Welcome to the NBA Finals. For a long while today, ESPN had the women’s NCAA softball championship in the marquee spot on their website which pretty much tells you everything you need to know about the level of excitement surrounding these Finals. I believe God invented gambling to help people like you and me deal with having to watch the Miami Heat play four more playoff games.
Speaking of the Heat, this is now officially the Caleb Martin edition of NBA Finals best bets. No need to get fancy here. You either believe in Caleb Martin or you don’t. If you believe in him, there’s a ton of great gambling opportunities heading your way. If you don’t, I guess there’s also a ton of great opportunities heading your way as long as you’re not scared to bet the under on all his numbers. I have mixed feelings but I’m leaning towards the over on quite a few. Here are my NBA Finals best bets, all available on DraftKings.
TEAM WITH HIGHEST SCORING GAME IN THE FINALS: Denver Nuggets -140
I really don’t understand this line. Everyone knows the Nuggets are the far superior offensive team. The Heat did put up 128 in one win at Boston but were right around 100 or less the rest of the series. And it’s not like Boston was a great defensive team. The Nuggets put up 132 in a game against the lakers and were consistently over 110. It’s one of those bets where it’s so obvious you kinda want to go the other way but you can’t. You have to take Denver here.
MIAMI HEAT +2.5 GAMES -145
If you believe in Heat culture, and how can you not at this point, you take Miami to win two games in the series. As far as Heat culture goes, I do wonder if Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra makes their wives and kids weigh in each week before bed.
TOTAL POINTS SCORED IN THE SERIES: Jamal Murray +250
I like the odds given that the Heat will double Jokic and make someone else beat em and Murray is arguably the best offensive player on the floor anyway.
JAMAL MURRAY OVER 5.2 REBS PER GAME -110
If you watched the Laker series, Murray was feeling himself and seemed to enjoy exploding off vert and grabbing boards like a man. He had games of 10 and 7 rebs and was right around 5 or 6 the other games. Not a stretch to average over 5.2.
JAMAL MURRAY OVER 5.5 ASSTS PER GAME -110
This is befuddling. He averaged over 6.2 during the regular season. I guess Jokic has the ball in his hands a lot more but this number is still easily attainable.
MICHAEL PORTER JR. OVER 7 REBS PER GAME -110
Quiet as it’s kept, Porter Jr. is a good rebounder. He’s 6’10, quick off his feet and he likes grabbing boards as a way to feel involved when he’s not getting a lot of shot opportunities. He only averaged 5.5 during the regular season but in the last 4 games against the Lakers he grabbed 10, 10, 7 and 10. He can easily average over 7 rebs/game.
THE CALEB MARTIN BETS
Over 6.5 rebs/game -110: In his last two games he grabbed 10 and 15 boards. It seems like a light went off and he realized he could also grab boards as a way to make an impact on the game. That bodes well for this bet.
To average 8+ rebs in Finals +700: Of the two rebounding bets, this is prolly the way to go. If he is a newfound rebounding power, you capitalize. If he’s not, you lose.
To record 10+ rebs in one game +1000: I saw this yesterday but don’t see it anymore. If you find it, take it.
Under 15.4 ppg. -110: Rebounding is effort and I like his effort. Points are different. I don’t expect him to shoot quite as well in this series, in altitude, as he did against Boston so I’ll go under here.
