Western Conference Series Odds

The NBA playoffs get underway on Saturday April 16 and online sportsbook Sportsbook.com has posted odds to win each Western Conference series. Below we have listed the current series betting lines with a short analysis of each match-up.

1. San Antonio Spurs vs. 8. Memphis Grizzlies
Season series: tied 2-2
Series odds: Spurs N/A, Grizzlies N/A

The Spurs lost their final two games of the season, but they were resting players down the stretch. San Antonio’s veteran core of Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan is aided by a very deep bench. The Spurs had five different players average double figures this season, and three more that put up at least seven points per game. San Antonio can match up with anybody.

Memphis is searching for its first playoff win in franchise history—the club is 0-for-12 so far. The Grizzlies, unfortunately, will be without their best shooter; Rudy Gay has been out since mid-February with a shoulder injury. Guards Mike Conley Jr. and O.J. Mayo will be asked to make some clutch shots, while center Zach Randolph must hold down the middle against Duncan.

2. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 7. New Orleans Hornets
Season series: Lakers 4-0
Series odds: Lakers -2200, Hornets +1300

After a nightmarish slump, the Lakers rebounded a tad toward the end of the season. The club lost five straight games before winning its final two outings. The offense has bounced back after taking a few weeks off, and Los Angeles has scored 100-plus points in three straight games. Kobe Bryant is already dialed in, having averaged 31.3 points during his final three games of the regular season. The team was also relieved to learn Andrew Bynum’s hyper-extended knee is fine; he should suit up for Game 1.

New Orleans limps into the postseason on a three-game losing streak, including a brutal 121-89 loss to Dallas in the regular-season finale. The Hornets are without David West, who is done for the year with a knee injury. West was first in scoring () and second in rebounding () on New Orleans. Without him, Chris Paul must do everything on his on. The only problem is, Paul is playing terrible right now—he’s 9-for-36 (25 percent) in his past four games, averaging 7.2 points per game in that span.

3. Dallas Mavericks vs. 6. Portland Trail Blazers
Season series: tied 2-2
Series odds: Mavericks -220, Trail Blazers +180

Dallas is surging into the playoffs. The Mavs have won four consecutive games, including the blowout win over New Orleans. The Mavericks are an incredibly streaky team, having racked up 10 streaks of either 3-plus wins or 3-plus losses this season. Now, Dallas must prove it can beat a good team; the Mavericks haven’t been a team seeded sixth or higher since a March 10 win over the New York Knicks. It’s the only such win in their past 33 games.

Portland was riding a three-game winning streak before resting its starters and losing in the regular-season finale. LaMarcus Aldridge has stepped up and become Portland’s franchise player, but its previous franchise player—Brandon Roy—could be a difference maker. Roy has struggled with knee issues all season and is averaging just 12.2 points per game. The Blazers are crossing their fingers he can rekindle some of the old magic and at least bury a few big shots.

4. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 5. Denver Nuggets
Season series: 3-1
Series odds: Thunder -220, Nuggets +180

This should be the first of many serious championship runs for the Thunder, who have an absolutely brilliant core of young superstars and are 19-5 since March. Kevin Durant just won his second straight scoring title (27.7 points per game) while point guard Russell Westbrook set career highs with 21.9 points and 8.2 assists per game. As if that weren’t enough, Oklahoma City boasts a talented scoring option off the bench (James Harden, 15.8 points per game since the All-Star break) and a pair of athletic forwards to rebound, block shots and play “D” (Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins).

Denver has been reborn since trading Carmelo Anthony, going 17-7 since shipping their franchise player to New York. The Nuggets like to run-and-gun now and can put up points as fast as anybody. There’s no individual killer on the team, but Danilo Gallinari, Ty Lawson, Raymond Felton, Nene, Wilson Chandler and Arron Affalo take turns burning opponents on any given night. Denver could be slowed by injuries, however, as six different players have missed at least one game in the last week due to injury.