East Playoff Showdown Odds and Picks: Back Cleveland for Conference Victory?
The Cleveland Cavaliers are gearing up for a thrilling second-round matchup against the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 NBA playoffs, scheduled to start on May 4. The Cavaliers, who secured a No. 1 seed with an impressive 64 regular-season wins, are the clear favourites in this series (Cavaliers priced at -480 to win the series against the Pacers).
The Cavaliers' defense, led by Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, has been a formidable unit, ranking eighth in the league. On the other hand, Indiana's shooting splits may face regression when up against this superior defense.
However, if Darius Garland (toe) is not fit for Game 1, the Cavaliers still possess the depth to cause problems with their elite half-court offense. The Pacers' transition defense performed well during the postseason, grading in the 81st percentile, but their regular-season performance was below average.
The Cavaliers' series price in the semifinals, paired with the estimated odds for Cavs vs. Celtics, may not provide as much value compared to a moneyline (ML) rollover approach. The Cavaliers' odds of winning the Eastern Conference are available at 260, which is lower than the estimated 125 based on their performance and a 36.4% implied probability.
For those interested in sports betting, several promotions are available. FanDuel Sportsbook offers a promotion where you can bet $5 and get $150 in bonus bets if your bet wins. Similarly, Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook and bet365 Sportsbook offer the same promotion, where you can bet $5 and get $150 in bonus bets, win or lose. Fanatics Sportsbook goes a step further, offering up to $1,000 in no sweat bets.
There are also free sports betting Discord communities available, including one with over 5,200 members and staff sharing bets daily. If you're new to sports betting, it's worth noting that the NBA playoffs have bonus bets available.
While the Pacers have shown resilience in the past, the predicted outcomes for the 2025 NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers heavily favour the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavaliers' strong performance, coupled with the Pacers' key injuries and roster changes, suggest that the Cavaliers are the team most likely to win the Eastern Conference and proceed to the NBA Finals.
- The Cleveland Cavaliers, with their impressive defense and elite half-court offense, are the favorite to win their second-round matchup against the Indiana Pacers, according to sports betting odds.
- The Cavaliers' defense, anchored by Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, ranks eighth in the league, potentially causing problems for the Pacers' shooting splits.
- If Darius Garland is not fit for Game 1, the Cavaliers still have the depth to cause problems with their offense, but the Pacers' transition defense performed well in the postseason.
- The Cavaliers' series price in the semifinals, paired with the estimated odds for Cavs vs. Celtics, may not offer as much value as a moneyline (ML) rollover approach in sports betting.
- For those interested in sports betting, several promotions are available, such as FanDuel Sportsbook offering $150 in bonus bets if a $5 bet wins, or Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook and bet365 Sportsbook offering the same promotion.
- Fanatics Sportsbook offers up to $1,000 in no sweat bets, while there are also free sports betting Discord communities available, including one with over 5,200 members sharing bets daily.
- Despite the Pacers' resilience in the past, the predicted outcomes for the 2025 NBA Eastern Conference Finals heavily favor the Cleveland Cavaliers due to their strong performance and the Pacers' key injuries and roster changes.
