Post-Game 2 NBA Finals MVP Odds: Draymond’s Odds Improve Significantly, Siakam Fades Off, Cousins Given 33-1 Odds

• Steph Curry and Kawhi Leonard have maintained their top two places on the MVP oddsboard
• Pascal Siakam and Kevin Durant are fading, while DeMarcus Cousins now have NBA Finals MVP odds
• What’s the best bet to make right now?

The NBA Finals have been a roller coaster of emotions – and it’s only been a couple of games.

And the updated NBA Finals MVP odds mirror the actual game experience on the court: that is, the two main superstars still shining, with a whole lot of movers and shakers swinging the pendulum with their consistent/inconsistent showings.

2019 NBA Finals MVP Odds

*Odds taken 05/03/19

We’re down to a best-of-five in what is turning into a slugfest of a Finals, and while there have been scintillating efforts, it’s fair to say that no one player has risen above the rest.

Curry and Kawhi Continue to Lead

Somehow, a guy who was battling a mysterious illness, didn’t score a point in the final half of the deciding quarter, and nearly submitted one of the potentially great Finals turnovers of all-time with less than 10 seconds to play, moved back to the odds-on-favorite.

Kawhi Leonard was THIS close to taking that ball away, but Shaun Livingston simply coming towards the ball changed that play entirely. What a sequence. #Warriors #Raptors pic.twitter.com/DCzRAXGJwT

— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) June 3, 2019

Steph Curry didn’t look great for long stretches of play, but the Warriors star was able to come alive when the team needed him most, nailing big shot after big shot in the second quarter to keep the Dubs within range, when it looked like the Raptors were about to blow the lid off the series. He finished with 23 points, but was happy to play decoy as the Raptors went high school and brought out the box-and-1 defense on him.

If anybody ever tries to tell you that Steph Curry is overrated and/or not one of the best ever, just watch this clip… (Kawhi and Gasol trap him 45 feet from the basket because, well, Curry is terrifying) pic.twitter.com/CPdUyskw1O

— Drew Shiller (@DrewShiller) June 3, 2019

Also: hands up if you were surprised when the broadcast announced that Kawhi Leonard had 31 points (finishing with a game-high 34). I know I’m not the only one. Leonard was hounded all night, and his usual closing scoring spree wasn’t there at the end of Game 2.

These two have mirrored each other so far – leading scorers in their team’s losses, riding shotgun in team-effort wins.

Draymond Impactful, Siakam Crashes

You could make the case that Draymond Green (+450) is currently the MVP of this series. He’s initiating the offense, holding his own on the glass, and taking on the assignment of guarding Toronto’s best players, or playing free safety on non-shooters and dramatically altering the Raptors’ offense.

? @Money23Green (17 PTS, 10 REB, 9 AST) does it all as the @warriors (1-1) win Game 2 of the #NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV! #StrengthInNumbers

Game 3: Wednesday (6/5), 9:00pm/et, ABC & Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/CliG4TDTGA

— NBA (@NBA) June 3, 2019

His Game 2 line of 17 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists was the most complete of the night, and vaulted him to top 3 on the board. But he’s also just scored 27 points all series, and is averaging 5.5 turnovers a game, throwing some of the worst passes in the series.

Time for a #NBAFinals Game Two #WeTheNorth – #DubNation, It really feels it is so important early on for Siakam to make his first few shots, this is a clean look from three and it is rare when two Warriors rotate to the same guy leaving him open, got to make them pay. pic.twitter.com/PJj9arxnk1

— Mo Dakhil (@MoDakhil_NBA) June 3, 2019

Meanwhile, that thud you heard was Pascal Siakam crashing back down to earth after a scintillating Game 1, where he went 14-for-17 for a team-high 32. With attention now focused on limiting his impact (and also cutting off his right-hand dominant drives), he finished with 12 points, eight rebounds, and five dimes on 5-for-18 from the field and no threes on three attempts.

What’s the Best Bet to Make?

At this point, the only Raptor that’s in position to win this is Leonard (+300), and it’s because he’s going to have to put together at least two more game-wrecking performances to help his team win the title. It’s still a good bet.

Andre Iguodala owns the best plus-minus in the NBA Finals over the last 5 years (+164).

Not Steph Curry.

Not Klay Thompson.

Not Draymond Green.

— Paul Hembekides (@PaulHembo) June 3, 2019

As for the Warriors, Klay Thompson’s injury fades him, and Andre Iguodala’s calf injury makes him a spot-duty super sub. DeMarcus Cousins made quite an impact in Game 2, but he’s operating at less than 100%, and who knows if he can come up with 27 useful minutes a game, let alone the 11-point, 10-rebound, 6-assist gem he mustered on mediocre conditioning.

Kevin Durant rolling into Oracle Arena for game 3. pic.twitter.com/9B7MeoHwTk

— Trash Talk NFL (@TrashTalkNFL) June 3, 2019

Curry is still the favorite for me, but if you’re looking for best value, Kevin Durant is reported to be returning in Game 4. But, should he accelerate his rehab and find his way into the lineup on Wednesday, you’ve got the most devastating scorer in basketball (pre-injury, anyways) at a juicy +1600, with potentially five games to put his stamp on the series.

Pick: Curry (-150)