The first two rounds of the 2012 NBA playoffs odds went largely as expected, but after the true contenders were separated from the rest on the way to the conference finals, things have really changed. The Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, and Boston Celtics have bruised and battered each other through six games, leaving a game seven for both series to determine which teams will make it through to the NBA finals. Whether or not either winner has anything left after this round could be key going forward, but right now everything will be on the line as these four teams focus solely on the sports betting chance to get there.
Oklahoma City Thunder @ San Antonio Spurs (Game 7)
Friday, 9:00 PM ET
The theory before the series was that the longer it went, the more the advantage would swing in favor of the much younger Thunder, but not so fast. The Spurs were one of the best home teams in the association all season, and after dropping a close game five, will once again throw everything they have at Oklahoma City in an effort to slow down its powerful offense. San Antonio will have the momentum of winning game six and the crowd on its side, but in order to win, it will need its best players to be able to trade baskets with the likes of Kevin Durant and company. That means Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, and Manu Ginobili matching Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden at both ends of the floor, something this team is definitely capable of. Spurs’ head coach Greg Popovich is easily the best in the association at what he does, and unlike earlier in the per head series when he wanted preserve his veteran’s endurance for a potential final, he won’t hold anything now with a loss meaning no more games left on the NBA schedule.
NBA Betting Pick: San Antonio Spurs
Boston Celtics @ Miami Heat (Game 7)
Saturday, 8:30 PM ET
In the ultimate online poker game, the Heat were on the ropes once again in this series, one game away from elimination heading back to Boston with all of the momentum on the Celtics’ side. However, Miami managed to grind out a tough win on the road, and now get the chance to close out this series where it all started. The return of Chris Bosh may have actually been a distraction for a Heat team that took the first two games at home before dropping game five, but now that they know what they have in the All Star forward and have won a game with him, they will be able to move past the spectacle of it and refocus for another must-win game. Neither team will need to go fishing for extra motivation for this game, but with the best players stepping up for both teams, it is hard to bet against Lebron James and Dwayne Wade. Boston has surprised by getting this far already, but after coming so close with that game five win, they now face a pressure that they didn’t have to deal with all series.
NBA Betting Pick: Miami Heat