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Dirk Nowitzki Over/Under 26 Points – It’s no real surprise that the ball is running through the hands of Dirk when the Mavericks have possession. In the Western Conference Finals, he had three games with more than 26 points, one with less than that, and one with exactly 26 points. Nowitzki has really been incredibly dominating at times, especially down the stretch in close games. There is no way that Head Coach Rick Carlisle is going to take the ball out of his hands as long as the game stays competitive, and as long as you’re a believer that this one will be interesting down to the wire, there is no way that you can do anything but go with Nowitzki Over 26 Points -115 @ 5Dimes Sportsbook

Tyson Chandler Over/Under 16.5 Points + Rebounds – Chandler had a heck of a tough battle in the second round of the playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Even still, he had at least 13 rebounds in two of the five games, and he had no fewer than eight in the series. Offensively, thing were tough with Kendrick Perkins and Nazr Mohammed on his backside, and his point production was slashed. Sure, we know that Chandler isn’t one of the top options on the floor, but he does have a lot easier time going into the paint against Joel Anthony and some of the other Miami bigs than he did in the last series. He had at least 18 points and rebounds combined in three of the final four games against the Thunder, and there is no way that we can see him not going past this number. Our NBA prop picks on this one are calling for Chandler Over 16.5 Points + Rebounds -115 @ 5Dimes Sportsbook

Shawn Marion +7.5 Points vs. Chris Bosh – This is quite the interesting prop, because we know that Bosh has had a ton of consistent games over the course of these playoffs, whereas Marion has really been hit or miss. But let’s dig just a tad further. We have seen Marion get to at least seven points in the last six games in the postseason, and we know that he averaged over a dozen points per game in the regular season. Bosh has had at least 20 points in four out of five games, and at home in these playoffs, he has really been absolutely remarkable. The difference here though, is that he is going to have his hands full with the likes of Chandler and Nowitzki in the paint. We do tend to believe that Bosh will outscore Marion, but if the vet starts to catch fire from the outside, Bosh stands no chance on this NBA prop pick. Go with Marion +7.5 Points vs. Bosh -125 @ 5Dimes Sportsbook

The stars will certainly be shining in the NBA Finals this year, but only one can be named NBA Finals MVP when push comes to shove. Check out our NBA Finals picks for MVP for this year’s finals starting on Tuesday!

It should really come as no surprise that the favorite to beat the NBA Finals MVP odds is LeBron James (Current NBA Finals Odds: 1 to 1 at Bodog Sportsbook). This is definitely a series that is fit for a King, but it definitely isn’t the first time that he has had this opportunity. James knew that he was the favorite to win on the NBA Finals MVP lines a few seasons ago with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but his team was swept by the San Antonio Spurs. James hasn’t put up the same type of numbers that he did that year in these playoffs, but there is no doubt that he has been absolutely remarkable. James has averaged just under 44 minutes per game in the postseason, and he has averaged 26.0 points, 8.9 boards, and 5.5 assists per game. He’s got a great chance to win this honorable award, but obviously, he is going to need his first NBA Championship to be able to do that.

Of course, James also has to overcome a man that has already won this award once before. In fact, Dwyane Wade (NBA Finals MVP Lines: 7 to 2 at Bodog Sportsbook) is the only player on either side in this game that has ever won the NBA Finals MVP award in his career. He did so against these Mavs in a series in which he was absolutely remarkable in five years ago. Wade isn’t asked to do quite as much as he has over the past few years since Shaquille O’Neal has aged and left town, but he definitely has the best supporting cast that he has had at least since that point, if not ever before. The man they call “Flash” has averaged 23.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.

List Of Past NBA Finals MVPs (Since 2000)
2010 NBA Finals MVP: Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)
2009 NBA Finals MVP: Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)
2008 NBA Finals MVP: Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics)
2007 NBA Finals MVP: Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs)
2006 NBA Finals MVP: Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat)
2005 NBA Finals MVP: Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs)
2004 NBA Finals MVP: Chauncey Billups (Detroit Pistons)
2003 NBA Finals MVP: Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs)
2002 NBA Finals MVP: Shaquille O’Neal (Los Angeles Lakers)
2001 NBA Finals MVP: Shaquille O’Neal (Los Angeles Lakers)
2000 NBA Finals MVP: Shaquille O’Neal (Los Angeles Lakers)

Of course, if you’re looking at players on the Dallas Mavericks, the conversation has to start and essentially end with Dirk Nowitzki (Odds to Win NBA Finals MVP: 2 to 1 at Bodog Sportsbook). Nowitzki has really had the best season of his career both in the regular season and in the playoffs. Sure, we’ve seen Dirk put up better statistics than this in his life, but 28.4 points per game in a season in which he averaged 23.0 points per game. Nowitzki has really done a tremendous job in the postseason, taking games over single handedly at times against some of the best and brightest that this league has to offer.

