Successful sports betting, including wagering on the second round of the NBA Playoffs, is all about noticing the things that will have an impact on the outcome of games and figuring out how to exploit them. Sometimes the differences between one situation and another can be subtle on the surface, but very significant to the tone of games and the way to bet on them. In the NBA playoffs on the surface there might not seem to be much of a difference between the first and second rounds of the tournament. Astute sports bettors know, though, that the two rounds are really quite different. In order to profit from both rounds to the maximum extent possible here are six differences between the first and second rounds of the NBA playoffs to keep in mind:

2020-2021 NBA Playoffs Schedule. 2021 NBA Playoffs: May 22-July 22, 2021; 2021 NBA Finals Begin After July 23, 2021; Live Betting on the NBA Playoffs and Finals. If you've made a wager that is a sure loser, you can get back in on the action with the live betting options provided by our top-rated sportsbooks featured in this guide. However, the former MVP rejoined the Rockets on Monday. Houston should be ready to go by the time the regular season is officially over and the NBA playoffs begin. Be sure to check back as we update this page with relevant NBA playoffs wagering information in upcoming weeks. For more general betting tips, check out our NBA guide.

Nerves aren’t an issue – More correctly, I guess you could say that nerves aren’t nearly as much of an issue. When the playoffs start the stakes are very high, and every team is nervous. Title contenders are worried about whether they are good enough to win it all, and they are nervous about making a mistake and losing embarrassingly early. Outmatched NBA teams are nervous about being embarrassed, and about their chance at pulling off a big upset. By the time the second round rolls around, though, the surviving teams have won a round so they will be feeling that much more confident. They will also be into the rhythm of the playoffs and more comfortable. Bettors in the know understand that nerves can have a significant negative impact on a team that you can look to exploit in the first round, but that isn’t typically the case in the second round.

Mismatches don’t exist to the same extent – In the first round the difference between the first and eighth placed team in a division or the second and seventh can be immense and practically insurmountable. It can be the difference between a very good basketball team and a very average one. Mismatches are very common in the first round of the NBA playoffs, and upsets in these situations aren’t nearly as common as you might expect. In the second round, though, the four worst teams in each conference have probably gone home, and the NBA teams that are remaining are all talented and probably capable of winning another round. It’s quite possible to find a major mismatch in the first round of the playoffs. If you think you see a major mismatch in round two, though, then you will want to take another look because it is quite possible that you aren’t giving one of the teams enough credit.

Teams have video of opponents at full effort – During the final weeks of the regular season it can be tough to see a team playing at full intensity. If a NBA team has a reasonably secure playoff position they could be saving themselves for the playoffs. Once the playoffs start, though, you can be certain that every team is playing as hard as they can – at least until they have the game in hand. Preparing for the first round can be tough because a team has to guess where their opponent is at and what to expect from them. In the second round, though, teams have up to date video of the team at full effort ready to evaluate. That means that there are far fewer surprises in the second round. It also means that coaching staffs that are better at evaluating talent, spotting opportunities and exploiting them are going to be better positioned – especially if those coaches have a few days between series to prepare.

Public is paying more attention – With each passing round in the playoffs the public pays more attention, and they have fewer games to spread their betting money between. That means that the betting volume on each game increases in the second round compared to the first. The higher the betting volume the more sports bettors have to be concerned about what the public sentiment is, the impact that is having on line movements, and how the oddsmakers could be setting the lines to maximize their chances of profiting from the public. There is another spinoff result of this as well – the fewer games there are the fewer lines the oddsmakers have to set, so the more time and effort they can put into each line. That means that their lines are likely even sharper than normal, so you need to work even harder than normal to find your advantage and beat the odds makers.

Teams are potentially more banged up – By the time the regular season ends players in the NBA are already hurting. They have played about 90 games including the preseason, and they are sore and roughed up. As the second round starts they have played several more games, and they have done so at full intensity. Teams that came into the playoffs with injury concerns are going to be in especially rough shape by the time that the second round rolls around. Adrenaline and the work of the training staff could keep them going, but you need to be even more focused on health as the league playoffs progress. Players are very unlikely to miss time unless they absolutely have to, so in the playoffs you will see a lot of walking wounded players. The better you are at spotting these and correctly assessing the impact of their injuries the better off you will be when it comes to betting on the second rund of the NBA playoffs.

The NBA Playoffs is when the basketball betting action heats up after the end of each regular season delivery some of the most exciting lines for betting on NBA basketball. 16 teams enter into the playoff bracket with hopes of reaching NBA Finals. Ultimately, only one team will walk away with the NBA championship and hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy.

The playoffs and finals are the most popular times for basketball betting, where fans can bet on point spreads, the money line, over/under, prop bets, futures, and play for money via live and mobile betting. Here you’ll find our list of the best online sportsbooks to use during the NBA postseason and info on the legality of betting on the playoffs along with a breakdown of the matchups and schedule for the 2021 NBA Playoffs and NBA Finals.

