Thunder to finally get their hands on NBA trophy

It is the NBA All Star weekend and bookmakers make the West the 8/13 (paddy Power) favourites for the game while the East are available at 8/5 (BWIN). In truth it is not a game to get involved in seriously though those looking for a little added interest to the festivities Sunday could do worse than taking the 7/2 (BETVICTOR/paddy Power/BWIN) on Lebron James to be named the MVP of the games. James will have a point to prove as all the talk this season has been about his rival Kevin Durant and how good KD has been.

You can also bet on all the games and skills events that surround the weekend and it is 7/4 (GENERAL) that Team Lillard and Burke win the Skills Challenge. ladbrokes have Paul George 3/1 to win the Slam Dunk challenge while the same firm are the same price on Stephen Curry to finish first in the Three Point Shootout. It is also 21/10 (paddy Power) that Team Curry win the Shooting Stars Challenge.

While the bookmakers and the fans are distracted by All Star weekend it represents a great chance for us to look at how the outright markets are shaping up.

Miami are the two time defending champions and are 13/5 (888 SPORT/unibet) favourites for the title. The Heat are deserved favourites as they have the best player in the game though what they will likely not have is home advantage as both Oklahoma and Indiana are expected to finish with better season records. It is also a worry that LeBron could be running on empty after two straight title runs and having to carry the team through a regular season while Dwayne Wade has been rested for large parts.

Indiana are the 11/4 (GENERAL) second favourites and if you did not follow our advice and back them at double figures then I would still suggest you side with them now. The Pacers took the Heat to seven games last season and have only improved since then. The addition of Andrew Bynum will cause Miami further height issues and as much as we would all love a LeBron v KD match up in the finals the Pacers might just plain the role of spoilers. They can also be backed and should also be backed at 11/10 (GENERAL) to win the East.

Another team that have to be backed are Oklahoma who are 4/1 (GENERAL) for the title. In Durant the Thunder have the likely winner of the MVP this season as he has been unstoppable. Throw in the likely return of the injured Westbrook and Ibaka and the emergence of Jeremy Lamb and this is a side who are primed to go deep in the play-offs. The West has a number of teams who blow hot and cold so you would think the Thunder wil have enough to emerge out of this conference.

The Spurs, Clippers, Rockets and Blazers are all capable of a run to the Western Conference finals though also all of them could potentially be knocked out in the opening round. None of them have the consistency of Oklahoma and as such I can not be siding with them currently. One final bet to recommend is the 11/5 (bet365/ladbrokes/BWIN) on Houston to win the Southwest division. The Rockets are just two behind San Antonio and have won seven games in a row. Howard, Harden and Parsons are finding their rhythm and with the Spurs always looking to rest bodies near the end of the season then they might slip up here.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Oklahoma Thunder to win the NBA title, 4/1 (GENERAL)
SILVER: Indiana Pacers to win the NBA title, 11/4 (GENERAL)
BRONZE: Indiana Pacers to win the Eastern Conference, 11/10 (GENERAL) VALUE: Houston Rockets to win the Southwest, 11/5 (bet365/ladbrokes/BWIN)

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15/02/2014     © Frixo 2026