The only other man that we can see getting the job done for the Mavs is Jason Terry (Current NBA Finals MVP Odds: 12 to 1 at Bodog Sportsbook), and even that would be a huge surprise if he were the one to end up winning the award. For a man to win this award off of the bench would be truly remarkable, but Terry plays the role of a starter even though he’s not on the court when the tipoff happens. Terry averaged the third most minutes in the playoffs for any Maverick at over 32 minutes per game, and he has the ability to catch fire in a ridiculous way from beyond the arc. “The Jet” shot 47.1 percent from the floor and 46.3 percent from downtown on the campaign, and he averaged 17.3 points per game. In the playoffs, this is the man that can really make a difference in a hurry for Dallas, and if it wins this series, there is no doubt that he is going to be the man that has to play above and beyond all expectations.

NBA Finals MVP Odds @ Bodog Sportsbook (as of 5/29/11):
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LeBron James 1.30 to 1
Dirk Nowitzki 1.60 to 1
Dwyane Wade 4.50 to 1
Chris Bosh 13 to 1
Jason Terry 17 to 1
Shawn Marion 28 to 1
Tyson Chandler 30 to 1

2011 NBA Finals MVP Odds @ Oddsmaker Sportsbook (as of 5/29/11):
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LeBron James 1.10 to 1
Dirk Nowitzki 1.30 to 1
Dwyane Wade 4 to 1
Field (Any Other Player) 8 to 1

When the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban okayed pulling the trigger on a trade that brought F Caron Butler, G DeShawn Stevenson, and C Brendan Haywood from the Washington Wizards, he engaged in a stare-down with the Los Angeles Lakers. Essentially, Cuban took 20 paces, cocked his cowboy hat, stroked his gun, looked straight in the eyes of Phil Jackson, and said, “Son, this here town ain’t big ‘nugh for the both of us.”

He might be right.

After posting a dud against Oklahoma City in the first game after the NBA’s trade deadline, the Mavericks have been on an absolute roll. Road games in Orlando and Atlanta? No problem. Hosting those dastardly Lakers? A breeze.

All things told, Dallas has run off six straight wins to move to 38-21, 4.5 games clear of the Spurs in the Southwest Division. The Mavs are currently stalking 39-19 Denver for the #2 seed in the Western Conference, and after that, their sights will be set on the defending champs from La La Land.

Historically, this Dallas team is one that puts together a fantastic roster chalk full of players like F Dirk Nowitzki and G Jason Kidd and then ultimately falls on its face at some point during the playoffs. Glitz and glamour is what the Mavs are normally after. However, this time, they’ve gone after grit, determination, and toughness, and that might be the key to the championship.

Yes, that glitz is still there. Nowitzki is still one of the most prolific scorers in the NBA. Look no further than his 37-point effort against the Hawks in Atlanta last night for proof of that. On this winning streak, the German national player is averaging 28.3 points per game, significantly higher than his 25.0 point average for the year.

Kidd is still one of the flashiest point guards in the NBA as well. He’s always been known as the king of the triple-double of this generation, and he had yet another one in Atlanta, scoring 19 points, dishing out 17 assists, and bringing down 16 rebounds. It was his 18th double-double of the year and his first triple-double.

G Jason Terry is as pure of a scorer as it gets. He’s averaging 16.9 points per game, and he’ll surely be a great candidate for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year honors.

When the Mavericks acquired F Shawn Marion in the offseason, it was the beginning of their transformation into a tough team. Marion is a former Defensive Player of the Year award winner, and he’s always doing the little things to keep his team going. His numbers aren’t fantastic (11.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game), but he’s the one that Dallas turns to get to step in front of that pass and start the fast break or go diving into the bench to try to save a loose ball.

Even though Dallas knew that it was probably heading towards another division championship and a high seed in the playoffs, Cuban and his front office knew that this team wasn’t tough enough to body with the likes of Kobe, Pau, and Bynum for the Lakers. Something had to be done.

Though everyone will look at the trade during the All-Star Break and call it the “Caron Butler deal,” truth be told, Butler for the departed Josh Howard would’ve been a comparable flip-flop.

The difference-maker has been Haywood. Talk about someone that has played like a man possessed! Since coming over from our nation’s capitol, the new center for the Mavs has recorded at least ten points and at least nine rebounds in all six of his games. He has averaged 11.8 points and 11.5 rebounds per game in that stretch as well, adding 19 blocked shots to boot.

Haywood’s defensive presence is starting to become contagious. Dallas has only allowed 92.3 points per game in its L/6 overall, and it is starting to play like a legitimate contender.

And if you don’t think that this winning streak can’t continue, just take a look at what’s on tap… New Orleans, Charlotte, Minnesota, Sacramento, Chicago, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Chicago, Boston, New Orleans, the Clippers, Portland, and Golden State… That’s the next 15 games for this team.

Look out, LA. If you’re not careful, the new sheriffs in town are going to overtake you, and the road to the NBA Championship will be going through Big D.