NBA finals futures and props for the 2010 NBA season come down to a single game on Thursday night as the Los Angeles Lakers host the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The Lakers are the favorites in basketball futures and props as they are laying seven points to Boston.
NBA futures and props favored the Lakers to win the NBA title before the season began and they still favor them now. The Lakers had to win Game 6 just to force a Game 7 but that was not an issue as they routed the Celtics on Tuesday night. Kobe Bryant had 26 points and he got a lot of help. The Lakers led by 22 points in the second quarter and the Celtics never threatened.
Basketball futures and props list the Lakers as 7-point favorites on Thursday with a total of 187. The Lakers won on Tuesday night thanks to a stifling defense that totally shut down the Celtics. Bryant had 26 points; Pau Gasol added 17 and Ron Artest showed up with 15 points. It was the defense though that won the game for Los Angeles.
Even though Los Angeles head coach Phil Jackson has won 10 NBA titles, he has never coached in a Game 7 of the finals. The Celtics and Lakers have met four times in a Game 7 in their previous eleven finals with Boston winning all four. That has not happened though since 1984.
In this series it has been rebounding and the play of the bench that has been important. The Lakers dominated the boards on Tuesday and their bench was far better than Boston’s. The Lakers had more intensity on Tuesday and it showed. With a Game 7 it should be that both teams play at a high level on Thursday night. The difference could be the home court advantage of the Lakers and the fact that they have the best player in the league in Kobe Bryant. The Celtics were the second-best road team in the league during the regular season so they do have a chance. Only two teams in NBA history have blown a 3-2 lead since the NBA went to the 2-3-2 format in the finals. Boston could become the third team on Thursday.
The Lakers are 10-1 in the playoffs at home and they are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games as a home favorite.