The All Star break is nearly upon us, and the action on the hardwood couldn’t be any hotter. Here at Bankroll Sports, we are taking a close look at the NBA Finals odds once again and making some of the top NBA picks for the 2012 NBA Championship.

Now that they are starting to open up some breathing room in the Southeast Division, we have no choice but to like what the Miami Heat (Current 2012 NBA Finals Odds: 1.70 to 1 at SportBet Sportsbook) are offering. The Atlanta Hawks are playing without Al Horford, and it still seems like a matter of time until the Orlando Magic trade Dwight Howard, which will really leave the Heat with all of the stars in this division. They have survived Dwyane Wade’s injuries, and LeBron James is playing arguably the best basketball of his career. Sure, many are going to point out just how bad the Heat looked at times against the lowly Milwaukee Bucks, a team that should have no business hanging around with them, but the boys from South Beach are still just toying around with the rest of the league at this point, and there clearly isn’t a team out there that is going to slow them down until perhaps the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Heat weren’t the first team in the league to reach 20 wins, though. The Chicago Bulls did it in the East, while the Oklahoma City Thunder (Odds To Win the NBA Finals: 5.00 to 1 at SportBet Sportsbook) were the first in the West to reach that coveted mark. The rest of the Western Conference is starting to fall apart just a bit, especially with the Los Angeles Clippers losing Chauncey Billups for the season with an Achilles injury. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant both feel like they could go off for 30+ points every single night, and the rest of the team surrounding them is tremendous as well. Kendrick Perkins is really teaching this team how to be tough and win as a unit on both sides of the court, and that is going to bode well in the postseason. Oklahoma City has spent the last two years learning how to be one of the best teams in the league. Now, it is the top dog and should be considered one of the biggest threats in the league to win the whole enchilada this year.

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Aside from these first two teams that we mentioned though, we really don’t see any of the favorites that are worth backing. That being said, we are going to go a bit off the board right now and take teams that might surprise you. We think that the Portland Trail Blazers (2012 NBA Championship Odds: 33 to 1 at SportBet Sportsbook) have a tremendous unit. Sure, they are playing in a stacked division that includes Oklahoma City, but in a short playoff series, they have the outstanding edge of one of the best home court advantages in the game. Portland’s Rose Garden is one of the toughest venues to go into. LaMarcus Aldridge is rounding into one of the best players in the game, and being able to slot in Jamal Crawford in place of the retired Brandon Roy has been a great addition as well. The Blazers have the pieces to make a big splash if they want to before the trade deadline, but the pieces that are here at rock solid. Portland has to learn to win on the road just a bit more though, but if that happens, watch out. We might have a great price here at 33 to 1 on the Blazers.

We are still a bit puzzled as to why the Indiana Pacers (2012 NBA Finals Odds: 50 to 1 at SportBet Sportsbook) are getting such little respect. Indiana has done a great job this year racking up 17 wins, including one against the Bulls, who are supposed to be the cream of the crop in the Central Division. The Pacers have nothing to worry about in terms of the playoffs, as the East has just so much garbage in it that getting into the second season is a formality. David West’s numbers might make him look like he is slacking this year, but he is bringing a lot to this very talented team, one that has a lot more on it than his former New Orleans Hornets seemingly have had in years. Indiana has been dominating at home as well, save for two losses to Orlando. This might finally be the year that the rest of the NBA wakes up and realizes just how great of a player Danny Granger really is.

List Of Past NBA Finals Champions
2011 NBA Champions: Dallas Mavericks
2010 NBA Champions: Los Angeles Lakers
2009 NBA Champions: Los Angeles Lakers
2008 NBA Champions: Boston Celtics
2007 NBA Champions: San Antonio Spurs
2006 NBA Champions: Miami Heat
2005 NBA Champions: San Antonio Spurs
2004 NBA Champions: Detroit Pistons
2003 NBA Champions: San Antonio Spurs
2002 NBA Champions: Los Angeles Lakers
2001 NBA Champions: Los Angeles Lakers
2000 NBA Champions: Los Angeles Lakers

The lack of respect for the Houston Rockets (Odds To Win The 2012 NBA Finals: 100 to 1 at SportBet Sportsbook) just doesn’t seem right. Remember that it wasn’t all that long ago that many thought that the trade bringing Kevin Martin to the Lone Star State was the one that would put this team over the top. Now, the pieces to the puzzle are clearly in place as they should be, and Martin, Luis Scola, and Kyle Lowry are doing a great job in a very quiet manner. The Southwest Division could be had this year, as we know that the Dallas Mavericks aren’t as good as they have been in years past, and the San Antonio Spurs still seem like they are playing over their head to us. The Rockets are likely a playoff team this year, and if that turns out to be the case, getting 100 to 1 odds on them to win the NBA Championship is borderline insane.

