Bucks Surpass Raptors as Favorite to Win Eastern Conference

Cover Photo: Getty Images

The Milwaukee Bucks have had the best record in the Eastern Conference for the majority of the 2018-19 NBA season – and the odds finally reflect it. Milwaukee is now the favorite to win the Eastern Conference at +195, and only sit behind the defending-champion Golden State Warriors to win it all this season.

In fact, at 55-19, the Bucks actually possess the NBA's best record, not just the best record in the Eastern Conference.

Under new head coach Mike Budenholzer, the Bucks have taken a massive leap forward, and adding key role players like Brook Lopez and Nikola Mirotic has helped fill out the team's rotation with dangerous shooters. With a new-look roster and Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the way, this team is likely going to be a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

However, the Eastern Conference is far stronger than it has been in recent years, so Milwaukee certainly won't have an easy road to the NBA Finals.

The Toronto Raptors (+250) look like a really tough out as well, especially if Kawhi Leonard ups his game in the postseason. With a secondary stars like Pascal Siakam, Marc Gasol and Kyle Lowry, it wouldn't be a shock to see the Raptors advance to the NBA Finals either.

The Philadelphia 76ers' talented roster seems to get better by the day, and if they play up to their potential, the Sixers have one of the scariest starting fives in the NBA. At +270 to win the Eastern Conference, this team isn't too far behind the Raptors and Bucks.

And let's not forget about the Boston Celtics at +550 to come out of the East. Even though they've had a tumultuous season, Boston was the favorite to make it out of the Eastern Conference when the season began. If Boston finally puts it all together in the postseason, it's as good a bet as any that the Celtics advance to the NBA Finals.

All in all, this is shaping up to be a must-watch Eastern Conference playoffs and even though the Bucks are the favorites, it wouldn't be a shock to see any of these four teams advance to the NBA Finals.

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Max Staley is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Max Staley also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username mstaley1212. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.