NBA Playoff Betting Odds

Some of the NBA's best teams are looking vulnerable after beginning their playoff campaigns with shock losses to lesser-regarded opponents.

The Orlando-Philadelphia match up was turned on its head when the lowly-rated Sixers stole home-court advantage with a shock 100-98 victory in Orlando in game one. Orlando, the third seed in the east, is considered so much better than Philadelphia that it still commands 1.25 odds to win the series with European bookmaker Bwin. Philadelphia has shortened to 4.00.

Cleveland, which had the NBA's best regular season record with 66-16, is an unbackable 1.01 to defeat Detroit. In an effort to make that series more exciting, UK bookmaker Ladbrokes is offering a "teaser." The bookmaker has given Detroit 1.30 odds to beat Cleveland in game two after a 16 point head start.

In the other matchups in the Eastern Conference, defending champion and second seed Boston is looking vulnerable after struggling to a 1-1 start again the Chicago Bulls. Atlanta, as expected, holds a 1-0 lead in its series against Miami.

The West has been a little more predictable so far, with first seed the Los Angeles Lakers leading Utah 1-0, Denver leading Charlotte 1-0, and Texan rivals Dallas and San Antonio tied at 1-1.

The most interesting series from a gambler's perspective is between fourth-placed Portland and fifth-placed Houston. Only one win separated the two in the regular season, and the Rockets showed that by winning in Portland in Game 1, to reverse roles and become the new series favorite - at 1.48 to the Trail Blazers 2.70.

Cleveland and the Lakers are clear favorites with all bookmakers to face off in the NBA finals in May.