Up To Date 2012 NBA Finals Odds @ SportBet Sportsbook (as of 2/9/12):
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Miami Heat 1.70 to 1
Oklahoma City Thunder 5 to 1
Chicago Bulls 5.50 to 1
Los Angeles Lakers 10 to 1
Los Angeles Clippers 14 to 1
Dallas Mavericks 16 to 1
San Antonio Spurs 29 to 1
Boston Celtics 33 to 1
Portland Trail Blazers 33 to 1
Denver Nuggets 40 to 1
Orlando Magic 40 to 1
Atlanta Hawks 50 to 1
Indiana Pacers 50 to 1
Memphis Grizzlies 50 to 1
New York Knicks 50 to 1
Houston Rockets 100 to 1
Utah Jazz 125 to 1
Milwaukee Bucks 250 to 1
Minnesota Timberwolves 250 to 1
Phoenix Suns 250 to 1
Golden State Warriors 300 to 1
New Jersey Nets 350 to 1
Cleveland Cavaliers 450 to 1
Sacramento Kings 500 to 1
Detroit Pistons 1,000 to 1
Toronto Raptors 1,000 to 1
Washington Wizards 1,500 to 1
Charlotte Bobcats 2,500 to 1
New Orleans Hornets 2,500 to 1

2011-12 Odds To Win The NBA Finals @ BetRevolution Sportsbook (as of 2/9/12):
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Miami Heat 1.30 to 1
Chicago Bulls 4.25 to 1
Oklahoma City Thunder 4 to 1
Dallas Mavericks 16 to 1
Los Angeles Lakers 8 to 1
Portland Trail Blazers 30 to 1
New York Knicks 65 to 1
Orlando Magic 35 to 1
San Antonio Spurs 20 to 1
Atlanta Hawks 25 to 1
Memphis Grizzlies 55 to 1
Boston Celtics 25 to 1
Phoenix Suns 175 to 1
Houston Rockets 65 to 1
Los Angeles Clippers 14 to 1
Denver Nuggets 40 to 1
Golden State Warriors 200 to 1
Utah Jazz 85 to 1
Indiana Pacers 25 to 1
Charlotte Bobcats 300 to 1
Philadelphia 76ers 20 to 1
New Orleans Hornets 300 to 1
Milwaukee Bucks 150 to 1
New Jersey Nets 220 to 1
Detroit Pistons 300 to 1
Washington Wizards 300 to 1
Sacramento Kings 150 to 1
Toronto Raptors 300 to 1
Minnesota Timberwolves 175 to 1
Cleveland Cavaliers 300 to 1

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Dirk Nowitzki Over/Under 26 Points – It’s no real surprise that the ball is running through the hands of Dirk when the Mavericks have possession. In the Western Conference Finals, he had three games with more than 26 points, one with less than that, and one with exactly 26 points. Nowitzki has really been incredibly dominating at times, especially down the stretch in close games. There is no way that Head Coach Rick Carlisle is going to take the ball out of his hands as long as the game stays competitive, and as long as you’re a believer that this one will be interesting down to the wire, there is no way that you can do anything but go with Nowitzki Over 26 Points -115 @ 5Dimes Sportsbook

Tyson Chandler Over/Under 16.5 Points + Rebounds – Chandler had a heck of a tough battle in the second round of the playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Even still, he had at least 13 rebounds in two of the five games, and he had no fewer than eight in the series. Offensively, thing were tough with Kendrick Perkins and Nazr Mohammed on his backside, and his point production was slashed. Sure, we know that Chandler isn’t one of the top options on the floor, but he does have a lot easier time going into the paint against Joel Anthony and some of the other Miami bigs than he did in the last series. He had at least 18 points and rebounds combined in three of the final four games against the Thunder, and there is no way that we can see him not going past this number. Our NBA prop picks on this one are calling for Chandler Over 16.5 Points + Rebounds -115 @ 5Dimes Sportsbook

