Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament Betting Preview
The NBA regular season has concluded and we have now reached the postseason. Before the NBA playoffs officially start we have to get through the NBA Play-In Tournament. Here's everything you need to know about the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament including when it is, who's in it, and how it works.
Everything You Need to Know
The NBA Play-In Tournament is a new feature in the NBA that was technically created for the bubble during Covid but was implemented as we know it today the following season. The seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth seeds all advance from the regular season to the Play-in thus keeping more teams in contention and engaged deeper into the year. Teams that would have been eliminated weeks earlier under the old format still have a shot at a playoff spot right down to the wire. For example the Utah Jazz this season in the Western Conference. This year the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament will be comprised of the (7) Miami Heat, (8) Atlanta Hawks, (9) Toronto Raptors, and the Chicago Bulls. On Tuesday, April 11 the Heat will host the Hawks, and the winner will advance to the NBA Playoffs as the seven seed and take on the Boston Celtics. On Wednesday, April 12, the Raptors will host the Bulls, and the loser will be eliminated from playoff contention while the winner goes on to take on the loser of the Heat vs Hawks matchup on Friday, April 14. The winner of the game Friday between Tuesday's loser and Wednesday's winner will win the eighth seed and go on to face off with the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Playoffs.
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Predictions and Breakdown
Atlanta Hawks @ Miami Heat
Tuesday, April 11, 2023, 7:30 PM EST on TNT
Much like the seventh-seed vs eighth-seed matchup in the Western Conference, this is an easy call for us and we fully expect the Heat to knock off the Hawks. Aside from Miami being the favorites and the higher seed, these are just two very different organizations. The Heat are one of if not the most well-run organizations in the NBA today. They are well-coached, know how to win, and have players who are built to compete in the NBA Playoffs. Even when talent is lacking, you know they are going to show up, play defense, and won't be a team you want to run into in the playoffs because it won't be an easy series. Since 2006, they've made it to the NBA Finals six times earning three NBA Championships and it's all been under the leadership of Pat Riley with current head coach Erik Spoelstra leading the way for five of them. While aging, they have a ton of experience on their team from guys like Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry, Kevin Love, and Udonis Haslem as well as the younger corps with guys like Bam Adebayo, Tyle Herro, and Victor Oladipo. This team is built to compete in big games and they will do just that.
The same can't be said about the Hawks who have historically not been successful in the postseason including getting knocked out in the first round last year in five games by these Miami Heat. They have neither the talent nor leadership that Miami possesses and it has been a rough year for their star player Trae Young. Their only real hope is that Young gets hot and has a monster game, but based on how this year has gone he's more likely to turn the ball over a bunch and the Heat will roll. Anything can happen when it comes down to just one game, but if the Heat were to take this one it would be a big surprise to us. The Heat will win this game and will head to Boston on Saturday to take on the Celtics.
Chicago Bulls @ Toronto Raptors
Wednesday, April 12, 7:00 PM EST ESPN
This game is much more of a toss-up for us. Fred Van Fleet has torched the Bulls this year averaging 28.5 points per game against them and Toronto is a tough place to go and win. It shouldn't shock anyone if the Raptors were to pull this game out. However, the Bulls have a lot going for them as well. They aren't afraid to play on the road as they boast the best road record in the league since the beginning of March. The Bulls started the year off very well before falling apart, but really pulled back together and finished the year off strong. In the end, we believe Chicago's star power will be enough to get the job done. DeMar DeRozan, Zach Lavine, and Nikola Vucevic will do enough to get the job done and allow them to advance to take on the Atlanta Hawks on Friday. Vucevic has been one of the most underrated stars in the league for years while Lavine has been excellent during the back half of the year. DeRozan has been nothing but solid since joining the Bulls and has the experience to handle late-game situations and help finish this one off when the team needs him most. We believe the Bulls will head up north and get the job done.
Chicago Bulls @ Atlanta Hawks
Friday, April 14, TNT
Much like we did when we covered the Western Conference, we believe that whoever wins the lower seed Play-In game will go on the road and knock off the Hawks. The Bulls have been the better team down the stretch and have the roster to go on the road and win this game. Their veterans are more mature and will be able to run a more structured attack on both sides of the ball. We do not trust the Hawks to be composed enough to take this game even at home. Again, Young is a difference maker and could have a monster game willing them to victory in this single-elimination matchup, but we just don't think it happens. At least it's not the most likely scenario. The Bulls will be able to win their second Play-In game and will hop on a flight to Milwaukee where they will meet up with the top-seeded Bucks on Sunday.
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