It's abundantly clear that there are a number of evenly-matched NBA Eastern Conference teams who are competing for a place in the NBA finals. Boston Celtics and Miami Heat have been the impressive performers in the playoffs so far.
Meanwhile, Milwaukee and Philadelphia should also be able to get to the latter stages after bright showings in the playoffs, with the bookmakers offering Eastern Conference betting odds and it might be that we see Brooklyn Nets return with a bang.
The shortest price is New York at 4.50 with Unibet, a 19% chance once the bookmakers' margin is taken out. Next in the betting: Philadelphia at 4.60 and Boston Celtics at 7.00. 15 selections priced by 2 bookmakers.
Payout on this market: Bet365 84.1%, Unibet 83.5%. The share of stakes a bookmaker pays back across the whole field; the rest is its margin.
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| Selection | First best price | Best price now | Move | Chance | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 4.50 Unibet, Fri 25 Sep | 4.50 Unibet | No change | 19%, unchanged | |
| Philadelphia | 4.60 Bet365, Fri 25 Sep | 4.60 Bet365 | No change | 18%, unchanged | |
| Boston Celtics | 7.00 Unibet, Mon 28 Sep | 7.00 Unibet | No change | 13% to 12% | |
| Detroit | 10.00 Unibet, Fri 25 Sep | 9.00 Bet365 | -10% | 9%, unchanged | |
| Toronto | 10.00 Bet365, Fri 25 Sep | 10.00 Bet365 | No change | 9%, unchanged | |
| Cleveland | 11.00 Unibet, Fri 25 Sep | 11.00 Unibet | No change | 8%, unchanged |
Best prices across the bookmakers we compare, captured every few minutes since Fri 25 Sep. Chance is the average of the bookmakers' prices with their margin removed. Price moves show what bookmakers did, not what will happen.
The shortest price is Oklahoma City at 2.40 with Unibet, a 36% chance once the bookmakers' margin is taken out. Next in the betting: San Antonio at 2.60 and Denver Nuggets at 13.00. 15 selections priced by 2 bookmakers.
Payout on this market: Bet365 84.6%, Unibet 84.1%. The share of stakes a bookmaker pays back across the whole field; the rest is its margin.
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The shortest price is Detroit at 2.30 with Bet365, a 39% chance once the bookmakers' margin is taken out. Next in the betting: Cleveland at 2.40 and Indiana Pacers at 4.25. 5 selections priced by 2 bookmakers.
Payout on this market: Bet365 89.5%, Unibet 88.5%. The share of stakes a bookmaker pays back across the whole field; the rest is its margin.
The shortest price is Miami Heat at 2.50 with Bet365, a 35% chance once the bookmakers' margin is taken out. Next in the betting: Orlando at 3.60 and Atlanta at 3.60. 5 selections priced by 2 bookmakers.
Payout on this market: Bet365 88.7%, Unibet 87.9%. The share of stakes a bookmaker pays back across the whole field; the rest is its margin.
The shortest price is San Antonio at 1.11 with Bet365, a 84% chance once the bookmakers' margin is taken out. Next in the betting: Houston Rockets at 7.00 and Dallas at 81.00. 5 selections priced by 2 bookmakers.
Payout on this market: Bet365 92.9%, Unibet 91.8%. The share of stakes a bookmaker pays back across the whole field; the rest is its margin.
The shortest price is LA Lakers at 1.59 with Bet365, a 57% chance once the bookmakers' margin is taken out. Next in the betting: Phoenix at 4.50 and Golden State at 5.00. 5 selections priced by 2 bookmakers.
Payout on this market: Unibet 91.1%, Bet365 89.5%. The share of stakes a bookmaker pays back across the whole field; the rest is its margin.
The shortest price is Oklahoma City at 1.15 with Bet365, a 79% chance once the bookmakers' margin is taken out. Next in the betting: Denver Nuggets at 10.00 and Minnesota at 11.00. 5 selections priced by 2 bookmakers.
