Celtics vs. Warriors: Odds & Expert Picks To Win 2022 NBA Finals MVP
These are the Finals MVP bets we're targeting for Celtics vs. Warriors
Brad Pinkerton - Jun 2, 2022, 9:19am EDTOdds & Expert Picks To Win 2022 NBA Finals MVP
Dan Karpuc: Klay Thompson (+1500 at DraftKings)
When looking at this market, I realistically think there are four potential MVP candidates: Stephen Curry (+110), Jayson Tatum (+170), Jaylen Brown (+1100) and Klay Thompson (+1500). Since I have the Warriors winning this series in six games, I’m going to target someone on Golden State and would never bet Curry at +110 odds due to the lack of potential upside. When thinking of the Finals MVP, I picture iconic moments. Big shots. Huge scoring numbers. Clutch late-game heroics. We’ve seen Thompson deliver with gigantic scoring outputs before and I can see Ime Udoka selling out to prevent Curry from killing his team from beyond the arc. Curry should also get checked by Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart quite a bit, which should free up Thompson on the perimeter in addition to the numerous off-ball screens that typically give him space to operate. If Thompson goes for 30-plus points a couple times, Curry struggles in a few games and Golden State wins, I can see Thompson winning this award at +1500 odds. Curry is the safer bet and only other logical bet on the Warriors, in my opinion, but a $1,500 win on a $100 bet sounds a heck of a lot more appealing to me.
MORE: NBA FINALS PREVIEW
Lucy Burdge: Jayson Tatum (+175, FanDuel)
This is not the splashiest pick, but if the Celtics win the championship, the Finals MVP has got to be Tatum. He has absolutely carried this team through the playoffs, with the supporting cast of Jaylen Brown, Al Horford, etc., of course. But Tatum has put up 20-plus points in the last four playoff games, 30-plus in two of those, and 20-plus in five other games, including 46 points against the Bucks. He’s averaging 27.0 points per game in the postseason, and I think he’s going to completely throw this team on his back to power through this Warriors series and show why he deserves to be the MVP of these Finals.
Brad Pinkerton: Draymond Green (+1800 at Caesars)
I agree with Dan that 1. the Warriors will win the title, and that 2. there isn't value on Curry's MVP odds. While Klay does offer great value, his inconsistency is a concern and the Celtics D could give him (and Curry) fits throughout this series. So, if we're looking for value, I'd lean toward Green as the "glue guy" who holds everything together for the Warriors -- facilitating on offense and clamping down on defense -- when the going gets tough. His impact isn't always seen in the box scores, but Green is the favorite to lead the Warriors in assists and should be at or near the top in rebounds, blocks and steals. And it's not out of the question that we see his scoring rise a bit this series with the Celtics focusing on stopping the Warriors' main offensive weapons. Remember Andre Iguodala in 2015? That could be Green in 2022.
Nick Ashooh: Steph Curry (-115 at FanDuel)
This just has that feel of everyone willing Steph Curry to his first Finals MVP, and we all know how those narratives can play into awards of any kind. Having already taken the MVP of the Western Conference Finals, Curry is averaging just under 26 points per game in the playoffs, and will more than likely have the narrative of "not playing well in the Finals" on his mind. He doesn't even have to be the leading scorer, just play well enough to win, and he's getting the award.
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