2021 NBA Playoffs Play In Tournament Betting Picks

The 2021 NBA Playoffs are finally here and we are ready! For the first time ever there will be a Plai In tournament to decide the 7th and 8th seed in each conference. The Current 7 and 8 seed in each conference will be play one game and the winner will be automatically the 7th seed. The loser will play the winner of a game between the 9 and 10 game. So the 7th and 8th seed has two chances to get in and the 9 and 10 seed have to win back-to-back games or they’re going home. Let’s look at the matchups and some picks from some Top Rated Handicappers.

Tuesday, May 18th

#10 Charlotte Hornets at #9 Indiana Pacers

Line: Pacers Total:

The Charlotte Hornets were playing well in the middle of the season until their floor leader Lamelo Ball broke his wrist and missed 21 games. LaMelo is back and although Charlotte goes into the Play-In loser of 5 in the row, the last 4 were against 3 who are top 4 seeds and a season lose to the surging Wizards in a game they probably should have won. On the other side the Pacers come into the game-winners in 3 of their last 5 and with Sabonis back in the lineup they are a team that can score points in a hurry.

The Hornets seem hungrier and more excited for this opportunity and the Pacers seem like they don’t even want to be here. That being said the Pacers are at home and the crowd could get the team to play with the intensity to take out the Hornets. If this were the Charlotte team from March I’d take them all the way but I like Indiana to win at home in a close one.

#8 Washington Wizards at #7 Boston Celtics

These are two teams that no one expected to be in this game for vastly different reasons. The Boston Celtics are probably the most disappointing team in the East after they were projected as a top 4 team. The Celtics just never seemed to click between Kemba Walker’s injuries, Jason Tatum getting Covid and Jaylen Brown now lost for the season. On the other hand the Wizards were more likely to trade Bradley Beal and blow up the season at the beginning of the year. But they arguably the hottest team going into the playoffs with their run-first style lead by Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal.

The Washington Wizards just have too much offense for the Celtics without Jaylen Brown. In a series I would like Brad Stevens to make the adjustments to move on, but in a 1 game scenario the Wizards are just playing too well and the Celtics have no answer for Westbrook and Beal.

Wednesday, May 19th

#10 San Antonio Spurs at #9 Memphis Grizzlies

In the matchup, no one outside of San Antonio and Memphis cares much about the Spurs and Grizzlies play a game that will most likely be a low-scoring slugfest. The Spurs come into the game 5 games under .500, 5 games behind the grizzlies and losers in 9 of their last 11 games. Memphis is a very solid team who won 5 straight games to come close to the 8 seed before losing to Golden State on the road. Memphis can beat you in many different ways with Ja Morant leading the way. They are also a solid defense team with Dillon Brooks able to guard the other team’s star player with the best of them.

I don’t see any way San Antonio wins this game in Memphis. These teams haven’t played since they played in back-to-back games in San Antonio to end January and open February. The Grizzlies blew the Spurs doors off in both games. Dillon Brooks will take Demar Derozan out of the game and I don’t think the Spurs will have enough offense to keep up. These teams play similar styles except Memphis does it with better players.

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#8 Golden State Warriors at #7 Los Angeles Lakers

In the game everyone want to see the defending champion Lakers take on the Warriors and the scoring champion Steph Curry. Betting against Steph Curry in a one-game scenario is so dangerous could he could win this game alone. I just think with Lebron and A.D. both playing the Lakers will have too much defense against Curry’s supporting cast. The Lakers can also go big with Lebron, A.D. Drummond or Harrell and Bully the Warriors. The Lakers get the win.