NBA playoffs predictions: betting preview and free basketball tips

Free basketball tips, best bets and analysis for the 2021 NBA playoffs, which start on Saturday.

Where to watch

Live on Sky Sports from 7pm Saturday

Best bet

Philadelphia to win Eastern Conference
1pt 9-2 Paddy Power

Miami series win v Milwaukee
1pt 12-5 bet365

Preview

The playoff battle in the West looks wide open but the East ought to be a three-way slugfest between the Sixers, the Nets and the Bucks – and it's Philadelphia who hold the aces.

The number one seeds are also the biggest price of that trio – 9-2 – which is just another reason to get behind the beast that is Joel Embiid and the boys from Wells Fargo.

The draw is in their favour – they'll see off the Wizards and presumably the Knicks to reach the final where whoever is left standing of Milwaukee, New Jersey and a Jimmy Butler-inspired Miami lies in wait.

All the talk is how fresh the Nets will be given that their star trio of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden have appeared together just eight times this season. And it's an all-star trio who understandably get the respect of the oddsmakers.

But if Embiid and Ben Simmons can pace their way through two rounds, Philly will be ready for anyone come the finals and no one matches up to Embiid when he's fit.

And, of course, they boast precious homecourt advantage throughout, which is more and more of a plus with crowds coming back and getting bigger.

The one match-up that just cries out "storyline" is Bucks v Heat, a repeat of last year's playoffs when Butler took control, Giannis Antetokounmpo was stopped and Miami won in five. Butler's actually playing better than ever and there looks sure to be a twist there.

The west is up for grabs although the reigning champions, the LA Lakers, have got to be the scariest seventh seeds in history.

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