It all comes down to this. With the NBA Finals starting on Thursday, how will the league’s annual crescendo hit? Ahead of Celtics vs. Mavericks, Brad Evans attempts to slam dunk the sportsbooks with series-related wagers. Fade or follow — that’s up to you!
The pick — Dallas Mavericks to win NBA title (+250, FanDuel)
FanDuel offers:
Yes, celebrity Boston fans Matt Damon and Ben Affleck — just like the Dunkin’ Donuts iced coffees they pitch — are dreamy. Despite their influence, the heavily favored Celtics are far from a “lock” to host a ticker-tape parade.
In postseason net efficiency, Boston (10.8) holds a sizable edge against Dallas (4.1). The Celtics also possesses more depth and could get Kristaps Porzingis back in time for Game 1.
However, immediately dismissing the Mavericks is a rookie move.
In the playoffs, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have been spewing lava. And if Daniel Gafford, P.J. Washington and/or Dereck Lively continue to perform at their peaks, Dallas will win its second NBA title in franchise history.
With Joe Mazzulla’s club anywhere from -210 to -240 to hoist the hardware, the underdog Mavs are an extraordinary value.
NBA postseason record: 12-24, -10.08 units