Payout on this market: Bet365 90.6%, Unibet 88.4%. The share of stakes a bookmaker pays back across the whole field; the rest is its margin.
The shortest price is New York at 2.80 with Bet365, a 32% chance once the bookmakers' margin is taken out. Next in the betting: Boston Celtics at 3.50 and Philadelphia at 3.60. 5 selections priced by 2 bookmakers.
Payout on this market: Bet365 89.8%, Unibet 88.8%. The share of stakes a bookmaker pays back across the whole field; the rest is its margin.
| Selection | Chance | Books |
|---|---|---|
| LA LakersPacific Division Outright winner | was 50.8% to 57.1% ▲6.3 | 2 of 2 |
| Golden StatePacific Division Outright winner | was 22.7% to 18.1% ▼4.6 | 2 of 2 |
| PhoenixPacific Division Outright winner | was 22.5% to 21.3% ▼1.2 | 2 of 2 |
Chance with the margin taken out, a week ago and now, across the bookmakers we compare; a move needs two bookmakers moving the same way. Every sport's biggest moves: outright odds movers.
Best price per selection highlighted. Odds update frequently and may differ at the bookmaker. 18+ | #ad | BeGambleAware.org | T&Cs apply.
Miami Heat are the team who set the benchmark during the regular season of the NBA Championship standings as far as the Eastern Conference is concerned. They claimed an impressive fifty-three victories and only suffered twenty-nine defeats, with this team having genuine championship aspirations.
There were also three other teams who had an identical record when it came to the regular season. Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers delivered the goods when landing fifty-one victories and losing just thirty-one games.
It probably seemed like a long summer for NBA fans as the close season stretched on and on. However, serious basketball betting returned in October and the NBA regular season is now very much in full swing. The action keeps coming thick and fast until April, when the play-offs start but at this point in the campaign we are starting to get a decent idea as to which sides might have a chance of going all the way to the Finals.
Read on as we predict who will be crowned kings in the Eastern Conference and offer up our betting tips for the season ahead. We've got live odds comparison for the outright winner market in the Eastern Conference too, whilst we also offer odds comparison for every single NBA game being played. That means that whatever basketball bet you want to place, getting the best betting odds is quicker and easier than ever.
At the time of writing, with around 28 matches played for most teams, the oddsmakers seem to have decided that the race to be crowned Conference winners consists of just two teams.
That's illustrated by the fact that the third favourites, the Washington Wizards, are priced at 11/1 with Bet365. Next in the betting come the Raptors at even longer odds of 14/1 with Ladbrokes, whilst the Bucks are 20/1. Beyond that we leap to Detroit but at best betting odds of 40/1 with Unibet it's safe to say the bookies have pretty much written them off.
It will be little surprise to anyone who follows the NBA that the two sides leading the way with the bookmakers are the Cavs and the Celtics. Cleveland, who have been one of the NBA's best sides in recent years, are warm favourites, priced at 5/6 with Ladbrokes in the Eastern outright winner betting.
A little further back are Boston, who can be backed at 13/5 with William Hill. For those who feel odds-on holds little appeal at this early stage, that's sure to be a tempting price.
At this relatively early stage in the NBA regular season it's clear to see why the bookies are favouring the two that head the outright betting. Aside from the undoubted class both have on the roster, they have started the 2017-18 campaign in fine style.
At the time of writing it's actually Boston who boast the best record in the Eastern Conference. Brad Stevens' side boast an impressive 24-6 record, built on a 13-2 home foundation. The Cavs are currently 21-8 on a streak of nine wins in their last 10.
Ultimately we have to side with the favourites due both to the individual brilliance of the talismanic LeBron James and the overall class and experience that the Cavaliers boast.
They have made the Finals in each of the last three seasons and most NBA experts are predicting another Cleveland v Golden State Showdown next spring. We actually think the Cavaliers can go all the way and actually win the Championship this term and as such we're more than happy to back them at 5/6 in the Eastern.