NBA Playoff preview: Why Philadelphia will bust in the playoffs to Toronto

The NBA Playoffs are here. But as title favourites, will the Phoenix Suns eventually rise to the top or will the East unleash a beast from what looks an evenly matched pack?

Clearly, there is a reason why the Suns now have a 27% chance of lifting their maiden NBA title, according to the betting markets.

Devin Booker should have really been an MVP candidate. Chris Paul is defying time. Most of the roster is carrying the experience or the shoulder chip of coming off second-best last June.

Despite multiple injuries, the Desert Rats scurried to eight wins more than anyone else on a league-best points differential of +7.5, a mark that barely shifted over the last 15 games of their regular season.

And they get the perk of facing the play-in fatigued LA Clippers or New Orleans in the first round. As good as a free pass onward.

But there’s other mightily intriguing plot lines in the West and the East as the post-season commences.

Where’s Steph Curry?

Curry, in this campaign’s most-used stat, has still only had 11 minutes of a reunion on court with Draymond Green and Klay Thompson and still seems likely to sit out Game 1 of Golden State's  series with the Denver Nuggets (Sunday, 1.30am).

Without the former MVP, the Dubs' went 8-10 this year, including a 131-124 reverse to the Nuggets last month, with the team’s scoring average dropping by 1.9.

Denver has over-achieved behind probable MVP Nikola Jokic and they could be a steal at 2.72 to poach the opener.

World, meet the Memphis Grizzlies

These Playoffs will properly introduce Ja Morant and his running mates to a wider audience. What’s not to like about the NBA’s most fun team?

Especially when the Grizz, who have averaged 121.9 points over their last 15 games, take on Minnesota, notching 121.6 over the same period. The Timberwolves are on the rise with head coach Chris Finch earning a deserved new deal.

The only difference is that Memphis has been wrecking opponents by +9.1 lately, which is why they are 1.36 in Game 1 (Saturday, 8.30pm GMT).

This series shouldn’t lack for points but the Playoffs are different, when totals normally fall between 4-7 points. So perhaps look under 233.5 points.

Championship or bust in Philly?

We say bust. For two words: James Harden. The 76ers do not look as good as even 12 months ago when Ben Simmons was shooting the lights on and Joel Embiid was practically begging for extra help. Harden, less of a second banana, more a banana skin.

The Sixers have won 10 of their last 15, but that run included a 119-114 beating from their first-round foes, the Toronto Raptors last week.

Canada’s finest clinched the season series 3-1 and over their past 15, they’ve held opponents to an average of 105.7 points. Philly is 1.55 to take Game 1 (Saturday, 11pm) at home but the Raptors are a solid look on a handicap of +5 – and for an upset of the seedings.

Championship or ‘wasn’t all that drama for nothing?’ in Brooklyn

After everything – the trades, the falling outs, the non-vaccinations, the humiliation of coming through the Play-In – in Brooklyn, the Nets somehow find themselves as the markets’ fourth-favourite for the title at 10.5.

They are above the Boston Celtics, who host Game 1 (Sunday, 8.30pm). The Celtic's have been East’s best team since Christmas and the NBA’s wrecking balls, outscoring opponents by a ridiculous 114.7 to 102.5 in that spell.

Over the whole campaign, the Cs lead the league in defensive efficiency – generally a good pointer towards playoff excellence (Golden State and Phoenix are 2nd and 3rd).

Brooklyn is 20th in defensive efficiency and just 10th in offence, although, intriguingly, both have rated better in a 10-5 close to the regular season, when Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant have been more present in a consistent line-up.

But the Nets lack depth and Boston holds the trump cards in a Playoff environment. They’re meeting the best of Brooklyn so far yet the Celtics, 11.5 for the title and an intriguing punt to rep the East come the NBA Finals, should have enough – particularly if they convert on their tag at 1.58 for Game 1. 

A tough first round is forecast for Kevin Durant and the Nets

First Round Series predictions

West

Utah Jazz v Dallas Mavericks - Jazz in 6

Minnesota Timberwolves v Memphis Grizzlies – Grizzlies in 6

Denver Nuggets v Golden State Warriors – Golden State in 7

LA Clippers/New Orleans v Phoenix Suns – Suns in 4

East

Toronto Raptors v Philadelphia 76ers – Raptors in 6

Brooklyn Nets v Boston Celtics – Boston in 6

Chicago Bulls v Milwaukee Bucks – Bucks in 5

Cleveland Cavaliers/Atlanta Hawks v Miami Heat – Miami in 5

Recommended bets

Saturday

Utah to win @ 1.49

Toronto to win @ 2.8

Sunday

Denver to win first half @ 2.44