The 2020 NBA Finals, given a bizarre split-season and bubble play, rightly features a surprise showdown for the finale. LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers were expected to be here as the No. 1 team in the West, but they’ll face Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat, the No. 5 team in the East. No team seeded fifth has won the championship.

The Lakers made short work of the Trail Blazers, Rockets and Nuggets, dispatching each in five games. The Heat have been nearly as good, sweeping the Pacers, shocking the No. 1 Bucks in five games and taking care of the favored Celtics in six.

It is the ninth NBA Finals in the last 10 years that featured James, or the Heat — or both. For fans of NBA betting, it presents an intriguing matchup.

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Lakers vs Heat NBA Finals 2020 Odds

Top NBA Finals Props

MOST POINTS IN SERIES

• Anthony Davis, -125
• LeBron James, -106
• Jimmy Butler, +2500
• Bam Adebayo, +6600
• Goran Dragic, +8000
• Tyler Herro, +8000

TOTAL GAMES IN SERIES

• 4 games, +285
• 5 games, +230
• 6 games, +260
• 7 games, +290

NBA odds via PointsBet

NBA Finals 2020 Betting Tips & Pick

When it comes to been there, done that, no active player has been there more or done it more than James. He’s been to the Finals 10 times, one of just four players to accomplish that feat.

But of those 10 appearances, he has just three rings. There is a big difference this time, however. In eight of those 10 Finals, James led the underdog team to the brink. This time, he guides the big favorite.

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Anthony Davis, however, is the man Miami really needs to worry about. The Nuggets failed to corral him in the regular season, and the trend held true in the Western Conference Finals. Similarly, the Lakers bested the Heat twice in the regular season, and Davis was the reason why, averaging 29.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists.

Back then, however, the Heat didn’t have this version of Tyler Herro. Goran Dragic played in just one of those games (and had 19-6-6 in it). They also didn’t yet have trade-deadline additions Jae Crowder and Andre Iguodala.

But it’s hard to pick against James here. He’s the best player of this generation, has the best “sidekick” in the game in AD, and this is a legacy builder. The Heat are just beginning their ascension. The kingdom still belongs to James.

THE PICK: Lakers in 6 at PointsBet

NBA Finals MVP Odds & Pick

Odds current as of publication and via DraftKings

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Through the NBA Playoffs, Davis has been nearly even statistically with James, except for assists. He’s shooting better from the field, on 3s and free throws, too.

But in the NBA Finals, James is king, even when he loses. Two seasons ago with the Cavs against the powerhouse Warriors, James averaged 34 points, nine rebounds and nine assists per game. He’s won Finals MVP every year his team was crowned the champ. Looked for James to up his game, not be denied and another double coronation when the final horn sounds on this unique 2019-20 season.

Despite the minus odds, back James to win NBA Finals MVP at DraftKings. ➜

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Adam Thompson’s Previous 2020 NBA Playoff Picks

First-round picks: Bucks over Magic, Raptors over Nets, Celtics over 76ers; Heat over Pacers; Lakers over Blazers, Clippers over Mavericks, Nuggets over Jazz and Thunder over Rockets. Record: 7-1

Second-round picks: Bucks over Heat, Celtics over Raptors, Lakers over Rockets, Clippers over Nuggets. Record: 2-2

Conference final picks: Celtics over Heat and Lakers over Nuggets. Record: 1-1

Total record: 10-4