The NBA finals have started and in fact, we’ve finished two games already. The Raptors drew first blood and won Game 1. The Warriors bounced back and won Game 2 on Sunday to tie the series at one game apiece.
Likewise, proposition betting has also started for the NBA Finals. As with the other major sporting events, prop bets are aplenty during the NBA Finals. And this year is no different.
Here are the most interesting and profitable prop bets for the 2019 NBA Finals. These bets were taken from Bovada as of 6/2/19:
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Stephen Curry | -125 |
| Kawhi Leonard | +105 |
| Klay Thompson | +1400 |
| Pascal Siakam | +4000 |
| Kyle Lowry | +6000 |
| Draymond Green | +15000 |
We all know that it was Pascal Siakam who scored 34 points to lead Toronto to a victory over the Warriors in Game 1. But we know that it’s Kawhi Leonard who’s the main man for the Raptors all-season and postseason long. Leonard is averaging 30.4 points per game in the postseason and he’s scored an aggregate 57 points in the first two games of the series. When you talk about the Raptors, it’s going to be Kawhi who’s going to lead the team in scoring.
As for Golden State, it will go down between the Splash Brothers. Steph Curry had seven 30-point games before scoring 23 in Game 2. Steph has scored a total of 57 points in the first two games of the series, same as Kawhi. With Kevin Durant expected to return midway in the series, Curry will be Golden State’s top scoring option. As for Klay Thompson, he is expected to put up high scoring numbers with KD still out. Thompson has scored 46 points in the first two games of the series.
I think it’s a toss-up between Leonard and Curry and you can make an argument for both, really. I think the Warriors are going to win the title though so I have to go with Steph Curry. I think the stars have aligned for him to win it this year. Prediction: Stephen Curry
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Draymond Green | -175 |
| Kawhi Leonard | +240 |
| Pascal Siakam | +900 |
| Marc Gasol | +1100 |
| Serge Ibaka | +1400 |
| Stephen Curry | +4000 |
Draymond Green led the Warriors in rebounds during the regular season and he is leading the Dubs again in that department during the playoffs. Green has 20 rebounds in the first two games of the series and with him getting more minutes than Bogut, Dray should be the pick for the Warriors.
On the other hand, it was Serge Ibaka who led Toronto in rebounds during the regular season at 8.1 boards per outing. During the postseason, it’s been Kawhi Leonard who’s doing the most damage off the boards with 8.8 rebounds per contest. Leonard has 22 rebounds through the first two games of the series while Ibaka has 13 in Games 1 and 2.
I’ll have to go with Draymond Green here because Leonard has more than rebounding duties to fulfill. As Toronto’s main man, Leonard is expected to lead their offense as well. On the other hand, Draymond Green has been Golden State’s swiss army knife all-season long. More than scoring, his main duties are rebounding and making plays. Even with Boogie Cousins back, Green is going be the guy. Prediction: Draymond Green
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Draymond Green | -160 |
| Kyle Lowry | +210 |
| Stephen Curry | +450 |
| Kawhi Leonard | +2000 |
| Andre Iguodala | +4000 |
| Marc Gasol | +7000 |
Kyle Lowry led the Raptors at 8.8 assists per game during the regular season and he is still Toronto’s passing leader during the postseason at 6.6 assists per game. Lowry has a total of 11 assists after Game 2. The only player in Toronto who gets to have the ball more in his hands is Kawhi Leonard but given that Leonard has to score, rebound defend, I think it’s Kyle Lowry for Toronto.
For the Dubs, it was Draymond Green who led the team in assists during the regular season at 6.9 dimes per contest. During the postseason, Green has upped his numbers to 8.8 helpers per game. Dray has 19 total assists after Game 2 of the series and despite Steph Curry having several dazzling passing games this postseason, I think coach Kerr is going to stay with Draymond Green as the primary playmaker. Prediction: Draymond Green
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Stephen Curry | -140 |
| Kawhi Leonard | +275 |
| Draymond Green | +850 |
| Klay Thompson | +850 |
| Kevin Durant | +1800 |
| Pascal Siakam | +4000 |
| Kyle Lowry | +5000 |
| Marc Gasol | +7500 |
| Andre Iguodala | +8000 |
I think Kevin Durant is out of the question for Golden State even if he comes back midway in the series. Well, unless of course, he does something spectacular. Again, Curry is the top choice for the Dubs as he’s taken over the team since KD got hurt You have to consider Draymond Green because he’s one assist shy of back to back Triple Doubles. Klay Thompson looked aggressive in Game 2 but the status of his hamstring injury leaves a question mark. I think Curry wins the award if Golden State wins the title. However, knowing I’ll have won in other prop bets, I’ll roll with Draymond Green again here because the basketball betting gods say he’s a +850.
If you think Toronto wins the series, Kawhi is the obvious choice. However, if you’re going with the Dubs here like I am, pick Curry to be safe but personally, I’ll go with Draymond Green. Prediction: Draymond Green
We’re already 1-1 after two games so that leaves us with only six options from the list above. With the momentum of their Game 2 win, I think Golden State wins the next two games at home and then the Raptors will hold court in Game 5 and extend the series to a Game 6. The Warriors should win their third straight title at home, in the last game played at the Oracle Arena. Nice script right? Prediction: Warriors 4-2 +250
With both teams already with one win after two games, then over 4.5 is the sure option because this series is surely going to have a Game 5. But I don’t think the Raptors will not win another game here. Personally, I’m calling this a Warriors win in six games but it could go to seven. If we look at the other side of the coin, I don’t think the Warriors are going to lose two in a row at Oracle so even if the Raptors win the title. I think Golden State will have at least two wins or maybe three. Either way, I think it’s going more than five games. Prediction: Over 5.5
As I said previously, I think both teams win at least one more game in a competitive series like this. So I’m going to go with six games here. Prediction: 6
Again, my forecast is for Golden State to win Games 3 & 4 at home. Toronto will battle back to win Game 5 at Jurassic Park and then the Dubs finish the series in their final game at the Oracle Arena before the move to their new home at the Chase Center in San Francisco. Prediction: Golden State
Game 3 will be played in Golden State and the Warriors are coming off a huge Game 2 win on the road. Golden State was 30-11 at home during the regular season and have won six home games in a row in the playoffs. I know there is some concern on Klay Thompson’s injury right now but given how Boogie Cousins played in Game 2, the Warriors still have the manpower to win Game 3. Prediction: Golden State Warriors
I’m looking at the Warriors sweeping the two mid-games at home. They did this against Houston in Round 2 and against Portland in the Conference Finals. I think the trend continues against the Raptors. Prediction: Golden State Warriors
Golden State has scored 109 points in each of the first two games of the series. And while the Dubs averaged 117.7 points per game during the regular season, they are without Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson got hurt in Game 2. I think the injuries of Golden State and Toronto playing good defense is going to limit the Dubs’ scoring in this series. The Dubs are averaging 112.2 points per game in their last five games played. Prediction: Under 112.5
Ok, so the Raptors are averaging 111 points per game in the series after two games. But that’s because they were shooting the lights out of Jurassic Park in Game 1. Toronto scored just 104 points in Game 2. They averaged 107 points per game against the Magic, 101.5 against the Sixers and 107.67 against the Bucks. Golden State’s scoring is going to drag Toronto’s scores as well. Prediction: Under 107.5
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