The 2021 NBA Finals are finally upon us and this is the time that everyone likes to predict who they think will take home the 2021 NBA Finals MVP. This series should be interesting as it can really go either way with two inexperienced and talented clubs in the Bucks and Suns. Jae Crowder of the Suns is the only player in this series with any Finals experience.
In this post, not only will we be using 2021 NBA Finals MVP odds to make a pick — by highlighting 2021 NBA Finals MVP favorite — we'll use data to help us get there.
The fact that these teams are young, inexperienced, and hungry makes this a hard year to predict the Finals MVP when this series is all said and done. There are certainly names that stand out like Devin Booker, Chris Paul, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Although they may be the easy picks, we will dive deep to find value and strategies to conquer this exciting Finals prop.
2021 NBA Finals MVP favorite
The MVP favorite heading into the NBA Finals is Suns point guard Chris Paul (+125). It's interesting that Paul is the favorite as it's Devin Booker that has actually put up the best numbers throughout their postseason run. Paul is undoubtedly the leader of this club and if this weren't merely a statistical award, I'd give it to him before the series even started.
We have to break down the stats to take a deeper dive into Paul's chances, though. The Suns point guard is averaging 18.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 8.7 assists through his first 14 postseason games in 2021. He has been extremely efficient, shooting 47% from the field and 40.5% from three. His 41-point performance in the clincher against the Clippers showed us that Paul still has a ton in the tank and if he carries that level of production over into the Finals, you might as well hand him the trophy now.
2021 NBA Finals MVP odds
Chris Paul (+125)
Devin Booker (+225)
Giannis Antetokounmpo (+450)
Khris Middleton (+500)
Jrue Holiday (+1000)
Deandre Ayton (+2000)
Brook Lopez (+6600)
Milwaukee Bucks
Of course everyone will look at this club and immediately point to Giannis Antetokounmpo (+450) as the most likely to win the MVP award. The two-time league MVP will be the best player in this series when he returns to the court. His hyperextended knee may make it difficult for the Bucks forward to win this award, though. The Greek Freak is doubtful for Game 1 and may possibly miss multiple games during the Finals. Long stories short, don't get your hopes up on this guys chances.
I'm looking at Khris Middleton (+500) as the most likely player to win the award for the Bucks. Middleton has been wildly inconsistent during the postseason, but he is the guy that has stepped up and carried this team on the biggest stage. The Bucks forward is averaging 23.4 points, eight boards, and 5.1 assists through his first 17 games of the 2021 postseason. His efficiency hasn't been phenomenal, but I expect him to be the main reason that the Bucks will make this a series with a chance to win.
Phoenix Suns
Chris Paul (+125) is well-deserving of the best odds heading into this series and I'm glad that he is getting the respect that he deserves. I can't say that I fully agree with the decision to give him better odds than Devin Booker, though. Booker is having an incredible postseason and has been instrumental in leading this team to the Finals. The Suns superstar is averaging 27 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists through 16 postseason games. He has been dominant in closeout games and will be the most active Suns player on the offensive end of the floor during this series.
If you'd like to look at an outlier, Deandre Ayton (+2000) is certainly your guy. He may not be the sexiest pick, but he certainly has the ability to win this award. There is a ton of value associated with a guy that is averaging 16.2 points and 11.8 rebounds this postseason. Ayton is an electrifying player that should be looked at as a clear dark-horse candidate to win this award if the Suns win the Finals.
2021 NBA Finals MVP Prediction and Pick
Devin Booker is my favorite to win this award because of his talent, excitement, and elite playmaking ability. I expect him to steal the show time and time again and lead his team to an NBA title. Giannis doesn't pose a threat to me because of his health and inefficient shooting, especially from the charity stripe. I would love to see Chris Paul win this award but in the end, we have to think with our head, not our heart. I always believe in diversification, which is why I'm picking Booker to win, but also sprinkling a small wager on Deandre Ayton and Khris Middleton as well.
Final 2021 NBA Finals MVP Prediction And Pick: Devin Booker (+225)
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