With just about three weeks remaining in the National Basketball Association (NBA) regular season, the remaining games will all have a play-off feel, all the way to the final games on April 9. And while the final seedings for both the Eastern and Western Conferences may come down to the last week, the Milwaukee Bucks became the first team to reach 50 wins and the first to clinch a spot in the post-season, after they defeated the Phoenix Suns 116-104, in Phoenix, on Tuesday, March 14.

The Suns saw their stocks rise when they acquired Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade from the Brooklyn Nets on February 9, but were left cursing their luck when the 34-year-old rolled his left ankle during warm-ups prior to a game on March 8. In what would have been his home debut for the Suns, Durant had to sit out the 132-101 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, and could miss the rest of the regular season (possibly also the beginning of the play-offs).

The Suns currently sit mid-way in the play-off table in the Western Conference, and should comfortably make the post-season, but the uncertainty of Durant’s situation may leave them handicapped. The team has never won an NBA title despite making 31 play-off appearances and three NBA Finals appearances. Their passionate fans have been longing for a title since their first season in 1968-69 (as the Seattle Supersonics), but they may need to wait a while longer as the cards don’t appear to be in their favour this year.

The Bucks, on the other hand, appear to be on a mission to repeat their successful title run of 2021. They have been the most difficult team to beat in more than a month, and the current slip of the Boston Celtics has enabled them to climb to the top of the Eastern Conference. Former league Most Valuable Player (MVP) Giannis Antetokounmpo, along with Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez (who could be the Defensive Player of the Year) have been a nightmare for NBA defences, and as they phase Khris Middleton back into the fold, it is scary to imagine how good they could be. Giannis is an unstoppable force, but the depth and versatility of the Bucks is what really make them dangerous heading into April.

In the East, the Philadelphia 76ers have run off a handful of wins and appear to be trending upwards. Power forward Joel Embiid has been on a mission, ensuring his name is firmly in the MVP conversation this year, and is getting fairly consistent support from James Harden. However, the ‘Sixers’ do not display enough offensive creativity and have a tendency to use the three-point line as a crutch. They are sure to get into the post-season but will need a consistent 40 per cent from beyond the arc to ensure a long run, a big ask in the play-offs.

Last year’s beaten finalists, the Boston Celtics are right there with the top contenders. They boast a top-five offence and defence, plus an elite duo in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. A possible Boston-Milwaukee conference finals would be an epic conflict, but with a healthy Middleton in the Bucks’ lineup, and the current track record, the edge would have to be given to Milwaukee.

On the Western front, the absence of Ja Morant has not significantly affected the Memphis Grizzlies, but their chance at finishing at the No 2 seed is now questionable. For sure, they will make the play-offs but if Morant doesn’t return, their run is expected to be very shallow.The new-look Dallas Mavericks have been disappointing since the trade deadline,and the recent injuries to Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving have rendered their post-season participation a longshot. They are currently at the edge of elimination and, while they have very winnable games to close the season, getting to the line is going to be difficult.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been making strides without LeBron James, on the back of Anthony Davis and commendable effort from their trade deadline signings. However, Davis has periods of conspicuous absence and will need to consistently maintain his mojo to prevent the Lakers from missing the play-offs for the second year running — LeBron may need to fast-track his return to assist with the final push.

Thankfully for the Denver Nuggets, they had built a comfortable lead at the top of the Western Conference over the course of the season, as they have suffered uncharacteristic losses in the last two weeks — including a loss to the lowly San Antonio Spurs. Two-time and reigning MVP Nikola Jokić has been doing all he can,but the Nuggets are not very committed to defence and asking Jamal Murray to shoot his way out may be too much. The Nuggets will be in the play-offs, but not a lot is expected.

The reigning champion Golden State Warriors had an inconsistent start to the season and appeared to be heading for a bust, but they steadily improved as the season progressed and now sit mid-table in the West. They have severely struggled on the road this season and have the worst away record of all the play-off hopefuls, but some missing pieces should return before the play-offs begin and are expected to bolster their chances. They are still a top tier team and JustBet is offering them in the top five odds to win it all, but the first round of the play-offs will expose how dangerous (or vulnerable) they really are.

By far, the most surprising team this year has been the Sacramento Kings. The Kings are nearing the tail end of the longest play-off drought in NBA history, last making the post-season in 2006, and for a team that was built to have a no-nonsense defence, they have unexpectedly displayed an undefendable offence.Sacramento’s up-tempo attack is making the league take notice: five players darting every which way, bemusing defenders as they target the ‘bucket’. The Kings now own the highest offensive rating in league history, scoring 118.6 points for every 100 times they have the ball. And as they plough into the homestretch, there’s no telling where the Cinderella story will end, but it promises to be a very entertaining watch — “That’s Game.”

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NBA CHAMPION 2023

Team – Odds

Milwaukee Bucks4.10

Boston Celtics4.10

Phoenix Suns5.60

Denver Nuggets7.00

Golden State Warriors11.00

Philadelphia 76ers12.00

Los Angeles Clippers15.00

Memphis Grizzlies20.00

Dallas Mavericks24.00

Los Angeles Lakers27.00

*Only Top 10 odds shown (see website for full list)

Note: Odds are subject to change