Possible First Round NBA Playoff Upsets

The NBA playoffs are getting underway with four series in the Eastern Conference and four in the Western Conference.  What are the chances of an upset in each series?  What underdog has the best chance to win?

Eastern Conference
(8) Pacers vs. (1) Bulls – The odds in Las Vegas make the Bulls a huge favorite in this series.  Indiana will do well to win a single game and their chances of winning the series are almost none.

(7) 76ers vs. (2) Heat – Miami is heavily favored to win this series but Philadelphia is well coached and has some talented players like Andre Iguodala.  The odds in Vegas don’t give Philadelphia much of a chance to win the series.

(6) Knicks vs. (3) Celtics – Even though this is a 3-6 matchup, this series has the lowest odds of any in the Eastern Conference.  Boston is about a 3-1 favorite to win this series.  New York has Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony and they have the best chance of any team in the Eastern Conference of pulling off a first round upset.

(5) Hawks vs. (4) Magic – Even though this is a 4-5 matchup, the Magic are 6-1 favorites to win this series against Atlanta.  Orlando swept the Hawks in the second round of last year’s playoffs and not many people give Atlanta a chance to win this series. 

Western Conference
(8) Grizzlies vs. (1) Spurs – The Spurs are the top seed in the Western Conference but they are not an overwhelming favorite in this series.  Yes, they are expected to beat Memphis, but the oddsmakers in Vegas only have the Spurs as 4-1 favorites in this series and that is a lot lower than some of the series in the East.

(7) Hornets vs. (2) Lakers – The Lakers are a huge favorite to win this series.  For some perspective, they are 22-1 favorites compared to the 4-1 the Spurs are favored vs. the Grizzlies.  New Orleans will do well to win a single game in this series.

(6) Trail Blazers vs. (3) Mavericks – Dallas is the third seed in the Western Conference but they are just a 2-1 favorite to beat Portland.  This is expected to be a very competitive series and the Trail Blazers could be the best underdog in any of the playoff matchups.

(5) Nuggets vs. (4) Thunder – This is a 4-5 matchup in the Western Conference and Oklahoma City is about a 2-1 favorite against Denver.  While the oddsmakers give Denver a chance the Nuggets really don’t matchup well with the Thunder and Oklahoma City should win.

Mia Kirshner Elisabeth Röhm Lily Allen Emmanuelle Chriqui Anna Faris