Shawn Marion +7.5 Points vs. Chris Bosh – This is quite the interesting prop, because we know that Bosh has had a ton of consistent games over the course of these playoffs, whereas Marion has really been hit or miss. But let’s dig just a tad further. We have seen Marion get to at least seven points in the last six games in the postseason, and we know that he averaged over a dozen points per game in the regular season. Bosh has had at least 20 points in four out of five games, and at home in these playoffs, he has really been absolutely remarkable. The difference here though, is that he is going to have his hands full with the likes of Chandler and Nowitzki in the paint. We do tend to believe that Bosh will outscore Marion, but if the vet starts to catch fire from the outside, Bosh stands no chance on this NBA prop pick. Go with Marion +7.5 Points vs. Bosh -125 @ 5Dimes Sportsbook

The stars will certainly be shining in the NBA Finals this year, but only one can be named NBA Finals MVP when push comes to shove. Check out our NBA Finals picks for MVP for this year’s finals starting on Tuesday!

It should really come as no surprise that the favorite to beat the NBA Finals MVP odds is LeBron James (Current NBA Finals Odds: 1 to 1 at Bodog Sportsbook). This is definitely a series that is fit for a King, but it definitely isn’t the first time that he has had this opportunity. James knew that he was the favorite to win on the NBA Finals MVP lines a few seasons ago with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but his team was swept by the San Antonio Spurs. James hasn’t put up the same type of numbers that he did that year in these playoffs, but there is no doubt that he has been absolutely remarkable. James has averaged just under 44 minutes per game in the postseason, and he has averaged 26.0 points, 8.9 boards, and 5.5 assists per game. He’s got a great chance to win this honorable award, but obviously, he is going to need his first NBA Championship to be able to do that.

Of course, James also has to overcome a man that has already won this award once before. In fact, Dwyane Wade (NBA Finals MVP Lines: 7 to 2 at Bodog Sportsbook) is the only player on either side in this game that has ever won the NBA Finals MVP award in his career. He did so against these Mavs in a series in which he was absolutely remarkable in five years ago. Wade isn’t asked to do quite as much as he has over the past few years since Shaquille O’Neal has aged and left town, but he definitely has the best supporting cast that he has had at least since that point, if not ever before. The man they call “Flash” has averaged 23.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.

List Of Past NBA Finals MVPs (Since 2000)
2010 NBA Finals MVP: Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)
2009 NBA Finals MVP: Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)
2008 NBA Finals MVP: Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics)
2007 NBA Finals MVP: Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs)
2006 NBA Finals MVP: Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat)
2005 NBA Finals MVP: Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs)
2004 NBA Finals MVP: Chauncey Billups (Detroit Pistons)
2003 NBA Finals MVP: Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs)
2002 NBA Finals MVP: Shaquille O’Neal (Los Angeles Lakers)
2001 NBA Finals MVP: Shaquille O’Neal (Los Angeles Lakers)
2000 NBA Finals MVP: Shaquille O’Neal (Los Angeles Lakers)

Of course, if you’re looking at players on the Dallas Mavericks, the conversation has to start and essentially end with Dirk Nowitzki (Odds to Win NBA Finals MVP: 2 to 1 at Bodog Sportsbook). Nowitzki has really had the best season of his career both in the regular season and in the playoffs. Sure, we’ve seen Dirk put up better statistics than this in his life, but 28.4 points per game in a season in which he averaged 23.0 points per game. Nowitzki has really done a tremendous job in the postseason, taking games over single handedly at times against some of the best and brightest that this league has to offer.

The only other man that we can see getting the job done for the Mavs is Jason Terry (Current NBA Finals MVP Odds: 12 to 1 at Bodog Sportsbook), and even that would be a huge surprise if he were the one to end up winning the award. For a man to win this award off of the bench would be truly remarkable, but Terry plays the role of a starter even though he’s not on the court when the tipoff happens. Terry averaged the third most minutes in the playoffs for any Maverick at over 32 minutes per game, and he has the ability to catch fire in a ridiculous way from beyond the arc. “The Jet” shot 47.1 percent from the floor and 46.3 percent from downtown on the campaign, and he averaged 17.3 points per game. In the playoffs, this is the man that can really make a difference in a hurry for Dallas, and if it wins this series, there is no doubt that he is going to be the man that has to play above and beyond all expectations.

