New Jersey’s bookmakers see the race to win the NBA’s 2018/2019 MVP as pretty much being down to three.
Even two-time winner Steven Curry of the high flying NBA favorites Golden City Warriors has been left way behind. He sits in a distant 4th at +3000 (30 to 1). In the eyes of the New Jersey bookies, that puts him out of the race.
However, James Hardin is no longer the lone favorite as the race hots up. The Houston Rockets shooting guard’s phenomenal scoring run has slowed and he’s been caught by Giannis Anetokounmpo.
Play SugarHouse had both Hardin and the giant Greek Milwaukee Bucks forward at -112 (9/10) on Tuesday. You’d have to put down more than you can win. Oklahoma City Thunder’s forward Paul George was in third place at +550 (11/2) and closing fast.
At this time Last week, the odds being quoted on George were around +1800 (18/1). That’s a strong reflection of the ground he has been making up. Even now his odds might still make him a shrewder bet than either of the favorites.
On both defense and attack, he is right up there with the best. His average of 28.7 points per game puts him second only to Hardin’s 36.3 and speaks volumes about his offense. Likewise, the fact that he’s the current favorite for ‘Best Defensive Player of the Year’ also says a lot.
George has the most momentum right now
Furthermore, he has more momentum right now than his more favored rivals. He’s scored 45 points or more in three of his last five games.
If the heavily-bearded Harden has been in the running for some time, it’s clearly because of one thing. This is his phenomenal run of high scores this year.
His charge of 32 games with 30 points or more was only ended on Monday when he totaled 28 against Atlanta. His average of 36.3 points per game would be the highest since Michael Jordan’s 37.1 in 1986/1987. Before that, it would also be highest since the 1960s when Wilt ‘the Stilt’ Chamberlain averaged 36.9.
If Anetokounmpo is not the league’s highest scorer or best defender, what then makes him the joint NBA MVP favorite?
You might say it’s because he has a more effective field goal percentage than both Harden and George. He has been shooting 58 percent from the field overall to Harden’s 44 percent and George’s 45 percent. The Bucks are currently registering the best point difference and net rating in the NBA and he’s had a lot to do with it
Anetokounmpo gets more done
The Bucks have been outscoring opponents by 9.3 points in the minutes he’s on the floor. He also has a higher net rating of any player averaging at least 12 minutes per game. He gets more done, relative to time and opportunity than anyone else in the league.
So there you have it – for the time being. Only three men are still standing for US pro Basketball’s MVP of the year, but what a close race it’s turned into. All have different strengths so it is going to leave New Jersey’s punters with a betting headache. Which one to bet on is going to be a real tough choice, especially if some serious money is involved.
Fun bets? Steven Curry might be a good one at +3000. He’s only an outside chance but he’s a class player who could easily come good with a late charge.
George’s odds to win best Defensive player is -250 (2/5). However, with Rudy Gobert of Utah Jazz on his tail at 3/1 this Award event gives NJ punters another tricky choice.
This is not the case in the Rookie of The Year category. With Luka Doncic (Mavericks) at -1000 (1/100) and closest adversary Deandre Ayton at 14/1, it’s a one-man race. To win anything you are probably going to have to spend $100 dollars to win one on Doncic.
Who is Doncic? He’s a 6ft 7in Slovenian who at 17 in 2016 helped Slovenia win its first EuroBasket title. For his efforts, he was selected for the All-Tournament Team. He then led Madrid to the 2018 EuroLeague title, winning the EuroLeague MVP award at 19.
He’s also won the EuroLeague Rising Star and ACB Best Young Player awards.
In 2018 he made himself available for the NBA draft and was signed by the Dallas Mavericks.
NBA 2018/2019 MVP
James Hardin (Houston Rockets) -112
Giannis Anetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) -112
Paul George (Oklahoma City Thunder) +550
Steven Curry (Golden City Warriors) +3000
NBA 2018/2019 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Paul George (Thunder) -250
Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz) +300
Joel Enbiid (Philadelphia 76ers) +900
Kawhi Leonard (Toronto Raptors) +1000
NBA 2018/2019 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks) -1000,
Deandre Ayton (Phoenix Suns) +1400,
Jaren Jackson Jnr (Michigan State) +2000,
Collin Sexton (Cleveland Cavaliers) +2000.