Who will win the NBA Finals MVP? Exotic tips & player props

Series begins on Friday, June 2, 2017, 11am AEST, watch on ESPN, NBA League Pass

FOR the casual NBA punter who may not care which teams are in the NBA Finals or who wins, take solace in the fact that there are hundreds of other fun markets that don’t depend on the result.

They are called exotics and you can find hundreds upon hundreds of bet types that cover just about everything that happens in the games and the series.

The NBA Finals are about to tip off on Friday and it is perhaps the most anticipated match up of all time – the third straight edition of the Golden State Warriors vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The storylines come thick and fast with this series. Do the reloaded Warriors have what it takes to banish the demons of losing the unlovable series last year when they surrendered a 3-1 lead?

What about the Slim Reaper Kevin Durant? Can he get one back over LeBron, who in 2012 beat his Oklahoma City Thunder in the finals while playing for the Miami Heat.

What about Steph Curry? Can he silence the critics who say he doesn’t come to play in the finals?

Will Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving be enough to get the Cavs over the line again?

Will we see the most three point shots made in a finals series by two teams in history.

Any way, none of this really matters when it comes to betting on the player exotics from the series. We just want to see our guy perform.

From who will lead the series in points, to the Finals MVP, there really is something for everyone.

Here is our look at the best markets and bets on the NBA Finals.

Trying to find a way to watch the NBA Finals? Here is our guide to where to stream or watch the games.

NBA Finals MVP predictions

LeBron James (+224 with Sportsbet.com.au)

Just read this and try and justify why it was a travesty that James did not win the NBA Finals MVP in 2015:

“Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James is the first player in NBA Finals history to lead both teams in points, assists and rebounds for the entire series, according to ESPN. James averaged 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists across six Finals games.”

They gave it to Andre Iguodala, for crying out loud.

Anyway, we know it was in a losing effort, but James was basically carrying a team of bush ballers from the back of Bourke in the series and still manage to steal two games.

It will forever be one of the great mistakes in finals MVP voting, but surely that won’t make the same mistake again? Surely.

If LeBron dominates the series like that, but the Cavs lose, he still should be the MVP.

We’re backing him to be an absolute monster stuff the stat sheet and win at least two games off his own bat.

Andre Iguodala, puh-leeeeeeease.

Market:

Kevin Durant (GSW) $2.73

Stephen Curry (GSW) $2.73

LeBron James (CLE) $3.24

Draymond Green (GSW) $7.40

Kyrie Irving (CLE) $12.25

Kevin Love (CLE) $23.00

Klay Thompson (GSW) $24

Andre Iguodala (GSW) $46

Player exotics picks

Leading scorer: Kevin Durant (+340 with Sportsbet.com.au)

Are you kidding us? $4.40 for Kevin Durant to be the leading scorer in the NBA Finals? This guy is arguably the best pure scorer in the game.

We mean, he’s got three NBA scoring titles to his name in his career. We know that LeBron James is going to fill it up for the Cavs and that Steph Curry is leading the Warrios with over 28 points per game, but nearly $5 for Durant to do the business is still ludicrous.

It will only take a couple of games for him to really catch fire and this bet could be a huge washout option too. Say he drops 35-40 in the first two games, you’ll be rolling in it before the series even goes back to Cleveland.

Bet with confidence here.

Market:

LeBron James $1.67

Kevin Durant $4.40

Stephen Curry $5.20

Kyrie Irving $8.80

Klay Thompson $23

Kevin Love $101

Most rebounds: Tristan Thompson ($3.60 with Sportsbet.com.au)

The rebound monster. Thompson has been a bit of a non factor for the Cavs in most of the playoffs as LeBron, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving have done most of the heavy lifting.

But Thompson just loves playing the Warriors and their lack of a real interior presence – with apologies to Javale McGee.

In last year’s finals, Thompson averaged a double double, pulling down 10.1 rebounds per game, just behind James’ 11.3.

He’s a monster on the offensive glass and does all the dirty work the superstars don’t want to do. It’s not a guarantee, but if it’s not LeBron, it should be Thompson.

Market:

Kevin Love $2.80

Tristan Thompson +260

LeBron James $5

Draymond Green $5

Kevin Durant $6.50

Most assists: Draymond Green ($3.60 with Sportsbet.com.au)

The Warriors best set up man is going to have to wheel and deal and play great defence if they are going to defeat the Cavaliers.

If it’s not iso Durant or Curry with the rock, every thing else goes through Green. And he is one of the best passers in the game, regardless of the position.

LeBron obviously looms, because he has the ball so much and is so adept at finding the open man, but we think the Dubs will win the series and Green will play a big part, hitting up his superstar teammates.

Market:

LeBron James $1.45

Draymond Green +260

Stephen Curry $6.50

Kyrie Irving $15

Kevin Durant $61