NBA Finals MVP Odds @ Bodog Sportsbook (as of 5/29/11):
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LeBron James 1.30 to 1
Dirk Nowitzki 1.60 to 1
Dwyane Wade 4.50 to 1
Chris Bosh 13 to 1
Jason Terry 17 to 1
Shawn Marion 28 to 1
Tyson Chandler 30 to 1

2011 NBA Finals MVP Odds @ Oddsmaker Sportsbook (as of 5/29/11):
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LeBron James 1.10 to 1
Dirk Nowitzki 1.30 to 1
Dwyane Wade 4 to 1
Field (Any Other Player) 8 to 1

So much for a quiet trade deadline! Many of the best expert NBA handicappers on the internet forecasted a very slow day of movement on Thursday, and up until early in the afternoon, that’s exactly what we thought we were getting. However, there was a flurry of action there in the dying moments before the 3:00 ET deadline, and there was even at least one deal that just didn’t get done before the deadline. Check out how we stack up the biggest player on deadline day!

Portland Trail Blazers: A+: Of all of the teams that made moves at the deadline, this was the one that really did the best job. The Blazers picked up Gerald Wallace, who has the ability to be an All-Star caliber player, and they gave up on Joel Pryzbilla and Dante Cunningham for it. It’s a great move to bring another great wing player in to help out Brandon Roy, and with Marcus Camby getting back into the fold shortly, it was only a matter of time until Portland had limited minutes for Pryzbilla.

Chicago Bulls: A: Sure, we know that the Bulls really should have made sure that they picked up a shooting guard to help out, but the price was just going to be too high to do anything. Instead of doing something, Chicago realized that it didn’t really have to do anything at all to succeed, as it already has one of the most dangerous teams in the entire NBA. A move didn’t have to be made, and nothing was done. This team should be in great shape with all of its bigs come playoff time.

New Orleans Hornets: A: Mark Cuban might not like the fact that the Hornets went out and traded for Carl Landry, but it was a great move for a team that really needed a shot in the arm. It was a subtle move for sure, but it will be one that New Orleans love for the rest of the season.

New Jersey Nets: A: Okay, so Mikhail Prokhorov didn’t get his main guy. He got a pretty darn nice second option. It really is still unknown whether Deron Williams is going to be a Net for the rest of his life. If he is, Prokhorov is finally going to be bringing a true superstar into Brooklyn with the team. If not, Jersey could always turn around and deal off Williams next season. The asking price was relatively small, as Devin Harris and Derrick Favors with a couple of draft picks was certainly worthwhile, and it might even give Jersey some hope for a playoff push this year with as bad as the rest of the bottom of the East is.

Denver Nuggets: B: This was just a bad, bad situation for Denver with Carmelo Anthony, but it made the best of it and ultimately got a nice crop of players, most of which were awfully young back for its two biggest stars. It would’ve been nice to see Raymond Felton get moved again, as it is clear that he has no desire to be a bench player, but all in all, it was a decent trade deadline for the Nuggs.

New York Knicks: B: Yeah, the Knicks got their man… It also cost a heck of a lot as well. This could be a move that ultimately works out in the long run, but this season, New York is probably in some trouble, as this team really only has two months to work out the kinks to get ready for the playoffs. Melo did score 27 and have 10 boards in his debut on Wednesday, but the pieces around him have to do a lot better than that for this team to get to the next level.

Oklahoma City Thunder: B-: Oklahoma City has taken a real chance here by bringing in Kendrick Perkins and Nazr Mohammed, especially giving up Jeff Green in these deals, but this was a real message being sent to the rest of the West that this is a team that is getting a lot tougher. The Thunder have some real bangers in the post now, and this is going to make for a very interesting situation come playoff time. It could be a move that puts OKC over the top, but Green was a very, very steep price to pay.

Atlanta Hawks: C: We admire the Hawks for at least going out and trying something, but is Kirk Hinrich really the answer? Mike Bibby has been declining for quite some time, and perhaps the time was here to move him, but for a team that really isn’t all that strong to start off with in terms of depth, trading three pieces for two pieces from an awful team doesn’t seem like a move that will the club over the top.

Boston Celtics: C-: The C’s are potentially in a lot of trouble. Five men were ultimately traded for basically Nenad Krstic and Jeff Green. Krstic might ultimately start with Shaquille O’Neal and Jermaine O’Neal are getting over injuries, but this was a definitely downgrade in the post. Sure, Green is a great guy to bring off the bench, but he isn’t going to have the same impact that Perkins did. The Celtics are definitely not as strong of a team defensively as they once were, and they might have spoiled a team chemistry that was absolutely remarkable to this point for the past several years.

