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Bet the Bucks to win Eastern Conference based on historical trend

By Joseph Summers

Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) and forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) and forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Milwaukee Bucks are the betting favorite to win the NBA Finals after another spectacular season from Giannis Antetokounmpo and key contributions from Brook Lopez, Jrue Holiday, and Khris Middleton.

As bettors try to decipher the NBA landscape and place the best futures bet, one historical trend indicates the Bucks are poised to make the Finals for the second time in three years.

Let’s look at the latest odds before I explain why Milwaukee is worth betting on to win the Eastern Conference.

Bucks Eastern Conference odds

Historical betting trend favors Bucks to make Finals

Looking at the last several decades, it’s been profitable to back the betting favorite. The cream rises to the top in the NBA and that creates an opportunity for us here.

Reaching the Finals 70% of the time is an incredible mark. The implied probability means we would only need around -230 odds to make a profit, so catching the Bucks at +120 to win the Eastern Conference is a HUGE value.

Even if that trend didn’t support Milwaukee, there are a lot of reasons to love the Bucks. They finished fifth in net rating (3.4) and fourth in defensive rating (110.9) despite playing more than half the season without Khris Middleton. He’s expected to be fine in the playoffs and Milwaukee went 25-8 with him in the lineup this season.

In addition to Middleton, Lopez and Holiday are two of the league’s best defenders. Bobby Portis, Jevon Carter, and Grayson Allen have all contributed strong minutes as this is perhaps the deepest the team has been around Giannis.

Speaking of the two-time MVP, he enjoyed one of his best seasons by averaging a career-high 31.1 points alongside 11.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game on 55.3% shooting. He’s among the league’s most versatile and ferocious defenders as well.

Overall, the Bucks will have matchup advantages against every team they face. If Middleton can stay healthy, there’s no reason to believe this historical trend won’t prove correct once again.

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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.