Betting Odds and Free Picks for NBA Player Props for Monday 5/4/2015

by Dave Schwab - 5/4/2015

Houston Rockets shooting guard James Harden

The NBA Playoffs have moved onto the conference semifinals, so every game from here on in can have an impact on which two teams ultimately make it all the way to the 2015 NBA Finals. This is also the time of the year when the top players in the NBA tend to play their best basketball under the pressure of these win-or-go-home, best-of-seven series. Betting the NBA odds that are released for some individual player props is a great way to add some solid value to the games.

The following are a few of my top player prop bet picks for Monday night's action based on betting odds from some of the top sportsbooks in the industry.

Monday NBA-Top Scorer

There are two games on Monday night's NBA slate starting with Game 1 of the Eastern Conference matchup between Chicago and Cleveland. The second game pits the Los Angeles Clippers on the road against Houston in Game 1 of that Western Conference Semifinal showdown.

With that kind of star power on the court in both of those games, I am going with Bovada's 9/4 odds that the Rockets' James Harden is the top scorer of the night. He is second only to Cleveland's LeBron James at 2/1 betting odds. The third-favorite is Kyrie Irving of Cleveland at 5/1 followed by the Clippers' Blake Griffin at 7/1.

The Rockets come into Game 1 of this series as six-point home favorites after eliminating the Dallas Mavericks in five games in the opening round. During that series, Harden averaged 28.4 points per game. This was slightly higher than his 27.4 point scoring average in the regular season that was ranked second to Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (28.1 PPG).

The only player with a higher scoring average left in the postseason is Golden State's Stephen Curry with 31.4 PPG, but he does not play again until Tuesday night. James is third on this list with 27 PPG, but with Irving also having a hot hand in the playoffs (23.2 PPG), these two may work to cancel each other out in Game 1 against the Bulls.

Derrick Rose Total Assists

A healthy Derrick Rose has Chicago in excellent position to give the Cavaliers a serious run for their money in this matchup. Both teams will be looking to get the early edge with a win on Monday night, which could set the stage for a big night from Rose not only from a scoring standpoint but also with his ability to pile up some assists.

In six previous playoff games against Milwaukee in the opening round, Rose averaged 6.5 assists a game. Sportsbook.ag's betting odds that he has more than 8.5 assists in Monday night's game are set at +360. Big-time players step up the under the brightest spotlights, and I think that Rose will be looking to make a statement on Monday night that he is going to be a major factor in this entire best-of-seven series.

LeBron James Total Rebounds

There is no bigger player in the NBA than James come playoff time, and after sweeping Boston in the opening round in four games he has to be chomping at the bit to get back on the court after an extended layoff. James led the Cavaliers in that series in points (27.0) rebounds (9.0) and assists (6.5). Sportsbook.ag's betting odds that he pulls down more than 10.5 rebounds in Monday night's contest have been set at +500.

Going with the same theory that the game's biggest stars tend to play their best this time of the year, I am looking for James to have a big night under the boards. Milwaukee showed its youth and inexperience in the tail end of its series against the Bulls, but it still had four different players average at least six rebounds a game. This should set the stage for James to grab at least 11 or 12 boards on Monday night.

Want free sports betting picks? Doc's Sports has you covered - get $60 worth of picks free from any of Doc's Sports expert handicappers. Click here for free picks (new clients only).

Pick:	KANSAS CITY CHIEFS -5.5
Start:	December 15, 2024 @ 1:00 PM
Expert:	Doc's Sports

Analysis:

Free Play from Doc’s Sports. Take #465 Kansas City Chiefs -5.5 over Cleveland Browns (1p.m., Sunday, December 15 CBS) The Chiefs keep winning games and sooner or later one of those wins will come by a comfortable margin. I look for that to be this Sunday against a Browns team that is just playing out the string. Cleveland currently sits at 3- 10 and will enter this game having lost 4 of their last 5 games. Their only win came against Pittsburgh in a snow game on a short week. All 4 of those losses by the Browns have come over the posted number for this game. Kansas City is better on both sides of the football, and I just do not see the Browns offense keeping pace. Do not miss out on Doc’s Sports Weekend card featuring top plays in basketball, football, and hockey. We will feature our World-Famous Nonconference Game of the Year in College Basketball on Saturday. This game has won 13 of the 15 years it has been in existence and it is a must have for any big game hunter. Read More Read Less

Most Recent NBA Handicapping