We’re less than a month away from the start of the National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs, and this year has the potential to be one of the best playoffs in recent memory. There’s seemingly a two-horse race in the Eastern Conference with the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics, while the West now features several capable contenders – so much for Ja Morant’s "I’m good in the West" comment.

With that in mind, here’s a look at the best NBA odds options to win the Eastern and Western Conferences.

Hottest Picks for the 2023 NBA Conference Championship

The Miami Heat in 2019-20 are the only Eastern Conference team in the 21st century that reached the NBA Finals after finishing outside of the top four in the conference in the regular season. The Heat finished fifth in the East that year before losing to LeBron James and the Miami Heat in the bubble. Considering that, it’s hardly a worthy wager to bet on any team but the Bucks, Celtics, or 76ers to win the East this season.

Cleveland, of course, has an outside chance. They’re one of the best teams on home court this season, but struggle to win on the road, where they’re just 17-20. Boston is 24-14 on the road, and the Bucks are 22-13. 

Eastern Conference Winner Prediction – Milwaukee +126

The Boston Celtics have one of the deepest teams in the East, but Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player in the conference and he’s playing at a level that resembles the dominant player he was in the 2021 playoffs when he lead the Bucks to a championship. 

Home court will play a major role in the playoffs and, as of right now, the Bucks have a two-game edge over the Celtics for first place and home court through the first three rounds of the playoffs. Assuming both teams get to the Eastern Conference Finals, the Bucks would benefit greatly from having home-court advantage.

As mentioned, the landscape of the Western Conference is considerably different now than it was a month ago. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving left the Brooklyn Nets to go to the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks, respectively, while the Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors continue to lose momentum – the Warriors are 0.5 games out of 7th place and a spot in the play-in, although you wouldn’t know it given they have the third-shortest odds to win the West.

NBA Eastern Conference Pick: Milwaukee +126 | Bet Milwaukee to Win Eastern Conference
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Western Conference Winner Prediction – Denver +295

Yes, Durant is an X-factor in Phoenix, but his health is always a question mark. The Suns will be tough to beat if he, Chris Paul, and Devin Booker can stay healthy, but that’s a big if. Moreover, the Denver Nuggets are poised to make a run this season.

Nikola Jokic is a two-time MVP but needs to prove himself in the playoffs. Beyond Jokic, the Nuggets are a lot deeper than people give them credit. Aaron Gordon is an underrated defender who provides secondary scoring with 16.6 PPG, and Jamal Murray has returned to form after missing all of last season and some of this year recovering from an ankle injury.

NBA Western Conference Pick: Denver +295 | Bet Denver to Win Western Conference
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