NBA Finals 2012: Miami Heat vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, Player Prop Bets
Dwyane Wade will need to be more like Batman than Robin if the Miami Heat plan on defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2012 NBA Finals that start Tuesday night; LeBron James was clearly the best player on the floor against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference final.
Bovada sports book has Wade currently priced as the fourth choice at betting odds of 7-1 to walk away with his second NBA Finals MVP Award, which represents tremendous value due to his exploits against the Dallas Mavericks to win the 2006 NBA championship.
It's no surprise that Kevin Durant (even), James (8-5) and Russell Westbrook (6-1) are the three favorites to capture the honor, but I don't recommend looking past Wade in taking home the hardware.
Let's take a closer look at player proposition wagers that are being offered in this high-profile series from a betting perspective.
How Many Points Will LeBron James Average in the 2012 NBA Finals?
1 of 7Miami Heat forward LeBron James has averaged 30.8 points during the 2012 NBA playoffs, which could climb higher due to the up-and-down style of both teams in this series.
The 2012 NBA MVP scored 51 combined points in two games against the Oklahoma City Thunder this year, but has averaged 28.3 points per game in 16 career meetings.
I have to recommend the "over," even if it's going to be a popular selection.
Over/Under 29.5 points
How Many Points Will Kevin Durant Average in the 2012 NBA Finals?
2 of 7Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant has won three scoring titles in his career, which certainly makes him capable of climbing over this number.
Durant has averaged 27.9 points per game in 10 career meetings with the Miami Heat, including a 29.0-point average in two meetings this season.
Little edge found in this offering.
Over/Under 28.5 points
How Many Points Will Dwyane Wade Average in the 2012 NBA Finals?
3 of 7Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade averaged 34.7 points against the Dallas Mavericks during the 2006 NBA Finals, which is something to consider when handicapping this offering.
He may be hampered a bit by injuries suffered during the regular season, but figures to play a prominent role in the team's offensive game plan.
The number isn't going to surprise many, considering Wade has averaged 23.6 points in 18 career meetings with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Over/Under 24 points
How Many Points Will Russell Westbrook Average in the 2012 NBA Finals?
4 of 7In my opinion, Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook is the key to the 2012 NBA Finals, as the Miami Heat have nobody who can match up with him.
That doesn't mean he finishes this best-of-seven series with a scoring average that goes "over" this number, though. Westbrook needs to concentrate on running the offense and limiting turnovers.
I suggest going "under" on this offering.
Over/Under 23.5 points
How Many Points Will Chris Bosh Average in the 2012 NBA Finals?
5 of 7Miami Heat power forward Chris Bosh figures to play a major role in this series, coming back from an abdominal injury to contribute in the final three games of the Eastern Conference final against the Boston Celtics.
Bosh scored 35 combined points in those contests, including av 19-point performance in just more than 31 minutes in Game 7 on Saturday night. He has averaged 19.7 points in 15 career games against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins, this team is able to match up with him in the paint.
Leaning toward the "under" in this proposition offering.
Over/Under 16.5 points
How Many Points Will James Harden Average in the 2012 NBA Finals?
6 of 7Oklahoma City Thunder guard James Harden was named the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year this season, averaging 16.8 points during the regular season.
I was very impressed with this play against the San Antonio Spurs during the Western Conference finals, especially in the final three games, hitting 8-of-11 attempts from beyond the arc.
If you expect the Thunder to win the 2012 NBA Finals, I suggest making a play on the "over" in this offering.
Over/Under 16.5 points
Odds to Win the 2012 Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award
7 of 7I'm going to pick Dwyane Wade to walk away with the 2012 Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award at betting odds of 7-1, as I expect the Miami Heat to win this series in seven games.
Both teams like to get up and down the floor offensively, providing Wade plenty of opportunities to finish in transition.
He will rise to the occasion.
Full Listing of Odds Being Offered by Bovada Sports Book:
Kevin Durant (Even)
LeBron James (3-2)
Russell Westbrook (6-1)
Dwyane Wade (7-1)
James Harden (15-1)
Chris Bosh (18-1)
Serge Ibaka (25-1)
Any other Heat player (25-1)
Mario Chalmers (30-1)
Any other Thunder player (30-1)
