10 NBA Teams With Close To Even Odds To Make The Playoffs

In Or Out

Additional competitive teams means a tighter postseason race. Remember, like last season, the play-in games are not the playoffs! The 7-10 seeds in each conference will battle it out for the final two playoff spots. Only seeds 1-6 are safe from the one or two-game play-in.

These teams have the closest to even odds of actually making the playoffs

• Clippers: -300

• Trail Blazers: -250

• Bulls: -170

• Pacers: -160

• Knicks: -140

• Grizzlies: +110

• Hornets: +180

• Pelicans: +220

• Raptors: +250

• Kings: +350

As a reminder, Kawhi Leonard is likely out for the entire season, hence the Clippers being on that list. Let’s take a look at a few of these teams 👇

Grit And Grind

The Grizzlies made the postseason last year by knocking off the Warriors in the second play-in game (following the Dubs’ loss to the Lakers), earning the West’s 8th-seed and a trip to the first round

While the Grizzlies lost to the Jazz in five games, they did so with great performances from a number of young players — including Ja Morant — and should only look better as they age into their primes and have a fully healthy Jaren Jackson Jr

If Ja alone can can continue to improve, the Grizzlies could be the next young team to make the leap into the NBA’s inner-circle. +110 feels like good value, considering the progression this franchise has seen over the last few seasons

Still Dame Time?

Despite the fact that the Blazers are eyeing their ninth straight playoff appearance, this may be their last chance to convince Damian Lillard of a future in Portland

Projected Starting Lineup:

• PG: Damien Lillard

• SG: CJ McCollum

• SF: Norman Powell

• PF: Robert Covington

• C: Larry Nance Jr.

Where this team could struggling is with their guard play off the bench. If things go South, this team could be a shell of itself with CJ and Dame in different uniforms sooner than later

However, as long as their big two continue to perform at a high level, history says the Blazers to make the playoffs at -250 is basically free money

The Youth Movement

Already concerned about his potential to turn down an extension and leave in free agency of 2023-24, the Pelicans have done their best to turn the team around Zion Williamson into a winner

Offseason Moves:

• Turned Steven Adams into Jonas Valanciunas

• DeVonte’ Graham replaces Lonzo Ball

• Drafted sharpshooting stretch-big Trey Murphy III with the 17th overall pick

The reality is that this team’s development will only go as far as Zion’s defensive progress can take them. His lackluster defense so far in the pros has paled in comparison to what he proved capable of in college

At +220, it’s hard not to think the Pelicans can’t improve. But New Orleans has won 30 and 31 games in Zion’s two years, so I might stay away from this line for one more season

For My Parlay Gurus

With varying combinations of offseason additions and internal developments, these are my best bets to make the postseason from the list of those closest to even

• Blazers: -250

• Bulls: -170

• Pacers: -160

• Grizzlies: +110

A four-way parlay of the teams above would return $659 on a $100 bet, but you’ll have to wait until mid-April to find out if it hits or not 😏

Previous Parlay:

• Lamar Jackson over 62.5 rushing yards: MISS (he had 62)

• Latavius Murray under 50.5 rushing yards: HIT

• Ravens -7: MISS (they won by 6)