2023 NBA Finals Odds: Here's a Long Shot MVP to Bet On
I’ve been either playing, watching, or writing about sports since I was 6.
I can’t even imagine how many games and series I’ve seen.
But never in a million years did I expect what’s transpired in these NBA conference finals.
Both the Lakers and the Celtics down 0-3? Get the hell out of here.
But here we are.
Amazing.
Boston will be looking for a new coach Wednesday morning while the Lakers will be wondering if they’re just too old now. They’ll definitely need to add some youth this offseason but I don’t believe they’ll depart with their coach, Darvin Ham. The Celtics absolutely will.
Here’s how off I was, writing on Friday:
It’s still going to be Celtics vs. Lakers in the 2023 NBA Finals.
Over the weekend, this statement has aged about as well as milk when you leave the refrigerator door open in 90-degree heat after you’ve gone on a weekend retreat.
So, yeah, there are idiots among us … and I guess I’m going to be in the group photo soon?
However, I can assure you, nobody – and I mean nobody – saw this coming. Not both of the greatest franchises in the history of the NBA being down 0-3? No way. Too much pride, we figured. They’ll find a way, we thought.
The truth is, the Nuggets are just flat-out better and younger and quicker than the Lakers, and the Heat have overwhelming depth and an all-time great coach, Eric Spoelstra, who has schooled his counterpart, 34-year-old Joe Mazulla.
Anyhow, OK. What does it all mean?
Well, let’s look at the latest odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook, one of our favorite gambling sites out there, the Nuggets are now bigger betting favorites to win it all (-210).
2023 NBA Champion
Denver Nuggets -210
Miami Heat +220
Boston Celtics +1600
Los Angeles Lakers +4000
2023 NBA Finals MVP
Nikola Jokic -165
Jimmy Butler +280
Jamal Murray +750
Jayson Tatum +1900
Bam Adebayo +3500
LeBron James +5500
Anthony Davis +6500
Jaylen Brown +8000
Michael Porter Jr. +17000
Aaron Gordon +17000
D'Angelo Russell +50000
Austin Reaves +50000
Malcolm Brogdon +50000
Derrick White +50000
2023 NBA Finals Matchup
Miami Heat vs Denver Nuggets -800
Boston Celtics vs Denver Nuggets +800
Miami Heat vs Los Angeles Lakers +1900
Boston Celtics vs Los Angeles Lakers +13000
2023 NBA Finals Exact Result
Denver Nuggets to beat Miami Heat -180
Miami Heat to beat Denver Nuggets +230
Boston Celtics to beat Denver Nuggets +1600
Denver Nuggets to beat Boston Celtics +1700
Miami Heat to beat Los Angeles Lakers +3100
Los Angeles Lakers to beat Miami Heat +4100
Boston Celtics to beat Los Angeles Lakers +17000
Los Angeles Lakers to beat Boston Celtics +32000
Since no NBA team has ever come back from an 0-3 playoff deficit stay away from any comeback theories.
Of all of these options, I love the Bam Adebayo as MVP bet. Just throw a little at the big man. He’s been excellent in these playoffs.
He will have a huge series in the Finals – promise ya – because the Nuggets will do everything they can to limit Jimmy Butler’s points.
It’s true that the NBA Finals MVP more often than not has been the best player on the best team, but every once in a while there’s an unsung, underrated overlooked stud who emerges on the biggest stage.
Without looking it up, guess who was the MVP of the 2015 NBA Finals from the Golden State Warriors’ star-studded championship team?
Andre Iguodala.
I still don’t think the Heat can beat the Nuggets but at this point, who the hell knows?
There could be another Miami championship and perhaps Adebayo is this year’s Iguodala.
Stranger things have happened – and continue to.
