We are down to 4 teams in the NBA Playoffs, and for the first time since 2005, the top 2 seeds in each conference made the conference finals. The Spurs have held the highest odds of winning the title for most of the postseason, and after dismantling the Trail Blazers 4-1, not much has changed there. Here are the current odds of each team moving on and winning the title, as well as my picks for the Playoff MVP so far:
Odds of Making NBA Finals
1. Spurs - 77.6% (+10.2)
2. Heat - 74.5% (+4.3)
3. Pacers - 25.5% (+7.6)
4. Thunder - 22.4% (+4.9)
The Clippers had been a stronger team than Oklahoma City for the past couple months, so when the Thunder finished off LA it helped the Spurs odds, since they won't have to face their toughest possible opponent in this round. Miami never had a tough opponent to face, but the Wizards looked like a team that could challenge them until the Pacers regained consciousness.
Odds of Winning NBA Championship
1. Spurs - 70.1% (+13.0)
2. Thunder - 16.6% (+4.3)
3. Heat - 12.3% (-4.2)
4. Pacers - 1.0% (-0.3)
The West has never looked stronger, but you can't count out the Heat, whose rating may have been affected by the team coasting through the end of the season.
Picks
Spurs over Thunder in 5
Heat over Pacers in 5
Spurs over Heat in 4
MVP Rankings
1. (1) LeBron James - MIA - 30.0 P, 7.1 R, 4.7 A, 1.7 S, .564 FG, .366 3P, .806 FT
2. (6) Kevin Durant - OKC - 31.4 P, 9.5 R, 4.3 A, 1.4 B, .453 FG, .348 3P, .825 FT
3. (3) Russell Westbrook - OKC - 26.6 P, 8.0 R, 8.4 A, 1.7 S, .425 FG, .869 FT
4. (5) Paul George - IND - 21.9 P, 8.7 R, 3.8 A, 2.3 S, .431 FG, .418 3P, .833 FT
5. (NR) Tim Duncan - SAS - 15.8 P, 8.3 R, 1.8 A, 1.7 B, .530 FG, .732 FT
LeBron has never looked better than he has this postseason, pouring in points in bunches and shooting the lights out, by far leading the MVP contenders in field goal percentage. Miami has only lost once in the playoffs, which means the King has gotten a lot of extra rest, and with the experience of winning the last two, this award is his until he is knocked out.
After a disappointing start to the playoffs, Kevin Durant started playing like an MVP over the last 2 weeks, taking over as the playoff scoring leader and getting back his form at the free throw line, where he has made his last 23 in a row. He is averaging over 44 minutes a game this postseason, so he knows he's got to be out there to give the Thunder a chance.
Westbrook didn't play his best in the series clincher against the Clippers, making only 4 of 15 shots, but he racked up 12 assists, getting everybody else involved and helping the Thunder close out the series on the road, rather than risking a game 7 for the second straight series. Durant may be the league MVP, but Westbrook is just as important to OKC.
After splitting its two home games with Washington to open the series, many thought the Pacers had no shot to advance, with the Wizards playing two straight at home and looking strong, but Paul George didn't let that happen, averaging 31 points and 10 rebounds in two road wins that took the air out of Washington and allowed the Pacers to move on to face Miami in the conference Finals.
Tim Duncan has just been a solid presence all through this year's playoffs, but what do you expect from a 3-time Finals MVP? He's playing almost 5 minutes more per game than in the regular season, and he's increased his shooting percentage by 4 percent as well, and you know he would like to avenge his first Finals loss.
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