With the Conference Finals drawing ever nearer, odds makers have narrowed down their 2011 NBA Finals Picks. Prior to the start of the playoffs, the Heat and Lakers were the two favorites to reach the championship series with Miami being the overall favorite, at +275 odds, to capture the title. The Heat have lived up to expectations thus far and remain the chalk (+140) heading into tonight's Game 5 meeting with the Celtics. Dallas (+200) is the new top dog out West, though, after their impressive sweep of the defending champion Lakers.
Miami Heat (+140): Outside of the Dallas Mavericks, the Miami Heat have been the most impressive team in the NBA 
playoffs. LeBron James and Dwayne Wade have combined to form an unstoppable offensive dynamo, averaging 25.3 points per game apiece. Chris Bosh, the third and smaller leg (figuratively speaking) of the Heat's big trio, has also been a solid contributor, positing an average of 16.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game in Miami's nine playoff outings. While highlight reel dunks and fall away jumpers from James and Wade garner all the attention, the Heat's postseason success, at least thus far, has been direct result of its defensive efforts. Miami has limited its playoff competition to an average of 89 points per game on 42.8 percent field goal shooting.
Dallas Mavericks (+200): No team has looked stronger in the postseason than the Mavericks, which were listed at +1600 odds to win it all prior to the start of the playoffs. Dallas seemingly has it all, as it demonstrated in series wins over Portland and Los Angeles. The Mavs have always been known for their offense and, consequently, they've earned a reputation as a soft, one-dimensional squad incapable of making a true championship run. Dallas is proving that belief to be a false one, though. This Mavericks team not only knows how to put the ball in the basket (fourth in the playoffs in scoring at 96.9 ppg), it can play defense as well. The Blazers and Lakers combined to average a paltry 88.2 points per game in 10 postseason meetings with Dallas.
Chicago Bulls (+250): Chicago had some major steam entering the postseason, having secured the top spot in the East with a 13-1 run to close out its schedule. The Bulls, though, have been hit and miss during the playoffs, looking brilliant at times and sluggish at others. If Derrick Rose can hold up to the grind, which is a legitimate question considering the offensive load he carries and the number of dings he has taken in the postseason, Chicago can win it all. Rose gave Miami fits during the regular season, but he will need to be at full strength to get past the playoff version of the Heat.
Miami Heat +140
Dallas Mavericks +200
Chicago Bulls +250
Oklahoma City Thunder +500
Memphis Grizzlies +2500
Boston Celtics +4000
Atlanta Hawks +8000
