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As the 2019 NBA Finals are set to commence, excitement and anticipation are building among basketball fans and there are no shortage of options for bettors to invest in their prognostications for how they might see things playing out.
Here we discuss the odds and analysis for 2019 NBA Finals MVP.
Odds to win the 2019 NBA Finals MVP Award
— BettorIQ (@BettorIQ) May 26, 2019
Via @SuperBookUSA pic.twitter.com/yf2leKWmKf
Stephen Curry at 2/3
Since Golden State is currently favored to win the series against Toronto, it makes sense that their best player, who happens to have a streak of scoring thirty-plus points in five straight playoff games, is the odds on favorite.
Another intangible factor that could also favor Curry winning the award is that some believe he was deserving of the Finals MVP in 2015 and 2018 and could receive votes this year as a way of making up for past misjudgments.
Steph is averaging 27.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game in the playoffs so far. When Kevin Durant won his Finals MVP in 2018, he averaged 26.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game in the Finals. Picking Steph might be a safe play but at 2/3 odds might not be the best value, since one has to bet thirty dollars to win twenty.
Kawhi Leonard at 11/4
There is no doubt that Kawhi Leonard was the Raptors’ MVP of their first three rounds of the playoffs, and if you think Toronto is going to win the championship, then picking Kawhi to win Finals MVP is your best bet at 11/4 odds.
Besides his unbelievable performance in the playoffs this year so far, Leonard also has the advantage of having won the Finals MVP award before, when he averaged 12.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in 2014, though he probably won the award for his defense on LeBron James.
Bottom line, if you are betting the Raptors to win the series, you might as well bet Kawhi to win MVP as well.
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Draymond Green at 10/1
Some might argue that Draymond Green has been the most consistent, all-around player for the Warriors in the playoffs so far and we would agree. He has had four triple-doubles in the 2019 playoffs, including back-to-back triple-doubles in games three and four of the Western Conference Finals, and eight triple-doubles in the playoffs over his career.
It’s playoff time. You know what that means — the best of Draymond Green. Healthy, lighter and motivated by those who thought he was washed.https://t.co/ZkeYEKtfGw pic.twitter.com/b3HlJ4C0Pq
— Marcus Thompson (@ThompsonScribe) April 20, 2019
If the Warriors win the title this year and Steph does not dominate the way he has the past several games, Draymond Green at 10/1 odds is our best value to win Finals MVP.
Kevin Durant at 10/1
With KD sitting out for at least game one and possibly more of the Finals, the only scenario we see him winning three Finals MVPs in a row is if the Warriors are down in the series and his return sparks the Warriors to a comeback win for the title.
While this is certainly possible, there are a lot of ifs involved and too much uncertainty about his health to consider taking a flyer on him winning Finals MVP this season.
But never say never, right?
Here's Kevin Durant boarding the Warriors team plane to Toronto. An encouraging sign. #DubNation pic.twitter.com/r7PfW7PxYz
— Casey Pratt (@CaseyPrattABC7) May 28, 2019
Klay Thompson at 20/1
In the years the Warriors have won their titles, Klay Thompson has averaged less than 20 points, less than 4 rebounds and less than 3 assists per game during those playoffs. The only year he averaged more than 20 points per game in the playoffs (24.3) was in 2016 and we know how those Finals turned out.
While his odds have good value at 20/1, we would have to expect Klay to catch fire like he did when he broke the record for three-pointers in a game and points in a quarter, but would also need to sustain it for multiple games of the Finals and for the Warriors to win for him to earn the MVP award.
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Pascal Siakam at 40/1 and Kyle Lowry at 100/1
If you are considering betting on Pascal Siakam or Kyle Lowry to win Finals MVP, you might as well light your money on fire. Siakam and Lowry have never played on this big of a stage and have not demonstrated a sustained capacity for clutch play.
As mentioned previously, if the Raptors win the NBA Finals, Kawhi Leonard will be your Finals MVP. But again, that’s a big if, +244 odds to be precise.
Poll
What is your best bet for 2019 Finals MVP?
This poll is closed
-
52%
Steph Curry at 2/3
-
19%
Kawhi Leonard at 11/4
-
3%
Kevin Durant at 10/1
-
13%
Draymond Green at 10/1
-
5%
Klay Thompson at 20/1
-
0%
Pascal Siakam at 40/1
-
1%
Kyle Lowry at 100/1
-
1%
Andre Iguodala at 200/1
-
0%
Marc Gasol at 300/1
-
1%
FIELD at 100/1