The NBA Finals odds are officially underway and the NBA betting odds makers seemed to be right on the mark when they picked the LA Lakers to win Game 1 at home. However, they were bit off the basketball betting line spread. At 5 ½ points the NBA betting odds point spread was a bit off as the Lakers not only covered but did so by a mile in the double-digit 102-89 victory.
But one hardly makes an NBA Finals betting series and just as easily as the Lakers won Game 1, one small let down in play and the NBA betting series could even at 1-1.
Thursday night’s game was a masterful performance by LA which seems to be getting every series in the NBA playoff betting action. There were some questions early on in the NBA postseason betting when the team was testes against the #8 seed Oklahoma Thunder but those lingering doubts have dissipated over the past few NBA betting odds series as the Lakers have come together and played as well as any team in the NBA odds action.
One again Kobe Bryant led the charge for the Lakers in Game 1 finishing with 30 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists in one of the best games of his career in the NBA Finals betting action. He let the action come to him, rarely forced anything, played his usual stellar defense and most importantly got his teammates involved in the basketball betting action.
Bryant was helped out in the Lakers NBA betting odds victory by the best center in the game, Pao Gasol, who finished with 23 points and 14 rebounds in what we dare say was a dominant performance. Ron Artest also did his part dropping in 15 points on 5-10 shooting and basically making life miserable for Paul Pierce.
But all credit is due to Peirce who, despite being guarded by the best perimeter defender in the NBA betting action, finished with 24 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. He was really the only player that showed up for Celtics. KG added 16 points but grabbed only 4 rebounds in 34 minutes of action.
Some of the Celtics futility can be blamed on a poor shooting night, but credit is due to the Lakers defense which was stifling.
Three more performances like that and the Lakers will grab their 2nd NBA betting odds title in a row.
