Why not? is a feature on The Touchback that looks at bets with longer odds that could plausibly happen. This doesn’t mean these wagers are locks. They are simply ones where you can justify the risk. Today, we look at betting on the Washington Wizards to make the playoffs.
The NBA is just around the corner with a return in the Orlando bubble. Things start with a bunch of what are essentially warm up games that will finalize playoff seeding. In the Eastern Conference, two playoff spots are up for grabs with the Brooklyn Nets, Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards all trying to make the playoffs.
The Nets are the presumptive favorites to clinch the eighth seed at -260. However, this may not fully factor in the unique situation brought on by the bubble schedule and the fact the Nets are extremely depleted. Betting on the Washington Wizards to make the playoffs at +2700 is an extremely interesting proposition because of these factors.
Let’s start with Orlando who currently sit in the eighth seed. They are half a game back of Brooklyn and won three straight games before the season went on hiatus. More importantly, they begin the seeding games with nearly a full roster. Al-Farouq Aminu won’t be playing for the Magic but that’s it. Given the shape the other two teams are in, Orlando should manage to snag the seventh seed with ease.
That leaves the Wizards and Nets to fight it out over the final spot. Well, fight is a strong word. One of these two teams will have basically stumbled into the playoffs ass backwards. Currently, Washington is six games back of Brooklyn, but actually only needs to close that gap by two games in order to force a play-in series for the eighth seed.
If the Wizards are within four games of the Nets at the end of the bubble schedule, there would be a pair of games between the two teams. The ninth-place team would need to win both to qualify for the playoffs and the eighth place side is only required to win one.
Read more: Here’s why you should consider a bet on the 76ers to win the NBA title
The odds on the Washington Wizards to make the playoffs sit at +2700 on FanDuel Sportsbook. It’s an absolute long shot, especially when you realize the Washington Wizards are going to be without Bradley Beal and Davis Bertans. The injured John Wall and his ridiculous contract won’t be in the bubble either. They will need to rely on Shabazz Napier and Thomas Bryant while hoping Rui Hachimura can become a key contributor.
This pales in comparison to what is happening with the Brooklyn Nets right now. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant had already been shut down for the season before COVID-19 struck and neither will see the floor in Orlando. Taurean Prince, Spencer Dinwiddie, DeAndre Jordan and Wilson Chandler all opted out of the restart leaving Brooklyn to sign anyone with a pulse.
They landed the nearly 40-year old Jamal Crawford and tried to bring in Michael Beasley. Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen will play so there’s that. But this team has no depth or any semblance of consistency. They certainly aren’t a lock for the eighth seed even with their head start.
Should you bet on the Washington Wizards to make the playoffs at +2700?
If the Washington Wizards are going to make the playoffs, they will need to win two more games than the Nets during the restarted season and then beat them twice in the play-in series. Given the state of the Nets, it is feasible. The odds provide an impressive return that make the reward worth the risk. Plus, we all know that Shabazz Napier can carry a team on his back if needed.