Is Betting On The NBA Playoffs Legal In The US?

Yes, betting on the NBA playoffs is legal and USA gamblers have two options. They can wager with a domestic sportsbook located regionally, or they can visit an online sportsbook operating legally outside of the United States. There is no law at the state or federal level that prohibits fans from betting on the NBA playoffs at legitimate online sportsbooks in 48 out of 50 states.

Connecticut and Washington have passed laws that do not allow those within their borders to gamble online, even though reputable sportsbooks do accept them as customers. We've yet to hear of any arrests occurring in those two states for online betting as these restrictions are not enforced with the exception of those attempting to run illegal gambling operations within state borders.

Top Rated Sportsbook To Bet On The 2021 NBA FInals/Playoffs

In House

Nba Sports Betting Odds

Bovada sportsbook is a household name in the online sports betting industry. They are actually part of the Bodog group, one of the oldest and most reputable names in the industry. So if you consider trust and reputation to be a major factor in where you decide to play, Bovada is an excellent choice. They actually cater exclusively to USA players and offer everything you could imagine in the way of basketball betting lines and props.

New depositing players can claim their generous 50% bonus up to $250 on their first deposit. They accept all major credit cards and just recently starting accepting Bitcoin for both deposits and withdrawals. So getting your money both on and off the site is a piece of cake now.

• Every Basketball betting option available at Bovada

• Only Players from the US, Mexico and Brazil accepted

• Regular season ends: May 16, 2021
• Play-In Tournament: May 17-21, 2021
• First Round of Playoffs: May 22, 2021
• Conference Semifinals: June 7, 2021
• Conference Finals: June 22, 2021
• NBA Finals: July 8-22, 2021

When betting on the NBA Playoffs, Christmas games, or regular season games you're going to find quite a few bets at most sportsbooks. This is because many experienced handicappers go far beyond simply betting on the outcome of a game or series and instead bet per half, per quarter, make prop bets, bet on futures, etc. In this regard, there is certainly no shortage of betting types or structures you can find with most sportsbooks. Here are a few of the betting types you will likely see:

• NBA Game Lines: Where you bet on single-game point spreads, money line, over/under totals, etc.
• NBA 1st/2nd/3rd/4th Period Lines: Betting lines for any individual period of a single game
• 1st/2nd Half Lines: Betting lines for each half of a single game
• NBA Props: Any betting line that doesn’t directly impact the game’s outcome
• NBA Series Price: Odds to win a single best-of-seven series
• Series Betting: Betting on the series winner, correct series outcome, and total games played over/under
• Futures: Odds made ahead of time of a game or series that indicates how likely a bet will payout, i.e. odds to win the NBA championship

TOP 5 TEAMS WITH THE BEST CHANCE TO WIN THE 2021 NBA FINALS

Below you’ll find top 5 teams with the best odds to win the finals and take home this year’s NBA championship. The best return on investment you can make is betting on a team in the East and hedging your bet when the Warriors make it to the finals (again).

Free Nba Sports Betting Picks

Since the Celtics had a down year and you shouldn’t trust the 76ers, hedging with either the Bucks or the Raptors (or both) will likely give you a guaranteed ROI when the postseason is over.

1. Los Angeles Lakers (+200)

• 2018-2019 Result: Did not make playoffs
• Odds Analysis: Despite having King James on the Lakers roster, the Lakers did not make the playoffs last year. Last season proved that Lebron can't win a championship without a good team around him. During the offseason, the Lakers signed Anthony Davis, instantly making the Lakers a playoff-bound team.

2. Los Angeles Clippers (+300)

• 2018-2019 Result: Made playoffs, lost to Golden State
• Odds Analysis: The Clippers made national headlines after they signed Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Once the two were inked, the Clippers odds shot up and they are now one of the favorites to win the 2021 Finals going into the season.

3. Boston Celtics (+1200)

• 2018-2019 Result: Lost to Bucks in Conference Simi-finals
• Odds Analysis: The Celtics have been down for the past few years but they are never out. Odds favor the Celtics making it deep into the playoff bracket, but not many people are betting on them to win it all.

Sports Betting Nba Playoffs Rankings

4. Houston Rockets (+1400)

• 2018-2019 Result: lost in the divisional finals
• Odds Analysis: The team that was built to beat Golden State got knocked out of the playoffs by Golden State last year. The Rockets are still led by James Harden but this offseason they added 8x Allstar Russell Westbrook to help the team get past their nemesis.

5. Toronto Raptors (+1600)

• 2018-2019 Result: NBA Champions
• Odds Analysis: Last year the Raptors were considered one of those teams that were good but not good enough, however, Kawhi Leonard was the driving force behind the Raptor's success. This year without their star they are unlikely to have the same success they had last year.