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With the NBA Finals set to tip off in Dallas on Thursday, online gaming giant BoDog is firing bettors up with its latest round of odds.
After beating the Phoenix Suns on Saturday to clinch the Western Conference title in six games, the Mavericks aim to capitalize on their home-court edge as they take on the Miami Heat.
Bodog bookmakers have opened the lines for Thursday's Game 1 with the Mavericks as 5-point favorites. Preseason lines for Dallas and Miami to wín it all were 20/1 and 3/1, respectively.
With NBA coach of the year Avery Johnson at the helm and with a roster loaded with offensive talent, Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks will look to outduel the Heat's dynamic duo of Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal.
Bettors who might be inclined to discount the Heat because of their 0-2 regular-season record against the Mavericks need to pay better attention to the way Shaq has been playing. O'Neal has avoided offensive fouls on his post moves and made smart and patient plays on the block. His performance in the postseason has only helped Wade, who is sure to be an important factor in the finals. Coming off a strong performance against the Detroit Pistons, Wade has seen his scoring average rise to 26.2 a game and shooting percentage increase to 50.9 percent.
"The Mavericks have the depth to play any style, and are certain to have good defensive matchups to counter the play of Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal," says Calvin Ayre, Founder and CEO of Bodog. "The Heat, however, have proven to be a different team during the playoffs, and have demonstrated their desire to wín the championship, so my guess is that this will be a long and exciting series. Bodog is happy to provide that little extra bit entertainment edge to a series that is shaping up to be one of the best yet."
Along with the standard straight wagers, bettors can put their predictions to the test with Bodog more unique proposition wagers.
Who will be named the series MVP?
Dirk Nowitzki is favored at 5/7 odds, while Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neil are at 2/1 and 3/1, respectively. Could NBA Finals history be made with the MVP honor being shared between two or more players? There is a good chance with odds sitting at 8/5.
Who will score more points in the series?
Dwyane Wade -115
Dirk Nowitzki -125
Among its many offerings, Bodog also includes a poker room, a racebook and a casíno. Bodog has an international record label (Bodog Music), an international television division that produces television content around the world, and a publishing division that produces both BodogNation (an online magazine) and Bodog Beat (a blog).