PressBox’s Stan “The Fan” Charles, Glenn Clark and Luke Jackson share some of their favorite futures bets for the NBA playoffs. All numbers are from FanDuel prior to the start of the playoffs.
Stan “The Fan” Charles
Denver Nuggets To Win The NBA Finals (+1000)
There are really two ways to examine and execute this wager. I know, I know … “I just want to win, baby.” But there is betting on who you think will win and then there is looking for a bit more bang for your buck.
To me, it looks like the Milwaukee Bucks will probably come out of the Eastern Conference. The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers are capable of beating the Bucks in a seven-game series, but Giannis Antetokounmpo presents such a unique challenge for either team.
If you drop $50 on the Bucks to win the title at +240, you’ll take home $120 in profit should they win it all, but it seems like a more exciting and profitable bet would be to take the Bucks in individual playoff games.
Where I see an opportunity is taking the Denver Nuggets, the second choice in the West behind the Phoenix Suns. If you bet on the Nuggets, you get arguably the best center in the league in Nikola Jokić, arguably the best coach in the league in Michael Malone and the best home-court advantage playing in the Mile High City.
Glenn Clark
Giannis Antetokounmpo To Win NBA Finals MVP (+270)
So let me start with the bigger point. My friend Aaron Oster from The Circa out in Las Vegas always likes to remind me that when you get to the playoffs, instead of betting a title winner, you should bet the Finals MVP because it gives you better odds. The Bucks were +240 to start the playoffs but “The Greek Freak” was +270. If they win, it is almost a certainty that he will be Finals MVP. So bet that. If you like Boston, bet Jayson Tatum. If you like Philly, bet Joel Embiid. But if you like Phoenix …
Phoenix Suns To Win The NBA Finals (+480)
… I know this seems strange after what I just said, but this isn’t the same certainty. Yes, it’s most likely that if the Suns win their first title, Kevin Durant will be Finals MVP. But in the eight regular-season games Durant played with the Suns, he led the team in scoring in just half of them. There is still a bit to be learned about how things might play out, so if you like Phoenix to win the title, I’d just bet them to win the title.
Luke Jackson
Sacramento Kings To Win The Western Conference (+2000)
One of the long-shot futures bets I liked coming into the playoffs was the Kings to win the Western Conference after they snapped their 16-season playoff drought. Six teams had better odds to win the West entering the playoffs, but the Kings were one of the most consistent teams throughout the regular season in a conference without a truly dominant squad.
It becomes harder to score in the playoffs because defense is ratcheted up a notch or two, but consider the offensive weaponry that the Kings bring to the table in De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes and Malik Monk. This team is hard to guard, but …
Golden State Warriors To Win The NBA Finals (+850)
… the Kings caught a tough break in facing the Warriors in their first-round matchup. Should the Kings lose to the Warriors in the first round, it’ll likely be because of their porous defense. And if the Warriors get rolling, they can absolutely make a run to the NBA Finals again despite an underwhelming 44-38 season.
I like the Warriors to flip the switch come playoff time and make another run with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, provided they get past the Kings.
Photo Credit: Jed Jacobsohn/NBAE/Getty Images