Are The Blazers The Best Bet To Take The Eighth Seed In The West?

• The Portland Trail Blazers are currently the ninth seed in the Western Conference at 29-37. Along with the New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings, the Blazers are 3.5 games behind the eight-seed Memphis Grizzlies.

• Big men Jusuf Nurkic is back after breaking his leg at the end of the 2018-19 season. He should have a major impact. Zach Collins also returns from injury.

• Nurkic adds to Portland's wealth of big men. Hassan Whiteside is second in the NBA in rebounds with 14.2 per game and first in blocked shots with 3.1 per game.

• Portland is +400 to make the postseason, per DraftKings Sportsbook. They're +6000 to represent the West in the NBA Finals and are +8000 to win it all. Go to our game predictions page to see which bet our NBA model prefers in Friday's battle between the Blazers and Grizzlies!

On The Outside Looking In

The Portland Trail Blazers have been a disappointment this year. Many people would reframe from disputing that. They come into the extended season with a record of 29-37, which is ninth in the Western Conference -- on the outside looking in. After finishing 53-29 last year, good for third in the Western Conference, this season has been a major step back for the Blazers.

At +400, Portland is currently listed as the best bet to snag the eighth and final playoff spot. The 10th place New Orleans Pelicans (28-36) are next at +300, while the team that currently holds the eighth spot, the Memphis Grizzlies (32-33), are listed at -143. Here’s why you should put your money on the Blazers to make the playoffs in the Western Conference.

Key Players Returning

The Blazers got a big boost when center Jusuf Nurkic returned during the break from a broken leg that he suffered in the final weeks of the 2018-19 season. Nurkic is not only one of the best defensive big men in the conference, he’s a potent offensive threat inside. Last year he averaged 15.6 points and 10.4 rebounds in Portland’s 53-win season. Now he will pair with Hassan Whiteside, the league’s best rebounder and shot blocker, to form a formidable tandem in the paint.

The Blazers picked up Whiteside in the offseason to replace Nurkic, but now they are playing together. In Sunday’s scrimmage against the Toronto Raptors, both Nurkic and Whiteside started. Nurkic was a beast and went off for 17 points and 13 rebounds, while Whiteside logged 18 minutes and had six points and five rebounds. Whiteside comes in leading the NBA with 14.2 rebounds and ranks second in the league with 3.1 blocked shots. Having the two gives Portland one of the best defensive tandems in the interior. They also welcomed back Zach Collins from injury, who will add some depth on the front line.

Like free money? We thought so. We read all the fine print, rated and reviewed all of these awesome offers for you. Get in on the action today by selecting your state below and take advantage of our exclusive deals if you want to bet on the Portland Trail Blazers!

Lillard Nursing Foot Injury

Damian Lillard is nursing inflammation in his foot. The point guard sat out of their most recent preseason contest. The Blazers are optimistic that he'll be ready to go when the season restarts, but it’s worth watching. The Blazers will certainly need him to make a run, especially when you consider that they draw the Grizzlies this Friday.

Portland's All-Star backcourt of Lillard and CJ McCollum might be the best in the NBA. Add a slimmed down, focused Carmelo Anthony, and you’ve got a team with offensive firepower, defensive strength, shot blocking, rebounding, and balance. They’ll need to get off to a hot start, as they currently are 3.5 games behind Memphis for the eight-seed. They’ll have to finish within four games of the eight-seed in order to force a play-in tournament at the very least.

Setting The Scene

There are a lot of teams vying for that eighth playoff spot in the west, including the Pelicans and Sacramento Kings, who are just one game behind the Blazers at 28-36. The San Antonio Spurs are technically a threat at 27-36, but they'll be without one of their best players in LaMarcus Aldridge. The Grizzlies are in the driver’s seat at 32-33, but they suffered a blow when versatile swingman Justise Winslow got injured at practice. Unfortunately for them, Winslow will miss the rest of the season.

The young team, led by Rookie of the Year candidate Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson, and Jonas Valanciunas, is otherwise healthy, but their youth and playoff inexperience may factor in should they face a battle-tested Portland in a play-in tournament. At +400 to make the postseason, the Blazers should be your go-to bet. They have the experience and star power to make it happen.

Find out how you can use BetQL to dominate the NBA with the season returning!