Memphis Grizzlies: C-: We aren’t so sure how we would’ve felt about Josh McRoberts and a first round draft pick for OJ Mayo anyway, but how on earth can you not get the deal done at the trade deadline, Memphis? The only reason this isn’t an ‘F’ is basically because Shane Battier for Hasheem Thabeet was a great move, and it is one that could make this team a legitimate contender in the West. However, Mayo was already essentially out of favor in Memphis, and he needed to be traded. Now, he thought he was dealt, yet he is still stuck with the team. It’ll be interesting to see how this all pans out by the end of the season, seeing whether this proves to be nothing but a big time distraction.

Utah Jazz: D: The only reason that the Jazz don’t get an F is because this was a move that had to be made eventually one way or the other. The problem is that the fan base has basically been told that this season is a wash, as there just aren’t enough guards for this team to play with. It felt like Utah really needed to make another move, whether it be to send off Derrick Favors, Paul Millsap, or any of the other big guys on this team. The bottom line is that there are now about 100 big men and no stars in the backcourt for a team that desperately needs some help just to get into the second season out West.

Golden State Warriors: F: If the Warriors were sellers at the trade deadline, why didn’t they really trade any pieces to the puzzle like Monta Ellis? If they were buyers, how come they didn’t actually get anything productive done? Trading for Troy Murphy wasn’t great, especially knowing that he might just be bought out anyway, so this team, as always, is just kind of sitting in a state of flux, not knowing what in the heck is really going on.

Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers: F: C’mon guys, what the hell was this trade really all about? For Cleveland, sure you’re getting a first round draft pick that is going to be a lottery choice, but you’re taking in a guy that is a head case and a known cancer in the locker room when he is unhappy. You know that Davis isn’t going to want to visit the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame all that often, and once that luster wears off, he is sure to become disgruntled. If you’re the Clippers, why are you doing this to a player that you had a lot of faith in once upon a time, and giving up a first round pick to do it? Mo Williams contemplated retirement not that long ago, and he’s certainly not going to help. Goodness knows what this trade really accomplished for either team.

Orlando Magic: F: No team did worse by doing nothing this year than the Magic, who badly needed another move. This big maneuver that GM Otis Smith made to bring in Jason Richardson and Hedo Turkoglu was great, but the one with Gilbert Arenas clearly backfired. Dwight Howard is apparently a bit disgruntled with his position in Orlando, and knowing that he can opt out after next season, the moves really had to start to be made now, not just for this year, but for next season as well. There are too many guards and not enough big men, and if the opportunity was really on the table to pick up Zach Randolph from the Memphis Grizzlies, it was a move that needed to be done.

The NBA Trade Deadline is now here, as teams have less than 12 hours to make their final moves for the rest of the season. The action has been hot and heavy over the course of the last day and change, and here is a recap of what we have seen, plus what we might see in the closing hours today…

The biggest blockbuster deal that we have all been waiting for has finally gone done. The New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets have finally agreed on a deal that will send Carmelo Anthony to the Big Apple, his desired destination. New York is expected to give Anthony a three year, $65M extension that will keep him playing at MSG through 2015. The Knicks also received back Chauncey Billups, who will immediately start at the point guard spot, along with Shelden Williams, Renaldo Balkman, and Anthony Carter. In exchange, Denver will be getting Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton, Wilson Chandler, Timofey Mozgov, a first round draft choice, two second round draft choices, and $3M in cash. Melo scored 27 points and had 10 boards in his first game playing with the Knicks, who beat the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night.

The wheeling and dealing wasn’t done there, though. New York also sent off Eddy Curry’s expiring contract and Anthony Randolph for Corey Brewer. Brewer didn’t make it into the lineup on Wednesday.

For Denver, the trades are almost certainly not complete. Gallinari and Felton might never suit up for the Nuggs by the time this is said and done. Felton is now the second former North Carolina Tar Heels point guard on the team, joining Ty Lawson. Rumors also have it that Nene could be sent off in a deal before Thursday’s deadline as well, and he is now the leading point scorer still left on the team at 15.0 per game. Al Harrington, who was signed last summer to a huge free agent deal, now could also be traded. The Nuggets play their first game since the trade tonight against the Boston Celtics at home.

The New Jersey Nets were figured to be the biggest losers of the trading deadline, as they once again seemed to miss out on acquiring all of the superstars that were available, just like what happened in the offseason. However, we have learned to never count out Mikhail Prokhorov and company, as New Jersey got its man, and it arguably got a better deal than it would’ve gotten had it picked up ‘Melo. In a late breaking deal on Wednesday, the Nets acquired Deron Williams from the Utah Jazz. Jersey sent packing Devin Harris, Derrick Favors, and two draft choices to Utah.

