NBA Playoffs Standings
Men's NBA Bracket 2024
Men's NBA Bracket 2024
2023-2024 NBA Season: En Route to the Playoffs
How’s It Going
As we edge closer to wrapping up the 2023-24 NBA season, we’ve witnessed a total whirlwind: from unexpected triumphs to unforeseen setbacks. It has been anything but predictable, with rookies outshining veterans, teams experiencing unexpected dips, and underdogs emerging as dark horses, all seeking to fill out the NBA bracket 2024.
Here’s a glance at the season’s most significant surprises and disappointments en route to the NBA Finals!
Biggest Surprises
Unexpectedly, Brandon Miller of the Charlotte Hornets outperformed his rookie counterpart, Scoot Henderson, across almost every statistical measure except assists and free-throw accuracy.
Miller’s ascent, surpassing the highly-touted Henderson, shook the rookie landscape, pointing towards Miller as a potential star in the making.
Coby White of the Chicago Bulls shattered all expectations this season, cementing himself as a crucial starter. Once doubted, White’s fifth season saw him achieving a career-best average of 19.3 points per game and showing marked improvement on defense.
His evolution has been the most heartening, challenging the preconceived limits of his potential.
This season brought a surprising decrease in scoring across the league, a development attributed to a change in officiating focus.
This adjustment wanted to reduce players hunting for fouls, leading to a noticeable dip in scoring and free-throw attempts, thus challenging teams to adapt their strategies.
James Harden demonstrated a remarkable ability to reinvent his game with the Los Angeles Clippers, embracing a more team-centric role. This adaptation not only silenced critics but also proved pivotal for the Clippers, showcasing Harden’s versatility and commitment to evolving his game, even late in his career.
Kyrie Irving, known for his on and off-court controversies, seamlessly blended into the Dallas Mavericks‘ ecosystem. Irving’s collaboration with Luka Dončić has been nothing short of spectacular, propelling the Mavericks to new heights.
Biggest Disappointments
Expected to light up the scoreboard for the Washington Wizards, Jordan Poole’s performance fell short of expectations. Despite a prime opportunity for a breakout season, his shooting efficiency and scoring volume took a hit, leaving fans longing for excitement.
The Memphis Grizzlies‘ season was marred by injuries, significantly impacting their performance and dashing hopes of building on previous successes, wading in useless NBA scores.
Key players like Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and others faced extended absences, derailing the Grizzlies’ aspirations for a competitive season and NBA playoffs.
The Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins couldn’t replicate his defensive prowess and offensive efficiency from the team’s championship run. This regression has raised questions about his long-term fit and contribution to the Warriors’ success.
The Chicago Bulls opted against a full rebuild at the trade deadline, a decision that has kept them in a state of mediocrity. Despite the potential to reset for future success and advancement to the NBA playoffs, the Bulls have clung to an unsatisfying status quo, much to the frustration of their fanbase.
Ben Simmons‘ career remains in jeopardy following another season lost to injury. Once a bright star in the league, Simmons’ future is now clouded, a shadow now over his once-promising career.
As the 2023-24 season approaches the NBA playoffs, surprises and disappointments will definitely play a role, with unpredictability washing over NBA predictions, plus the league’s layout and the stage.
Getting Into the NBA PostSeason
The NBA season is back to its traditional calendar, which starts in late October and runs up to early-to-mid June, with the NBA Finals. You can find NBA Playoffs odds available from the sportsbook as early as a few weeks after the previous season ends.
There are odds available on all 30 NBA teams throughout the season, from their regular-season win totals to their odds to make the playoffs. Play-in tournament odds are also available when they begin.
You can bet on the NBA Playoffs even before they start using the “Futures” or “outright” betting odds. Bet on which team you think will win the NBA Championship, or whether a team will qualify for the NBA Playoffs or not. During the playoffs, you can bet on a teams’ point spreads, moneylines, and totals (over/under), as well as on props.
NBA Playoff Bracket Format
Date: April 19th to April 21st
The NBA playoffs first round is the initial stage of the postseason tournament in which 16 teams compete to earn a spot in the conference semifinals.
The first round consists of eight basketball matchups, four in the Eastern Conference and four in the Western Conference.
Each matchup is a best-of-seven series, meaning the first team to win four games advances to the next round. The teams are seeded based on their regular NBA season performance, with the top seed in each conference facing the eighth seed, the second seed facing the seventh seed, and so on.
The first round typically takes place in late April and early May and lasts for about two weeks.
