Game 1 Prop Bets
Tip off: 8 PM CST (ABC)
Props C/o Bovada.lv
The NBA Finals have at long last arrived, and it is hardly any surprise to NBA fans that the Golden State Warriors are hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers. This makes a full trilogy of the matchup, with each team having won a series in the past two years; the Cavs the most recent victors in 2016.
Revenge will be the name of the game for the Dubs, with its new addition Kevin Durant simply seeking his first career ring. This game offers a bounty of spicy prop bets at oddsmaker Bovada, and we will examine some of the tastier ones as Game 1 tips off at 8 PM (CST) on ABC. Game 1 will occur at Oracle Arena in Oakland, CA. The Warriors are notoriously tough at home, and James has had his struggles in Finals’ Game 1s. This all will be discussed further in depth as we dive in.
Will LeBron James Record a Double-double?
Yes (-150), No (+120)
The safe bet is that LeBron does get a double-double, but we’re going against that safe bet due to the fact James has never won a Game 1 in his past six Finals appearances. Beyond that, Draymond Green should draw a majority defensive assignment against The King, and Green is widely regarded as one of the best individual defenders in the Association.
James may have a monster game, but he is going to have to scurry to double up in assists or boards in this one, especially with Kyrie Irving likely to see a lot more playmaking duties with the defensively-weak Stephen Curry drawing him in the lineup. We choose NO.
Will Kyrie Irving Record a Double-double?
Yes (+475), No (-700)
We’re going against the grain with Kyrie Irving, as noted above. He should see the chance to rack up more dimes than his usual, and this is going to be a high payout if we’re, in fact, right here at Maddux Sports. We expect Irving to show up in a big way in Game 1, with a huge scoring night and an improbable 10-plus assist game from the scoring-minded 1-man. We choose YES.
Will Stephen Curry Record a Double-double?
Yes (+500), No (-800)
Stephen Curry is going to want to push the pace of this game as much as possible, but he still will likely be looking for his long triple over the easy dime. Also, Green is a major facilitator in the offense and will get plenty of touches.
Unless Curry somehow snags 10 boards, this is unlikely to happen. Curry may erupt for 40 points and drill 10 triples, but he likely will not get 10-plus assists/rebounds, so this is a NO. The payout won’t be tremendous, unfortunately.
Will Draymond Green record a triple-double?
Yes (+750), No (-1500)
Triple doubles have become more common in today’s NBA, and Green is one of the more adept at notching them. While LeBron James may draw Green defensively, James will need to preserve a lot of his energy for the offensive end of the court. Green is also notorious for garnering a lot of motivation against the league’s better teams and relishes big matchups. While it seems improbable, we are expecting Green to make the early case for a Finals MVP award and have a simply tremendous game. If we are wrong, it won’t be due to any lack of effort from one of the NBA”s true workhorses. Yes, Triple-double me up for Green.
LeBron James Over/Under 31.5 Points
Over (-140), Under (+110)
This is a tempting one, but we’re actually only including it to warn bettors to steer clear. 31 points is pretty spot-on for what James will likely produce against the Dubs, and while it is in the cards for the league’s premier player to have an even bigger scoring night, the line is just too well-set by the good oddsmakers of Bovada. PUSH.
Some of these takes may seem a bit extreme, but the NBA is a fantastic bounty of surprises, and most especially on the biggest stage. Who shows up tonight will be the real storyline in a star-studded series between the league’s two premier clubs.
