not to count Lebron out.

The Clippers odds of making the playoffs are -190 and missing the playoffs are +130. With no Tobias Harris and no Boban Marjanovic, I would be the Clippers will fall short. If you look at the current roster, who stands out? Danilo Gallinari? The Clips are going to fade. Their front office obviously agrees.

The odds-makers really don’t like the Kings chances. The Kings are +820 and are -5400 to miss them. If you bet on a team only a game and a half out and risk $5400 to make a hundred, then you need your head examined. I’d put a hundred down on the Kings just because I stand to make $820, whether I believe in them or not.

Obviously, the Lakers failure to get Anthony Davis at the trade deadline was huge. If they pull that trade off, the Lakers might be oe of the favorites to win the Western Conference Championship. But now, the odds-makers don’t even like them to get into the eighth spot.

Other Match-ups in the West

The other West match-ups as of right now include Denver Nuggets vs the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs are always in the playoffs, but these are not your dad’s Spurs. There is no David Robinson, no Tim Duncan, no Manu Ginobli, no Tony Parker. They do have some talent on the roster though with Lamarcus Aldridge and Demar Derozan, but is that enough to get by the Nuggets? Probably not. The odds-makers agree. Denver is +2800 to win the Championship while the Spurs are +5500.

Eastern Conference is Wide Open

Now let’s look at the Eastern Conference. With King James no longer in the Eastern Conference, the NBA Playoff bracket in the East is now wide open. The Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Milwaukee Bucks, heck, even the Brooklyn Nets, have to feel like they can get to the Finals.The Bucks currently sit atop of the standings, 1.5 games above the Raptors. They may have the best player in the East in Giannis Antetokounmpo. The “Greek Freak” is a stud, but how about his playoff experience? Can he lead the Bucks to three playoff series wins? That remains to be seen.

Raptors or Bucks?

But do we trust the Raptors? We shouldn’t. In the past, they have lost playoff series to lower seeds on a regular basis. Of course, most of those were to Lebron, so maybe we shouldn’t hold that against them? We already mentioned how much we loved the moves that the Bucks made by acquiring Nikola Mirotic and how the Raps added Marc Gasol and signed Jeremy Lin to bolster their bench.

However, the Bucks would draw the Detroit Pistons as of right now but lurking only a half game out of the playoffs is the red hot Orlando Magic. Orlando has won five in a row to come from out of nowhere to join the fray. They could climb up to the sixth spot very easily of they keep this up.

Right now, the odd-makers have the Magic at -120 to make the playoffs and also -120 to miss the playoffs. If I were to place a bet on the Magic right now, I’s have to bet them to get in. They are trending in that direction with the play of Jonathan Isaac and Nik Vukevic.

The odds-makers have confidence in the Pistons to get in. They are -285 to get in and +280 to not make it. I’m not sure why. Because the Charlotte Hornets, sitting in the seven spot, also seem to be favorites. Charlotte is -140 to get in and +100 to not get in. One of these three will likely be out unless the Nets fade. But the Nets are -760 to get in, so the odds-makers view them as a lock.

The Miami Heat is in a virtual tie with the Magic, a half game out of the eighth spot, but the odds-makers are not liking them right now. Miami is +180 to get in and -285 not to make it. Placing a bet on the Heat might be well worth the risk.

The Eastern Conference teams odds to win the NBA Championship?

The Raptors and Bucks are +900. The Celtics and Sixers are +1000. The Indiana Pacers, who are currently in the third spot, are +12500. Victor Oladipo being out for the rest of the season are tearing up his knee has a lot to do with that. Odds-makers obviously don’t believe the Pacers can maintain that spot or make a deep playoff run. I would agree.

How about some of the teams firmly in the playoffs, but we have not mentioned as of yet? Like the Houston Rockets? The Rockets are all about James Harden sporing at least 30 points a game for about 100 straight games, or so it seems. Many think that style won’t cut it on the playoffs. Almost none of Harden’s points come off assists, despite having one of the game’s best assist men on Chris Paul. Odds-makers have them at +1200.

That might be a bet worth making, because to be fair, Paul has been injured through most of the streak. If he is healthy for the playoffs, he and Harden could team up to make a deep run.

So for the NBA fans and bettors, it’s time to get serious.