The All-Star break is here, which means the chase for the NBA playoffs is upon us. If your team has any dreams of reaching the playoffs, it’s now or never. For some, their ticket to the tournament has already been punched. For others, every game going forward is of the utmost importance. Before professional hoops returns on Thursday, here are three ‘to make the postseason’ bets worth placing on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Dallas Mavericks to make the playoffs (+105)
By now, you’ve heard all the takes about the Luka Doncic trade. Let’s be clear: it was a bad deal for the Mavericks. Anthony Davis’ recent adductor strain has only made the vibes worse. Still, this is undoubtedly one of the more talented rosters in the NBA. Currently sitting at eighth in the Western Conference, Dallas can easily work its way out of the play in with a string of victories. The team has won four of its last five contests, including an impressive showing on the road in Boston. Kyrie Irving’s recent play has been the main catalyst; the point guard has thrived as the number one option on offense. Over his last ten games, the veteran has averaged 25.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists.
Davis’ injury, combined with the absence of Dereck Lively II (ankle) and Daniel Gafford (knee) have hurt the Mavericks at center. Still, there’s enough proven talent at every other position to carry this roster. Dallas is only two games behind the Clippers, currently sixth in the conference. Even if this group doesn’t make it out of the play-in, that isn’t the end of the world. The Mavs would likely need to win only one of two games against some combination of the Warriors, Timberwolves, Suns and Kings. For all their flaws, the team still has a lot going for it if AD is healthy. This is a classic case of the public being eager to fade a squad generating negative headlines. That makes this the perfect time for bettors to buy low.
Miami Heat not to make the playoffs (+235)
Jimmy Butler is gone, which means the Heat can finally focus on playing basketball. The only issue is that the team, as things stand right now, isn’t very talented. Tyler Herro was a deserving first-time All-Star and Bam Adebayo remains one of the NBA’s better centers. Other than that, there isn’t much here. Andrew Wiggins and Terry Rozier are capable veterans, while Nikola Jovic, Kel’el Ware and Jaime Jaquez Jr. are nice young pieces. That on its own isn’t enough to elevate a roster that lacks a top-twenty superstar. Over 28 games played without Butler this season, Miami has gone 12-16.
It’s easy to forget that this franchise missed the postseason the year before signing Butler. While Jimmy isn’t the same player today, there’s still a major void left in his absence. It’s fair to give the Heat some benefit of the doubt; they often manage to get the most out of their players. Still, if you remove the team name, Miami doesn’t deserve such massive odds to reach the playoffs. At 25-28, this group is currently 9th in the Eastern Conference, three games behind 6th-seeded Detroit. A play-in berth is very likely, but winning two straight games, potentially against the 76ers and Magic? There’s simply too many variables here to justify such a high price.
Philadelphia 76ers to make the playoffs (+265)
You knew we couldn’t go through a list like this without mentioning the 76ers, for better or for worse. Anyone with even a passing interest in the NBA knows that this is an incredibly frustrating franchise. Perpetual injuries, locker room drama, and disastrous offseason signings are all par for the course in Philadelphia. Still, in spite of all their issues, it’s hard to ignore the team’s talent. It all starts with former MVP Joel Embiid, still one of the game’s best players when healthy. Guard Tyrese Maxey is an All-Star as well, while Paul George remains one of the NBA’s better wings. If (big if) those three are clicking, this becomes a far more dangerous squad.
All the potential in the world doesn’t change reality for the 20-34 Sixers. Catching up to the 22-33 Bulls, and ensuring a play-in spot, is priority number one. That shouldn’t be too difficult. From there, it’s anyone’s guess. Avoiding the play-in is nearly impossible, as the Pistons are currently 8.5 games ahead of Philly. Still, working up to 7th or 8th in the conference is a realistic goal. Even if the 76ers can only surpass Chicago, they’ll immediately become a group nobody in the East wants to face. Winning two straight games against less talented teams isn’t the most difficult task in the world. At nearly three-to-one odds, there’s too much value here to pass up.
