The 2021-22 NBA season is off to a fast start, but COVID-19 has started to affect the schedule and the action on the floor. A number of teams have been dealing with an outbreak of positive cases, and that has affected some outcomes.
With the calendar almost ready to flip to 2022, now is a great time to look at the playoff race in each conference. There is going to be plenty of movement over the next few months, but some trends have already started to emerge.
The NBA is once again hosting a play-in tournament for the final two playoff spots, and that will keep more teams in the playoff race for longer. Here is a look at the current playoff picture with some betting odds included.
Clear Top Four Teams
There are four NBA teams that have emerged as the clear favorites to win the betting title, with two coming from each conference. Here are the current odds to win the NBA Championship:
- Brooklyn Nets +260
- Golden State Warriors +550
- Milwaukee Bucks +700
- Phoenix Suns +850
Brooklyn has been the betting favorite since the beginning of the season, and the Nets currently have the best record in the Eastern Conference. The Milwaukee Bucks are the defending NBA champion, and they are keeping pressure on the Nets and are in third place in the East.
The Chicago Bulls are the biggest surprise in the NBA this season, and they are currently in second place in the East. Miami and Cleveland are in fourth and fifth, respectively, and should stay in the race as well.
The Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns have just six losses apiece to lead the Western Conference, and it looks like a two-team race is shaping up. The Utah Jazz are 3.5 games out of first place in the West, but the oddsmakers don’t like their chances at winning a title.
Bottom of the East is Crowded
There are currently eight teams within 3.5 games of each other for the 6-10 spots in the Eastern Conference. Fans were expecting this conference to be more competitive in 2021-22, but it appears that five teams are breaking away from the pack.
The Philadelphia 76ers and Washington Wizards currently are tied for 6th place in the East, but they have a number of teams chasing them. It would be the Charlotte Hornets, Boston Celtics, and Atlanta Hawks joining the play-in tournament in the East if the season ended today, but a lot can change over time.
The Orlando Magic and the Detroit Pistons are the only two teams in the Eastern Conference that appear to have no shot at reaching the postseason in the Eastern Conference.
Surprises in the West
The Western Conference has just four teams within 7.5 games of first place, and some teams are already down in the standings. It is the Memphis Grizzlies that are currently holding on to the fourth spot, but some very talented teams are already out of the race.
The LA Clippers, Denver Nuggets, and Los Angeles Lakers are currently in the 5th-7th positions, and each of those teams were expected to compete for the Western Conference crown. Both Denver and the Lakers are actually under .500 after Christmas, and it’s going to take a major push to keep them out of the play-in tournament.
The Houston Rockets are currently in last place in the Western Conference, but the New Orleans Pelicans are only slightly ahead of them. With so many teams failing to live up to expectations in the Western Conference, it’s going to form a competitive race for the final few spots.