NBA All-Star Props
The Super Bowl is over, NCAA basketball is really heating up and we’ve reached the mid-point of the NBA season…which means it’s All-Star weekend for on the pro circuit.
While the East and the West go at it on Sunday in the official NBA All-Star game, there is action and festivities all weekend.
In case you’re keeping track, the East has the edge straight up in terms of All-Star game records going 35-22
Other attractions during All-Star weekend, which takes place in Phoenix, Arizona this year, include the skills showcase.
One of the biggest draws remains the Slam Dunk Competition.
Who can forget Vince Carter’s reverse, windmill slam back in 2000 in Oakland or Steve Nash’s soccer header to Amare Stoudemire in 2005?
This year’s contest will see Orlando’s Dwight Howard defending his 2008 title. Last year, one of Howard’s notable dunks saw the center don a Superman shirt and cape and leap from the free throw line; he is listed as the odds-on to win again as SPORTSBETTING.com has Howard at -150.
The betting options are rounded out by diminutive New York Knicks PG Nate Robinson (+350), who took the Slam Dunk Competition back in 2006; Denver’s JR Smith (+350), who is replacing injured Memphis Grizzlie Rudy Gay, and Portland Trail Blazer Rudy Fernandez (+500).
Another big draw is the Three-Point Shootout.
SPORTSBETTING.com also offers up odds for this one. Among the players taking part in the contest;
-Miami Heat two-guard Daequan Cook (+550) who is shooting 40.5% from three point range,
-Indy Pacers small forward Danny Granger (+350) who is “batting” .398 from beyond the arc,
-odds-on fave and Toronto Raptors SG Jason Kapono (+200) who is making 42.2% of his rainmakers,
-Atlanta Hawks point guard Mike Bibby (+350) who is making 41.3% of his three-point shots,
-Orlando Magic PF Rashard Lewis (+350) who three-point shooting percentage is 41.5% and
-San Antonio’s Roger Mason (+550) who has the best three-point shooting percentage of the lot making 44.9% of his three-pointers this season.
In terms of the actual All-Star game, SPORTSBETTING.com has propositions as well including one for which player will score the most points in Sunday’s game.
Howard is once again amongst the options and along with the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant and the Cavs’ LeBron James are the odds-on favorites, each at +400.
Howard is averaging 20.5 points per game, Bryant 27.7 points and James is averaging the most ppg in the entire association with 28.5 ppg.
If you navigate over to the NBA regular season MVP futures bet, you’ll see that both Kobe and LeBron are prohibitive faves at +100 and -300 respectively; the two are also heavy favorites for the All-Star game MVP award as well.
Kobe is listed at +400 to be the most valuable player of the All-Star game while LeBron James is the odds-on at +300.
It’s the All-Star break in the NBA and it’s a chance for players to forget about the regular season for a few days and have some fun.
Fans and bettors will have fun seeing the normally high-scoring All-Star game and the skills competitions.
Enjoy the All-Star weekend.
