Celtics Jason Tatum(USA TODAY Sports)`

Oddsmakers didn’t think the first round of the NBA Playoffs in the Eastern Conference would provide much excitement and they were correct. No series went past five games, as all four favorites advanced easily. Now the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers battle to get one step closer to reaching the NBA Finals. The Bucks and Raptors are both over 2 to 1 favorites in their series to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Will the trend of favorites cashing continue?

Thomas Casale and Matt Schmitto break down the betting odds and give their top picks for both Eastern Conference series.

Odds courtesy of PointsBet Sportsbook in New Jersey.

gradient
1
  • Use Code: GRINDERS1600
  • Exciting Brand
  • Beginner Friendly
gradient
2
  • Beginner Friendly
  • Trusted name
gradient
4
  • Use Promo Code RG2K
  • Name Your Own Bets
  • NJ-CO-MI-IN-IL-WV-IA-VA-NY
gradient
5
  • Bet $50, Get $200
  • Premium Mobile App
  • NJ-CO-MI-VA-IN-TN-AZ-LA-NY
gradient
6
  • Bet $20, Get $100
  • Use Code "RotoGrinders"
  • Great Moneyline Odds
gradient
7
  • Risk-Free Bet Pays Cash
  • Strong, Trusted Brand
  • NJ-IN-IA-AZ-PA-VA
gradient
8
 
  • 2nd Chance Bet up to $500!
   
  • Great Promos
  • NY-IN-MI-IL-PA-CO-IA-VA-AZ-LA-NJ

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors
Series Odds: Raptors -250, 76ers +200

Schmitto: So, the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs played out pretty much how we all expected. Aside from minor hiccups in Game 1 for both the Raptors and the Sixers, the favorites were dominant. The second round should be much more interesting. I’m pumped for both series, particularly the 76ers-Raptors matchup.

Toronto and Philadelphia each have a ton at stake. The Raptors need to make a run to entice star forward Kawhi Leonard to stay put this offseason, while the Sixers gave away all their assets in a mid-season trade to acquire Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris. The only thing that will make that trade worth it is if the Sixers can reach the Finals. And it won’t be easy going through Toronto in the second round.

The line has already moved a lot at DraftKings Sportsbook. This time Wednesday Toronto was +200 while Philly was +150. Now Toronto is -250, Philly +200. I think a lot of people will hop on this price for the Sixers, but I have a tough time seeing them wining a best-of-seven series against Leonard and the Raptors.

The teams met four times during the regular season, and the Raptors got the best of the Sixers in three of those games. The only time the Sixers won was when Toronto was without Leonard and Kyle Lowry being hobbled by an injury.

The main impediment for the Sixers is their lack of depth. Embiid played great against the Nets but he consistently looked tired out there and you never know when his knee problems might flare up. He’ll only lose energy as the playoffs progress. I’m not sure the line move can convince me to back Philadelphia here. I’m going with Toronto even at the steep -250 price.

Casale: We are on the same page here. The Raptors won the season series 3-1, but a lot has changed since their four meetings. The three Raptors wins came against the Sixers before their trade for Tobias Harris, Boban Marjanovic and Mike Scott. The lone Sixers win came when the Raptors were without Kawhi Leonard.

An interesting note is Philadelphia has never beaten Leonard. The Sixers are 0-13 versus the Raptors and Spurs over the last eight seasons with Leonard in the lineup. The Sixers have also struggled in Toronto, losing 13 straight games up North. Philadelphia’s last win in Toronto came on Nov.10, 2012. That could play a factor with the Raptors holding home-court advantage in the series.

The fact that Philadelphia has struggled versus Leonard and Toronto makes me lean to the Raptors -250. Plus, Embiid still isn’t 100 percent healthy. It didn’t make a difference against the Nets but it will be a factor here. I see a long series but I’ll take the Raptors with the home-court advantage in Game 7 to come out on top.

Schmitto: Kawhi Leonard truly looks like a top 5 player in the league again. It’s fun to watch on both ends. Glad we’ll be rooting for the same side here. During the regular season, the closest game was by 11 points. I do expect some close games this series, I’m just skeptical how many of those Philadelphia will come out on top in.

Casale: I think it all comes down to Embiid. If he’s hindered, the series won’t last long.

gradient
  • Use Code: GRINDERS
  • Available In 36 States!
  • Fun, Fast Prop Picks

Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Series Odds: Bucks -304, Celtics +240

Schmitto: Much like the Raptors-Sixers matchup, the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks both had identical first round series. Unlike the other two teams, neither the Bucks nor Celtics needed a wake-up call in Game 1. They swept their opponents from start to finish.

