Setting The Pick: Round 2 Series Preview

Three of the four semi-final series have been set. 

Memphis and Minnesota face off tonight in Game 6; fitting that they’d be the last series to wrap. 

Should the Grizzlies take care of business, it’ll be the first time in three seasons that all the favourites moved on from Round 1 and only the second time since 2009. 

Even with favourites advancing, the first round gave NBA fans some surprising results, which has altered both series and futures pricing.

I’ll break down the odds before the playoffs versus present day and talk about how the narratives have shifted through two weeks of playoff basketball. 

(2) Boston Celtics vs. (3) Milwaukee Bucks

Series Odds: 

BOS -200 MIL +168

Pre-playoffs Championship Odds:

BOS +950 MIL +480

Current Championship Odds: 

BOS +370 MIL +700

For various reasons, the narratives have drastically swung the future pricing for both teams. 

Milwaukee, the NBA defending champs, have dropped back from favourites to win the East to the third option for two reasons. 

First, Khris Middleton, their secondary option on offence, is projected to sit the entire series.

The left MCL injury of Bucks All-Star Khris Middleton is a Grade 2 sprain and he is expected to miss the entire second-round series vs. Celtics, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The recovery of Grade 2 MCL places a potential Conference Finals in jeopardy for him as well.

Second, the Bucks lost some goodwill over the first two games versus Chicago after opening as -1100 favourites to win that series. They stumbled to a low-scoring Game 1 victory and were upset in Game 2. 

On the Boston side, it feels like their opening series put the NBA world on notice. 

Prior to Game 1, the Celtics and Nets shared equal odds to win the championship at