Top 10 Things to Know Before Betting on the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs

The NBA Playoffs officially starts Saturday, but before that, the play-in games are going Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday involving the No. 7 and 8 seeds.

For the first time since 2013, the Miami Heat is the top seed in the East.

Before you make any of your NBA betting plays, here are 10 things you need to know about the Eastern Conference playoffs.

1. The No.1 seed in the Eastern Conference has earned an overall 177-122 straight-up record for 59% wins and 145-150-4 against the spread mark, good for 49% winning bets. This includes a 141-152-6 Over-Under mark for 48.1% Over winning bets in the past 20 seasons. Not much to sink your teeth into with those results, but over the past seven playoff seasons — going back to 2015 — the top-seed in the East has produced a 51-35 straight-up record for 59% wins and a money-making 49-36-1 against the spread mark, good for 58% winning bets.

2. I believe the Nets will earn the seventh seed with a win over Cleveland Tuesday. The Cavaliers will then play the winner of the Atlanta Hawks vs. Charlotte Hornets matchup, with that winner advancing to face the top-seeded Miami Heat. In the first round of the East playoffs, the 1-seed has produced a 24-6 straight up record for 80% winners and 20-9-1 against the spread record, good for 69% winning bets, including a 16-12-2 Over-Under record.

3. Top seeds in the East since the 2002 season playoffs have been a highly profitable 30-1 straight up for 97% winners and 21-9-1 against the spread for 70% winning bets, including a 67-15 Over-Under record spanning the past 20 playoff seasons.

4. Over the past 20 NBA playoff seasons, No. 2 seeds in the first round are 68-22 straight-up and 54-34-2 against the spread, including a 42-47-1 Over-Under record. Plus, they have gone 12-2 straight-up and 10-3-1 against the spread over the past five seasons, including a 6-8 Over-Under record.

5. No. 3 seeds have produced a 70-37 straight-up record and 59-48 against the spread mark, good for 55.1% wing bets in the first round of the last 20 playoff seasons. They have been 16-2 straight-up and 14-4 against the spread for 78% winning bets over the past five seasons in the first-round matchup against the 6-seed.

Check out: The 10 things you need to know before betting on the Western Conference.

6. No. 3 seeds that are favourites of 3.5 to 9.5 points in the first round of the past five playoffs have earned a 12-2 straight-up record and 10-4 against the spread record for 71.4% winning bets including an even 6-6-2 Over-Under record.

7. The 4-seed is 53-54 straight-up and 45-61-1 against the spread for 43.5% winning bets in the first round of the past 20 playoff seasons. The 4-seed is a money-burning 5-18 straight-up and 7-15-1 against the spread for 32% winning bets including a 10-11-2 Over-Under record when installed as a 3.5 or greater-point underdog spanning the last 20 playoff seasons.

8. No. 1 seeds that lost their previous playoff game and are now installed as a double-digit favourite are 22-2 straight-up and 19-5 against the spread, including 10-14 Over-Under mark spanning the last 20 playoff seasons.

9. No. 2 seeds that lost their previous playoff game and are now priced as a 3.5 to 9.5-point favourite have earned a 76-21 straight-up record and 59-37-1 against the spread record, good for 61.5% winning bets spanning the past 20 playoff seasons.

10. No. 2 seeds that have lost the last two previous playoff games and are now priced as a 3.5 to 9.5-point favourite are 22-5 straight-up and 19-8 against the spread for 70.4% winning bets, including a 12-15 Over-Under record.