The Celtics didn’t need their premier defender Marcus Smart against the Pacers but they will need him against the Bucks. Unfortunately, Smart is expected to miss the start of the second round. I think they’re just hoping to get him back by the middle of the series. Without him, Boston will only be playing about 8-deep, though their first players off the bench are really solid. We saw Gordon Hayward put up 20 points in Game 4. He finished the regular season off strong after starting slow, so that should leave Celtics fans optimistic.

The real matchup will be between likely MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kyrie Irving. There’s no better version of Irving than the playoff version, and I expect him to show up in this series. Antetokounmpo has been unguardable all year. The only thing he lacks is a jump shot. Luckily for the Celtics, they have several bodies that can at least try to slow down the Greek Freak.

Both teams are great defensively and both offensives have plenty of shooters, which should make this series quite interesting.

I think this is a great time to go with the underdog, but I actually prefer taking Boston spreads instead of betting the series line. Milwaukee is laying 7.5 points in Game 1, so the Celtics will even be a slight underdog win the series goes to Boston. Give me the points all day, and I might be able to profit even if the Celtics don’t win four games.

One thing to be cognizant of if you’re trying to take the Celtics for the series is shopping lines. Not so surprisingly, the Celtics are only +215 at DraftKings Sportsbook. Compare that to +240 at other shops.

Casale: The Celtics are a dangerous dog and they looked really good dismantling the Pacers in a four-game sweep. I can’t argue with you taking the value with Boston. It won’t surprise me at all if they win this series.

However, I’ve been on the Bucks all year and I’m not going to change my mind now. I have the Bucks to win the Eastern Conference and NBA title. I actually think Milwaukee is a little undervalued for how dominate they’ve been this season but expect this to be a long series. The Celtics were the clear favorite to win the East before the season and while they finished a disappointing fourth in the conference, they still have a superstar in Irving and a mastermind coach in Brad Stevens. That makes them an intriguing bet at +240.

My favorite play in the series is for the Bucks to win in seven games. The odds are +275 at PointsBet for Milwaukee to win 4-3, so that’s where I’m going here. The winner of this series will make the NBA Finals in my opinion and I’m expecting a great series with the Bucks winning at home in seven. There is value with the Celtics being such a big dog though.

Schmitto: I like that bet on the series going seven. That wouldn’t surprise me at all. We’ll see what Brad Stevens can up with. It should be an entertaining one at the least.

gradient
1
  • Use Code: GRINDERS1600
  • Exciting Brand
  • Beginner Friendly
gradient
2
  • Beginner Friendly
  • Trusted name
gradient
4
  • Use Promo Code RG2K
  • Name Your Own Bets
  • NJ-CO-MI-IN-IL-WV-IA-VA-NY
gradient
5
  • Bet $50, Get $200
  • Premium Mobile App
  • NJ-CO-MI-VA-IN-TN-AZ-LA-NY
gradient
6
  • Bet $20, Get $100
  • Use Code "RotoGrinders"
  • Great Moneyline Odds
gradient
7
  • Risk-Free Bet Pays Cash
  • Strong, Trusted Brand
  • NJ-IN-IA-AZ-PA-VA
gradient
8
 
  • 2nd Chance Bet up to $500!
   
  • Great Promos
  • NY-IN-MI-IL-PA-CO-IA-VA-AZ-LA-NJ

Eastern Conference Champion

Schmitto: I’m sticking with the Toronto Raptors. It’s no secret Leonard is a dangerous man offensively and defensively, but I still think he’s underrated. They’ll need Kyle Lowry to shake his playoff woes if they want to get to the NBA Finals, but Pascal has been exceptional so far. With LeBron James out of their way, this is the year the Raptors finally do it. I particularly love the +270 price to win the Eastern Conference at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Casale: I not only have the Bucks to win the East, I have them facing Golden State in the finals at +300 and winning the whole thing at +900. The Celtics are a huge roadblock but if Milwaukee gets by them, I like their chances to upset the Western Conference representative in the finals, where they will be dogs to either Golden State or Houston. Giannis and the Bucks will roll over the Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals after beating the Celtics in a tough series. If it’s Milwaukee vs. Toronto, we’ll have to make a side bet. I can always use more vacation money.

Schmitto: I’m officially rooting for Milwaukee over Boston now. I look forward to telling you that you were wrong.

Casale: Well, there’s a first time for everything. Good luck.