Bet (Regular season 2016/17): Few thoughts on the 2017 MVP award.
(I will be using the odds from the 365 platform as a reference point. The odds mentioned below are gathered from 5-6 betting companies that are accessible in Europe/Greece).
Quick thoughts.
The winner of the MVP Regular season award goes to a player from the top-3 teams of each conference. Therefore, we have a pool of 6 teams. So, odds-wise Warriors, Spurs, Clippers(?!) from the West & Cavs, Celtics, Raptors from the East. I will be adding Pacers, and Bulls on the Eastern conference contenders. Although I am not big on an MVP from the Western Conference, there is value to be find in certain candidates. 6-8 Teams. Let's check the main players.
WEST
Warriors: I think the Durant trade will cancel out the chances of Curry and Durant (and consequently of Klay and Draymmond) of receiving the award. This is from where the opportunity arises in the MVP market, since Curry and Durant are the second and fourth favorites to win the MVP award.
(Parenthesis on Westbrook who is the top favorite. I am a traditional Seattle and OKC fan. This means that Durant is now on top of my hater list and I am all-in for a 82 triple-double revenge season for the Brodie. However, I can't see the Thunder on the top4 spots in the West and thus I am willing to risk not betting on Westy for the MVP award).
That leaves out the Spurs and the Clippers. Kawhi MVP (Best odds out there: @19.00). I like Kawhi. Great player, great teammate and great person. It is also worth mentioning that last year Kawhi finished a few points ahead of James for second place in the MVP race. My only concern is that he is competing every year for the best defensive player of the year award. Could back the Kawhi bet with a few on Lamarcus MVP (Best odds out there: @51.00).
In my personal opinion, I can’t see the Clippers finishing on the top3 spots of the Western Conference (CP3 MVP Best odds out there: @40.00, Blake MVP Best odds out there: @34.00).
But I fully expect that the Western Conference should be very interesting to watch during the 2016-17 season. I can see 6/7 West playoff spots up for grabs. Imagine that Utah and Minesota (yes Utah and Minesota) are projected to finish 5th and 6th. This is too much for me to take.
On that note, I am so willing to risk on James Harden. Rockets are a one-man show. On top of that, guess who is going to be the new coach. Mike D’Antoni. The same coach who gave Steve Nash two MVPs. Regardless of how bad of a coach I think Mike D’Antoni is, his name is synonym to more possessions, a faster pace, and more points. The Beard is going to be everywhere. The Rockets might have lost Dwight (maybe that’s a good thing), but they added Eric Gordon, Ryan Anderson and Nene. I am expecting them to average 120 points per game. If they manage to add a center (Capela and Nene are not enough), Rockets could compete for that third spot on this wide-open Western Conference. Harden MVP (Best odds out there: @26.00).
EAST
I am big on Lebron. LBJ hasn't won the award since 2012-13. LBJ is going for his 5th MVP award, which will put him in the great company of the G.O.A.T among others (Russel and Kareem). LBJ (age 31) is getting older and only nine players in league history have won an MVP after the age of 30. Lebron James’ Ego is huge and even has its’ own twitter account. It is now or never. Lebron MVP (Best odds out there: @6.00).
Small fun bet on Kyrie as well. Uncle Drew has improved tons during last year and the Olympics. His offensive skills are unreal. Cavs are winning the East. Kyrie could play an extended role if (I don’t think it is happening) the Cavs decide to rest Lebron for an extended period of time. Kyrie MVP (Best odds out there: @35.00).
Horford MVP Best odds out there: @251.00!
The big green machine produced some great basketball last year but lacked the necessary experience during the playoffs. If you combine the most talented coach, the existing pieces of the puzzle AND the best teammate anyone could have, Al Horford, then only good things could happen. The future is green and the Celtics will have a great season. 251.00 is outrageous. Would back it up with a little flavor of Isiah (Isiah MVP Best odds out there: @51.00).
Moving along, I can’t say NO to my two dark horses of the Eastern conference. Jimmy Butler (Best odds out there: @101.00) and Paul George (Best odds out there: @41.00).
Pacers are stacked (Teague-Brooks-Monta-Stuckey-PG-Miles-Thaddeus-Turner-Big Al-Seraphin) and I am expecting a big season out of them. I have even placed a small bet on Nate McMillan to win the coach of the year award. Also, I have to jump on the DWade-coming-home bandwagon. Exciting times and Jimmy Butler is the new sheriff in town.
Finally, I have also gone for Kyle Lowry (Best odds out there: @81.00), Kemba Walker (Best odds out there: @251.00), Andre Drummond (Best odds out there: @151.00). The odds are off the charts and god is great. You can't go wrong with a small bet on these guys.
In order to sum it up, main bet for me is Lebron James MVP. Side-bets Kawhi and Harden. The gut tells me to go for George, Horford (251.00?!)/Isiah and Aldridge/Kyrie.
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