The NBA playoffs reach a decisive stage and the 8 best teams in the league this season face the Conference Semifinals. This is the penultimate step to the finals. As predicted in the off-season, the current NBA champions, the Milwaukee Bucks, are still alive and are one of the favorites to win the championship ring, as are the two best teams in the first games, the Boston Celtics and the Golden State Warriors. Meanwhile, we have one of the biggest flops in recent years, the Brooklyn Nets, who fell out of the playoffs early for the second straight season.
Celtics and Warriors start as favorites this year. The Bostonians emerged victorious against some unlucky Nets. Celtics star Tatum and Brown ripped apart the two players who could compete on their rival team and who, to many, are two of the best players in the world, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. For their part, the Warriors left one of the candidates to win the MVP award, Jokic, helpless against the unprecedented offensive pace of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and also the surprise Jordan Poole.
A fact that is not very relevant at the moment of truth but that highlights the value of the NBA regular season is that no team outside the TOP 4 has reached the conference semifinals. In other words, there have been no surprises in these runs so far, so we will have the best teams of the season fighting to be much closer to the goal of being champions.
Eastern Conference
Playoffs NBA: Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers
When: Monday, May 02 at 07:30 pm ET
Moneyline odds: Heat -360 / 76ers +290 (Source: MyBookie.ag)
Where Can I Watch? ESPN / TNT
After learning of the indefinite loss of Joel Embiid by the Sixers, we can say that this series will be completely different from what it would be. It is the reality of the series between Miami and the 76ers since the African insider is the key to Philadelphia who will have to entrust themselves to James Harden to try to lead them to victory and the conference finals. The Beard conditions his team for better and for worse, so each of his decisions will be fundamental. The Philadelphia 76ers won their series against the Toronto Raptors with a score of 4-2.
This is mainly because the Miami Heat has shown impeccable play and a very high level of play, being one of the best teams since the beginning of the season. They managed to stop Trae Young with an impenetrable defense. Spoelstra once again has a team like the one that played the NBA Finals at DisneyWorld. Competitive and annoying for the rival. Miami comfortably advanced to these semifinals after leaving the Atlanta Hawks on the road with a global score of 4-1.
Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers Betting Pick: Miami Heat
Playoffs NBA: Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks
When: Sunday, May 01 at 01:00 pm ET
Moneyline odds: Celtics -195 / Bucks +165 (Source: MyBookie.ag)
Where Can I Watch? ESPN / TNT
The best series that we are going to be able to enjoy so far in these Playoffs and, with the additional ingredient that they will meet in the conference semifinals, two great teams without a doubt that are playing at an extraordinary level. On one side of the court, we will have the defending champions, the Milwaukee Bucks. On the other, the Boston Celtics; are the best team in the league right now. Giannis Antetokounmpo will face a defense that they classify as perfect, his fear of the outside shot and Middleton’s loss.
Although both teams reach these semifinals with the mission of winning it with a crushing 4-0, all basketball lovers hope that it will go to seven games, because the show between the Bucks and the Celtics will be excellent. Two ways of playing, two neat attitudes on the court. That dilemma between stopping the star, Giannis, with a zone and forcing him from the outside, or looking for intensity at all levels.
This series will be, without a doubt, the best of this stage and will begin today, Sunday, May 1, 2022, at the TD Garden, home of the Celtics.
Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks Betting Pick: Boston Celtics
Western Conference
Playoffs NBA: Phoenix Suns vs. Dallas Mavericks
When: Monday, May 02 at 10:00 pm ET
Moneyline odds: Suns -235 / Mavericks +190 (Source: MyBookie.ag)
Where Can I Watch? ESPN / TNT
This will be Luka Doncic’s first time in the second round of the NBA playoffs, so we expect to see exemplary behavior and a spectacular level of play from the Mavs star. The Slovenian led the Mavericks to pass the difficult wall of the first round after two courses. Determining everything against the Jazz and superlative in the attack. He generates for himself and his team, and from the outside, he is a constant threat. Dallas managed to take the victory in the previous series with a very good score of 4-2 against the Utah Jazz.
But, they will have a much more complicated series in this conference semifinal, because the Phoenix Suns know that right now it is a now or never since this has to be their glory year, and they must take advantage of it. After losing 2021 final to the Bucks, they now have a rejuvenated Chris Paul, a slightly injured but present Devin Booker, and the total player, Bridges. Although the Suns started as clear favorites to take the previous series against the Pelicans, there came a time when the series was placed 2-2 and the alarms sounded in Phoenix, but they managed to get the caste out and with a lot of experience took the series with a 4-2.
Phoenix Suns vs. Dallas Mavericks Betting Pick: Phoenix Suns
Playoffs NBA: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors
When: Sunday, May 01 at 03:30 pm ET
Moneyline odds: Grizzlies +120 / Warriors -140 (Source: MyBookie.ag)
Where Can I Watch? ESPN / TNT
This will be the least even series of the conference semifinals. And in which the team with the highest previous ranking is given no real options. The performance and level of play shown by the Warriors in the first round not only give them favoritism against Memphis, but now they are favorites for the championship ring. With a galactic Steph Curry, Klay Thompson back, and Poole’s explosion, it’s a clash that has a clear imbalance.
This series, apart from facing two of the best teams of the season, faces the superstar of the moment Ja Morant, and the three-time NBA champion and all-time triple leader, Stephen Curry, who was eliminated last year spent in the NBA Play In at the hands of Ja Morant and the Grizzlies. So this series has a great rematch vibe for a Warriors who want to go back to being the super team that won many championships in the past decade.
Unlike last year, the Warriors have a more compact and competitive player roster than the team that took the field last season. Golden State has Klay Thompson without physical discomfort and at the top of his condition and with the great moment that the young player Jordan Poole is going through. Unquestionably, this time Curry will not be alone.
The Warriors come from showing an exceptional level of play in their previous series, where they took the victory with a global score of 4-1 against the Nuggets. While the Grizzlies suffered at some point in the series but ended up taking a big win with a score of 4-2 against the Timberwolves.
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