The 2024/25 NBA season has been an absolute rollercoaster, with shocking talking points both on the court and in the front office making the front pages. However, now it’s time to focus firmly on the floor as the playoffs begin to loom on the horizon. While it’s the knockout format of NCAA’s current March Madness which is in focus at present, it won’t be long before the Big League’s annual elimination extravaganza takes center stage. Several teams seem to be coming alive at the perfect time, with the 2025 NBA Playoffs on the horizon.
Teams Heating Up for 2025 NBA Playoffs
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers have had an up-and-down season, but they are hitting their stride when it matters most. At one point, the Crypto.com Arena outfit was looking like a peripheral threat. But one day in February changed all of that.
In the dead of night on February 1st, California’s most storied franchise shockingly announced that they had somehow acquired Luka Doncic, with Anthony Davis heading to Dallas in the opposite direction. Fans woke up on the 2nd absolutely stunned, with many simply not believing their luck. How Los Angeles managed to secure the Slovenian maestro or how the Mavericks have fallen off a cliff since hasn’t bothered them one bit, all that matters is the fact that the former Real Madrid man’s link-up with LeBron James will surely culminate in another championship bid.
Since Doncic’s arrival, the Lakers have gone 15-6 and have catapulted themselves up to third place in the Western Conference. They have won their last three on the spin, with Doncic top-scoring in two of them. King James has recently been sidelined with a minor injury, but his return is imminent, and seeing him working in tandem with Luka should strike fear in the rest of the league.
Before the Slovenian’s arrival online crypto betting sites already made the Lakers a contender. Now however, they are one of the favorites. Sites such as Thunderpick currently have LA as a +1200 fourth favorite, only behind the reigning champion Celtics, OKC, and the on-fire Cavs. Expect those odds to shorten further once LeBron returns and we’re closer to the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
Golden State Warriors
If there’s one name synonymous with playoff success, it’s the Golden State Warriors. After a rollercoaster season, the Warriors are starting to turn the corner at just the right time. With a 40-29 record, they are currently positioned as the sixth seed in the West, but their recent performances suggest they may finish even higher before the playoffs begin.
Leading the charge, as always, is Stephen Curry, who is averaging 32 points and nearly 8 assists per game in March. His three-point shooting remains otherworldly and he recently became the first player in history to surpass the 4,000 mark from downtown. He remains complemented beautifully by Draymond Green, who has ramped up production in the season’s latter stages. But perhaps the most crucial component has been the recent addition of Jimmy Butler.
The former Miami Heat man has become known as the ultimate clutch player in recent times, but he became disillusioned with life in Florida and made clear his intentions to leave. The Warriors surprisingly made the move to bring Jimmy Buckets in, and he has rewarded them no end. The San Francisco outfit are 15-3 since the 35 year old made the cross-country move on February 7th, and he has turned his new side into a parlay bettor’s dream.
The same game combo – or parlay – bet has been a famous one in the Esports betting world for some time, but it is in recent years that the same game parlay has become a staple for basketball bettors. With this type of bet, punters string together selections from the same game, all of which must hit for the bet to be paid out as a winner. These have been hitting with regular aplomb lately thanks to Curry sinking threes, Butler racking up the points, Green gobbling up rebounds, and most importantly, the Warriors securing wins.
If that continues throughout the final few weeks of the campaign, then expect the dynasty to be resurrected for yet another championship charge. Bank on them being alive deep into the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
Houston Rockets
Ever since the departure of James Harden in 2021, the Houston Rockets have been in a constant state of rebuilding. They spent three straight seasons languishing in the doldrums of the Western Conference, but they showed signs of life by improving up to 11th last term. Even still, no one could have expected them to fly as high as they currently are doing in the 2025 NBA Playoffs run-in.
Their rebuild officially feels complete and they have transformed back into the powerhouse we became accustomed to in the 2010s. They are currently second out West after amassing a 45-25 record including eight wins in their last ten. As such, it appears that they are finally seeing the fruits of their long-term development.
Much of their success has been driven by the young stars they have placed so much faith in. Jalen Green has emerged as one of the league’s most electrifying scorers, averaging over 27 points per game since the start of February. His ability to blow past defenders and finish at the rim has become a defining feature of Houston’s fast-paced offence. Meanwhile, Alperen Şengün has embraced the role of a modern center, showcasing a unique blend of vision, passing, and finesse in the post. His averages of 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists during this stretch have turned him into a focal point on both ends of the floor.
The Rockets‘ supporting cast has also been crucial to their success. Jabari Smith Jr.’s defensive versatility has allowed his side to contain opposing forwards, while Kevin Porter Jr. adds a secondary playmaking option to alleviate pressure on the talismanic Green. Veteran leadership from offseason acquisition Fred VanVleet has brought much-needed playoff-caliber experience to the team. With the 2025 NBA Playoffs looming, it could be crucial as the Lone Star State outfit looks to return to the postseason for the first time in half a decade.
Main photo credit: © Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
