2021-22 NBA playoff predictions and basketball tips: Heat ready to catch fire

Free basketball tips, best bets and analysis for the 2021-22 NBA season, which starts on Tuesday.

Best bets

Miami to win Eastern Conference
1pt 6-1 Betfred

Dallas to win Western Conference
1pt 11-1 Betfred

Already advised

Milwaukee Bucks to win NBA ChampionshipOctober 18
2pts each-way 8-1

Phoenix Suns to win NBA Championship
1pt each-way 16-1

Philadelphia 76ers to win NBA Championship
1pt each-way 20-1

NBA playoffs preview

Phoenix and Milwaukee head the betting going into the NBA playoffs and look the outstanding teams, but there's value to be had in taking them on.

The Bucks are 5-2 to win the Eastern Conference yet top-seeded Miami Heat, at twice the price, must have a decent chance.

The Heat will be taking on play-in lucky losers in round one of the playoffs, probably Cleveland, and even if Jarrett Allen is fit for the Cavs they shouldn’t be able to trouble the 53-29 Heat. Cleveland signed off 9-17 after their fine start and are playing like the side we thought they'd be.

Miami have All Star class in Jimmy Butler while they'll be demanding recounts in south Florida if Bam Adebayo doesn't get defensive player of the year honours.

The Heat have avoided the half of the draw featuring Boston, Milwaukee and, quite probably, Brooklyn, and can make the final.

The west is all about the 64-18 Suns but Dallas, who have enjoyed a stellar campaign under new head coach and former All-Star guard Jason Kidd, should have little trouble taking care of Utah in round one.

Luka Doncic suffered a calf strain on Sunday but the Mavs can take care of the Jazz minus their MVP-in-waiting. Backers will then need to hope the Slovenian superstar is back in time for their crunch shootout with Phoenix.

The Mavericks have been reborn since the mid-season trade that brought Spencer Dinwiddie to Texas and a 20-7 finish to the term shows how much they have blossomed under Kidd as the campaign has developed.

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