This year's NBA playoffs are rapidly headed to the best-of-seven championship series, which is slated to begin sometime next week. While we still do not know which two teams will meet in this year's NBA Finals, there are a few betting tips to keep in mind when the championship series does get underway.

Home-court advantage is big in any NBA matchup, but when you get down to the final two teams in a winner-take-all setting, it becomes huge. The biggest difference between the championship series and the rest of the NBA playoffs is a shift to a 2-3-2 format as opposed to the standard 2-2-1-1-1 format that is used for the preceding rounds. This change tends to favor the home team even more, with the final two games slated to be played on its home court. Looking back at last year's NBA Finals between Miami and San Antonio, the Spurs had the 3-2 edge after five games, but they lost the final two on the road in Miami.

If this year's NBA Finals does turn out to be a rematch between these two teams, the Spurs would have the home-court edge. History does tend to repeat itself, so given just how closely these two rivals played one another last season could provide some solid clues as to how this year's matchup might play out. Be sure to check last year's closing betting odds for the each of the games since both rosters remain basically the same. The Heat went 3-1 straight up at home in that series, but they were 2-2 against the spread. The Spurs were 2-1 both SU and ATS on their home court.

One solid wager could be on the prop bet odds for how long the best-of-seven NBA Finals will last. If it's a rematch between these two teams then you should probably go with the odds on seven games. This is a dream matchup for the league and the TV networks, and while I am not proposing any kind of conspiracy theory, I cannot help but get the feeling it would once again go the distance. If something crazy happens between now and then and somehow Indiana gets into the Finals, then all bets are off as nobody can figure that team out. If Oklahoma City throws a wrench into the works and gets past San Antonio in the Western Conference Finals, then go with Miami in five. This would be a repeat of the 2012 NBA Finals.

Betting Tips for the NHL Finals

While the majority of the betting public has focused a good deal of its attention on the NBA playoffs, don't forget that there are some great opportunities to wager on the Stanley Cup Finals in the NHL as well.

Right now it appears that the New York Rangers and the Los Angeles Kings are on a collision course to meet in this season's NHL Finals starting sometime next week as well. Montreal and Chicago remain alive in the two Conference Finals matchups, but they both sit on the brink of elimination as this is being written.

The dream matchup for a league that is playing in the shadow of the NBA would be the East Coast/ West Coast clash between the Rangers and the Kings. West Coast teams will typically play with a major chip on their shoulder in matchups such as this due to a perceived lack of respect from the media as a whole. They play late at night for East Coast markets, so even the NHL's overall fan base is skewed against them. This extra motivation could be just enough for Los Angeles to steal a game or two as a probable heavy road underdog on most sportsbook's moneyline odds.

The outcome of the NHL Finals oftentimes comes down to which team's goalie can stand on his head the best. If there is a clear advantage between one goalie over the other based on current form then bet the team with the better netminder right from the start until he proves you wrong. If both team's goalies come into the Stanley Cup Finals in top form, which could be the case between the Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist and the Kings' Jonathan Quick, then bet the "under" on the total line until the final score proves you wrong.

Doc's Sports is offering $60 worth of member's picks absolutely free - no obligation, no sales people - you don't even have to enter credit card information. You can use this $60 credit any way you please for any handicapper and any sport on Doc's Sports Advisory Board list of expert sports handicappers. Click here for more details and take advantage of this free $60 picks credit today .

Read more articles by Dave Schwab