Monday, April 25, 2011

NBA Playoff Odds - 25 Apr

With the first round of the playoffs drawing to a close, each team's odds of advancing in the playoffs and winning the championship has changed, some more dramatically than others. I have recalculated the odds of each team winning each possible game and matchup remaining, and the results are listed below. Percentage change from my playoff preview are in parentheses.

Odds of Winning First Round

1. Boston - 100.0% (+19.5)
2. Chicago - 99.1% (+1.6)
3. Miami - 98.9% (+7.7)
4. Oklahoma City - 93.4% (+49.0)
5. LA Lakers - 77.7% (-9.1)
6. Dallas - 67.0% (-1.7)
7. Atlanta - 65.0% (+57.4)
8. Memphis - 56.7% (+27.7)

To find the other 8 teams' odds, just subtract their opponent's odds from 100%. Boston has already completed their first round series, meaning that New York has no chance of advancing (since they've been eliminated). Oklahoma City and Memphis are the surprises of the playoffs so far, and Chicago and Dallas are the two that are just about where they were expected to be.

Odds of Advancing to the Conference Finals

1. Chicago - 84.8% (+15.1)
2. Miami - 72.7% (+2.0)
3. Oklahoma City - 53.3% (+31.7)
4. LA Lakers - 50.6% (-7.8)
5. Dallas - 32.8% (+3.3)
6. Boston - 27.1% (+2.3)
7. San Antonio - 24.1% (-14.1)
8. Memphis - 18.6% (+10.0)
9. Orlando - 11.2% (-18.5)
10. Portland - 10.8% (+1.9)
11. New Orleans - 5.8% (N/A)

Chicago's leap to the top has less to do with it's own success and more to do with Atlanta's 3-1 series lead on Orlando, which was totally unexpected. Oklahoma City has gone from possible first round upset victim to probable Conference Final participant in just over a week, and New Orleans' strong performance against Los Angeles so far has given it a little glimmer of hope, while Denver is most likely not going to make it two rounds.

Odds of Making the NBA Finals

1. Chicago - 43.9% (+2.6)
2. Miami - 42.2% (+3.6)
3. LA Lakers - 29.6% (-4.4)
4. Oklahoma City - 26.3% (+17.1)
5. Dallas - 17.1% (+2.8)
6. San Antonio - 13.7% (-6.8)
7. Boston - 10.2% (+1.8)
8. Memphis - 6.5% (N/A)

There are 3 Eastern Conference teams that could realistically make the Finals, and 5 Western Conference squads still in contention. Boston is the definite underdog of the 3 in the East, while the West is much more wide open. Denver and Orlando both dropped from this list this week, with Memphis adding its name to the list, which would be a major accomplishment for a team that had never won a playoff game just over a week ago.

Odds of Winning the Championship

1. Miami - 29.5% (+4.5)
2. Chicago - 28.1% (+1.3)
3. LA Lakers - 12.2% (-3.1)
4. Oklahoma City - 9.4% (N/A)
5. Dallas - 6.0% (+0.9)
6. San Antonio - 5.7% (-2.8)
7. Boston - 4.7% (N/A)

Boston and Oklahoma City have thrown their hats in as potential champions this year, while Denver and Orlando have caved in under the pressure of the playoffs. Oklahoma City has been the most impressive team in the West so far, with Miami taking that same honor in the East. The Eastern Conference's odds of winning the title have increased from 60.2% to 63.7%.

NBA Player of the Day

Chris Paul - NOH - 27 pts, 13 reb, 15 ast, 2 stl, 7-14 FG, 2-4 3P, 11-11 FT
Paul's historic triple-double over the Lakers has caused the Lakers to look vulnerable and the Hornets to look underrated in their first round series. Paul was only the second player in history to record at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists in a playoff game, and the other one was Oscar Robertson, who did it twice in the 1960's. And he did all that without David West, the team's leading scorer, who is out for the playoffs with an ACL injury.

Predictions - 25 Apr

Upset picks are in italics.

NBA

Spurs at Grizzlies - Grizz by 1
Trail Blazers at Mavericks - Mavs by 5
Thunder at Nuggets - Nuggets by 3

MLB

White Sox at Yankees - Yankees by 2.7
Nationals at Pirates - Nats by 4.2
Dodgers at Marlins - Marlins by 1.7
Blue Jays at Rangers - Jays by 2.0
Rockies at Cubs - Rockies by 2.3
Reds at Brewers - Brewers by 0.6
Phillies at Diamondbacks - Phillies by 1.2
Athletics at Angels - Angels by 2.1
Braves at Padres - Braves by 1.9

Prediction Results - 24 Apr

NBA Playoffs: 1-3 (.250) 22-9 overall (.710)
MLB: 9-6 (.600) 96-88 overall (.522)
Upsets: 2-1 (.667) 205-139 overall (.596)

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