NBA Playoff Odds & Props -- Nuggets Must Stop Chris Paul to Stay Afloat vs. Suns

  • In Charles Jay
  • Sun, Jun 13th, 2021 6:30:53 pm
  • By Charles Jay - Exclusive to OSGA


The Denver Nuggets will try to stay alive in the NBA Western Conference playoffs as they take on the Phoenix Suns at the Ball Arena.


Even though the Denver Nuggets have the NBA's Most Valuable Player, the Phoenix Suns have been way too much for them, chalking up three double-digit victories in the NBA's Western Conference semi-finals behind an earth-shattering performance from future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul. So the Suns can close out a clean sweep on Sunday night (8:35 PM ET at Denver's Ball Arena).

What's so great about BetOnline is that they give you the chance to play so many props on these games that it is simply astounding.

Let's take a look at one of those props, which utilizes the total of points, rebounds and assists accumulated by Paul:

CHRIS PAUL - POINTS+REBOUNDS+ASSISTS

Over 31.5 (-130)
Under 31.5 (+100)

When the Suns acquired Chris Paul, it was with the expectation that he could be a missing ingredient to drive this team over the top. Well, that mission was accomplished, regardless of how this team was able to perform in the playoffs. When you go from being a non-playoff team to one that posted the second-best record in the league, you have accomplished that purpose.

Paul did not make a lot of noise on the scoring sheet in the series against the Lakers. But he's taken matters into his own hands to a much greater degree against Denver. And the truth of the matter is that the Nuggets just can't guard him. In three games, he's averaged 21.7 points, he's shot 57.5% from the field, hitting six of his eight triples, and he's a perfect 13-for-13 from the free throw line.

Not for nothing, but he's also pulled down 15 defensive rebounds. And his ratio of 34 assists to three turnovers has been nothing short of astounding. That has a lot to do with the Suns shooting 51.5% overall. So we're going OVER with that one.

In the NBA playoff odds posted by BetOnline on this game, the Suns are favored on the road:

Phoenix Suns -3.5 (-115)
Denver Nuggets +3.5 (-105)

Over 222 points -110
Under 222 points -110

In this series, the Suns have registered an Offensive Rating of 125.7. That not only would have led the NBA if projected over a full season, it would have set a new league record. The same five players have started all three games for them. All of them have shot better than 50% form the field:

Devin Booker 51%
Chris Paul 57.5%
Mikal Bridges 53.1%
DeAndre Ayton 61.3%
Jae Crowder 51.9%

On the surface, some of the metrics on the part of the Suns may give rise to some Denver hope. Ayton, for example, has only gotten tot the line eight times, and hasn't blocked a shot.

But Nikola Jokic, the Most Valuable Player, has seen a drop in most of his numbers. Jokic, who averaged 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists during the regular season, shooting 56.6% from the floor and a nifty 38.8% from three-point range, has hit only 46.4% of his attempts (28.6% triples), with just 6.3 assists.

And his Effective Field Goal Percentage, which was 60.3% this season, is just 49.3% in this series as we speak.

Worse yet, he hasn't gotten the kind of offensive help he may have hoped for from his teammates. For example, Michael Porter has been a 36% shooter (14 of 39) in the series. Obviously, not having the injured Jamal Murray (21.2 ppg this season) has been a big blow. Facundo Campazzo, who's been a starter in all three games, and came into the league with a reputation of being a marvelous playmaker, has eight assists and five turnovers. And he is not the kind of defender who's going to rattle Paul.

Truth be told, on this Denver team there really isn't much in the way of "stoppers" on the defensive end. Paul Millsap is probably the guy who comes closest. Hey, remember Bol Bol, who turned so many heads in a couple of "scrimmage" games when everybody went into the bubble last year? He has played all of four minutes in this series.

We'll lay the points with the Suns, but we will also go over 112.5 on the Team Total with Phoenix at BetOnline ,where they give you a chance to get very much into the game, with a virtual plethora of props that cover almost everything!..... And remember that once the game tips off, you can keep things going with the "Live Betting" option. And with Odds Boosters, explosive payouts on pre-selected parlays await you........ Cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, are welcome for deposits!


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