NBA Finals Prop Odds - L.A. Lakers Vs. Orlando Magic

NBA Finals means NBA betting and we will get the chance to bet all kinds of proposition wagers on this year's high-profile NBA Finals series. That means lots of options for each game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic, for as long as it lasts. Today we examine some of those propositions that are available for Game 1.

Looking at some props for Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic, which you can find at BetUS by clicking the "Show All Props" link under the game odds:

TEAM LEADING AFTER THE 1ST QTR WINS GAME
Yes -200
No +160

I'd be willing to take a shot getting a price here. If there's one thing about these two teams, it's that they have demonstrated the capacity to get better as the game progresses. Just look at the way Orlando has come back from large deficits to win. With their ability to hit three-pointers they can get off fast, and the Lakers are a team that does not panic, because their coach does not panic.

JAY'S PLAY: NO (+160) *

TOTAL 3 PT SHOTS MADE IN THE GAME
Over 16 3 Pt Shots -125
Under 16 3 Pt Shots -105

The Laker offense is flexible; the way I figure it, they could go inside to Pau Gasol a lot, but they might be perfectly happy if they are able to rotate the ball around enough so that they get plenty of good shots from the perimeter, and they don't necessarily belong to Kobe Bryant. Orlando was able to let its three-point shooting carry it for some games in the playoffs; against the Cavs they hit 38 in the last three games, and that was against the team that went into the post-season as the league's best defensive team. Coming into the Finals, the Laker strategy on defense is to make it as difficult as possible for Dwight Howard to operate underneath, and to take their chances with Orlando's outside shooting. It could very well be that the Magic makes a lot of those shots, but whether they do or not, they are going to get their opportunities.

JAY'S PLAY: OVER 16 (-125) **

DWIGHT HOWARD TOTAL POINTS
Over 22½ Points -125
Under 22½ Points -105

See above, you know what I mean? I think Los Angeles wants to keep him from getting his hands on the ball as much as possible. Their train of thought is that the less he shoots, the better their chances will be. That may be true, but the evidence is not so overwhelming; Howard has shot the ball 12 times or less in nine games in the post-season, and Orlando is 6-3 in those games. Of course they have won the last four times when he has shot the ball 16 times or more. If the Magic is going to insist on feeding him the ball excessively down low, the Lakers probably aren't too averse to the idea of making him prove it at the line, where he was 60% in the regular season and less than 65% in the playoffs.

JAY'S PLAY: UNDER 22.5 (-105) **

KOBE BRYANT TOTAL POINTS
Over 32 Points -115
Under 32 Points -115

In his 18 playoff games thus far, Kobe Bryant is averaging just a shade less than 30 points a game. In seven of those games he has scored higher than 32 points; in eight games he's scored less than 32, and in the remaining three it's been exactly 32. So I guess the question becomes whether Kobe will do better than usual on the scoreboard or not. I think Phil Jackson has spent some time convincing him he can score less and still have a better game, by letting others participate. Pau Gasol is one of those others. He had just 24 points in two meetings with the Magic this season. Bryant took 57 shots in the two meetings, compared to just 22 for Gaso. I am fully expecting there to be less of a disparity there.

JAY'S PLAY: UNDER 32 (-115) **

Charles Jay makes his share of shots from the top of the key as a contributor to the BetUS Locker Room. Check out BetUS for live NBA odds all through the NBA Finals.