Betting the NBA Finals
Written by Greg Waters
Wed, 3 Jun 2009
Category sportsbook
Feedback Rating - no votes
The lines are up for every game in the NBA Finals. Want to bet Game 3 in Orlando? The Magic are 3-point favorites, and if there is a Game 7 back in LA, the Lakers are 6-point favorites.
SPORTSBETTING.com has all the lines up with their “Prospective Bets”, which have been running throughout the NBA playoffs.
And while the Finals matchup won’t feature a Kobe vs. King James battle, it is still an intriguing series.
The Magic are +205 underdogs in series price betting while the Lakers are favored at -245 at online sportsbooks.
After starting the postseason on an 0-4 ATS losing streak, Orlando has gone 11-4 ATS in the ensuing 15 games.
The Lakers’ postseason has produced a 9-9 ATS mark and they’ve recorded 6 Overs and 12 Unders.
Game 1 happens on Thursday at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, with LA as a 6-point favorite and a total of 205.5. The sports betting public have been cautious in backing Los Angeles in the early going, with 57% of the action coming in on the home team.
The two then have a two-day rest before renewing acquaintances in Game 2 on Sunday with the prospective line seeing the Lakers listed as 5.5-point home faves with the Total again at 205.5
The Lakers have done well straight up in their last 10 at home against the Magic going 8-2 SU but haven’t been as sharp against the spread going 5-4-1 ATS and are 0-3 ATS in their last three home tilts against Orlando.
The two teams have gone 3-7 on the Over/Under in their last 10 at the STAPLES Center.
Orlando has done well when underdogs of 6-points or less.
The Lakers haven’t covered as much as the Magic when favored by 6-points or less going 11-9 ATS. They have 8 Overs and 12 Unders in their last 20 in this situation.
After that, the scene shifts to the Magic Kingdom and fittingly the prospective lines shift as well, as Orlando is a prospective 3-point home fave for Game 3 on Tuesday with the Total set at 204.
Overall, Orlando has been anything but magic at home against the Lakers going 6-10 ATS. Worth noting though is that the last five games between these two in Orlando have resulted in five straight Overs.
The Magic are listed at -2.5 with the Total set at 204.5 in prospective Game 4 betting the following Thursday and are 13-6-1 ATS in its last 20 when favored by 4-points or less.
The Lakers are 15-5 ATS in the same situation.
link: http://www.wheretobet.com/redirect/sportsbetting.com-205/all