Date: May 1st – 2nd (possibly April 29th -30th)
The NBA playoffs conference semifinals is the second round of the postseason tournament in which eight teams compete to earn a spot in the conference finals.
The conference semifinals consist of four matchups, with the winners of the first-round series facing off against each other.
Each matchup is also a best-of-seven series, meaning the first team to win four games advances to the next round.
The conference semifinals typically take place in mid-May and last for about two weeks.
Date: May 16th – 17th (possibly May 14th – 15th)
The NBA playoffs conference finals is the penultimate round of the postseason tournament in which four teams compete to earn a spot in the NBA Finals.
The conference finals consist of two matchups, with the winners of the conference semifinals facing off against each other.
Each matchup is also a best-of-seven series, meaning the first team to win four games advances to the NBA Finals. The conference finals typically take place in late May and early June and last for about two weeks.
Date: June 1st and potentially until June 18th.
The NBA Finals is the championship series of the NBA playoffs, in which the two best teams in the league face off against each other in a best-of-seven series.
The NBA Finals typically take place in mid-to-late June and are the culmination of the NBA season. The winner of the NBA Finals is crowned the NBA champion.
Betting on the NBA Playoffs
Remember: NBA Playoffs odds are not static and can change frequently throughout the season. Factors such as suspensions, and changes in team performance can all impact a team’s chances of winning the championship, leading sportsbooks to adjust their odds accordingly. We recommend you to keep an eye on the updated NBA injury report.
Look For The Betting Market
The odds offered by sportsbooks reflect the demand from bettors. As a result, teams with popular players or strong fan bases may have lower odds than they should. For example, the Los Angeles Lakers have long been a popular team among bettors, which could lead to their odds being artificially inflated.
Best Value
When betting on NBA playoff future odds, it’s essential to shop around for the best value. Different sportsbooks offer different odds, and by comparing the odds at multiple sportsbooks, you can find the best value for your bet.
Search For Bonuses
It’s important to take advantage of promotions and bonuses offered by sportsbooks, such as free bets or deposit bonuses, which can increase your potential winnings.
Focus On The Matchups
In the playoffs, matchups between teams can be critical. Look for teams that have a favorable matchup against their opponent, especially in areas like rebounding, defense, or shooting.
Consider Injuries
Injuries can have a significant impact on playoff games, so it’s important to consider the injury status of key players when making your bets. A team missing a star player could struggle, while a team with a healthy roster could have an edge.
NBA playoff future odds offer a great opportunity for basketball fans to get involved in the excitement of the playoffs. To make informed betting decisions, it’s important to consider factors such as team performance, past playoff performances, and the betting market.
Last Year's Recap 2022-2023 NBA Season
Which Team Made It Through?
Golden State Warriors- The Golden State Warriors emerged as the champions of the 2022 NBA Playoffs, cementing their place among the greatest teams in NBA history.
- Led by Finals MVP Stephen Curry, the Warriors dominated throughout the playoffs and clinched the championship with a convincing victory over the Boston Celtics in the Finals.
- This marked the team’s fourth championship in the last six seasons, further solidifying their dynasty status.
- The Warriors’ playoff run was nothing short of impressive, with the team going 16-3 overall and sweeping the first two rounds of the playoffs.
- In the Finals, the Warriors faced off against a talented Celtics team, but they ultimately proved to be too much for their opponents.
2022 NBA Playoffs Odds & Line Movements
The 2022 NBA playoffs odds and line movements were constantly changing throughout the course of the series. Initially, the Golden State Warriors were favored to win the championship, with many sportsbooks giving them a significant edge over the Boston Celtics. However, as the series progressed, the odds began to shift in favor of the Celtics, who were putting up a strong fight against the Warriors.
One of the key factors driving the odds and line movements for the 2022 NBA Playoffs Finals was the performance of individual players.
Stephen Curry, the Warriors’ star player and eventual Finals MVP, was a major factor in the team’s success and had a significant impact on the odds and line movements for each game. As Curry put up impressive numbers and helped lead the Warriors to victory in key games, the odds in favor of Golden State increased.
The 2022 NBA Finals saw varying betting odds across regulated sportsbooks. At the time, the odds favored the Phoenix Suns to win the championship, with -200 odds, followed by the Milwaukee Bucks with +190 odds. The Golden State Warriors, despite facing injuries to key players and tough competition in the Western Conference, were surprisingly listed with +900 odds, placing them fourth overall. Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics were underdogs with longshot odds of +15000. It should be noted that odds fluctuated among different sportsbooks, but this was generally the trend at the time.