Meanwhile, the Jazz are now absolutely ripe as could be, as they have a ton of pieces to the puzzle that could, but probably won’t be moved by the 3:00 ET deadline today. Favors is a man that a lot of teams are still asking about, especially on a team in which he may never crack the rotation. Remember that Utah still has Al Jefferson, Mehmet Okur, Andrei Kirilenko, and Paul Millsap, essentially all of which have the same type of skill set as Favors does. The Jazz still need a two guard and would be wise to try to send one of these bigs off to make that happen.

Williams won’t necessarily resign with the Nets, as he is reportedly unhappy with the trade. However, he still has a full season under his belt with his current contract and cannot get out until 2012. New Jersey could always turn around and trade him off next year if things don’t work out, but the hope is that Williams becomes the cornerstone to the franchise as it tries to turn around its misery.

We mentioned two days ago that the Atlanta Hawks were looking for a point guard, and they finally found their man, though it came at a hefty price tag. Atlanta traded Mike Bibby, Jordan Crawford, Maurice Evans, and a first round draft choice to the Washington Wizards for Hilton Armstrong and Kirk Hinrich. If you’re the Wiz, you have to love this deal, as it rids you of Hinrich, who is only standing in the way of the growth of John Wall, and it gives you yet another draft pick to try to build around. Atlanta gets its point guard, but it takes three key players out of its rotation to do so.

The Cleveland Cavaliers made a nice move in the middle of the night on Wednesday as well, picking up Baron Davis and a lottery draft pick this coming year to the Los Angeles Clippers for Mo Williams and Jamario Moon. Davis is clearly at the tail end of his career, and it is clear that the team just wanted to move him for the sake of moving him. It essentially cost a first round pick to do so, but this might not be the end of the world for an LA team that does have a ton of players under the age of 25 on its team. It might also be a nice switch for Williams, who has just seemed to be totally lost since losing LeBron James to the Miami Heat this past offseason.

Speaking of the Heat, they could be in on a minor move as well, though teams don’t seem to be all that interested in their most tradeable asset, Mike Miller. Still, keep an eye on this situation, as Miami is trying to bring in another veteran big to help out Chris Bosh on the inside.

Up the road, the Orlando Magic are surely looking to make a move, especially after losing to the Sacramento Kings last night. General Manager Otis Smith knows that he really needs to make a major move sooner than later, or he’ll probably end up losing Dwight Howard in two seasons to free agency, a la LeBron James, something that would seal his fate and cost him his job for sure. The problem is finding the pieces to the puzzle to deal since Orlando already made the big time trade with the Phoenix Suns earlier this season. Could Steve Nash be coming to Orlando? What about Zach Randolph? The Randolph deal makes some sense, though it would require reportedly sending back at least Brandon Bass and Jason Richardson to do so, a heavy price to pay.

Teams are also contacted the Memphis Grizzlies about the availability of Hasheem Thabeet, who has largely been a tremendous bust in his career after being a high draft choice two seasons ago.

The Portland Trail Blazers are still trying to make a move, but it’s a question as to what they’re looking for. There are plenty of bigs to trade on this team, and it seems like the only names that aren’t being bantered around just a bit are those of Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge. Aside from that though, it all seems to be fair game, and anyone coming to the table with the right asking price can seemingly get anyone else they want off of this team. One of those talks are with the Charlotte Bobcats, who have had inquiries about Gerald Wallace. That deal doesn’t seem to be in the makings though, as Wallace is still looked at as the cornerstone of Charlotte’s team.

We’ll keep you up to date here at Bankroll Sports with all of the ins and outs of the 2011 NBA Trade Deadline rumors!

NBA All Star Weekend is always one of the biggest spectacles for NBA betting fans to sink their teeth into, but this season, the NBA Dunk Contest is going to be the big time affair that we are looking forward to. No longer do we have big men like Dwight Howard or little guys like Nate Robinson to deal with, but we have an entirely new crop of competitors that are going to be slamming the ball in the most creative ways possible. Check out how we stack of the NBA Dunk Contest Odds this year.

Where else could we possibly start than with Los Angeles Clippers Blake Griffin (Slam Dunk Contest Odds: 1 to 3 @ Sportbet Sportsbook). The Clip Joint really has a superstar on its hands this year, as Griffin really has taken over and made the team a lot more than just respectable. No, the Clippers aren’t the best team playing in the Staples Center, but Griffin might be the star of the stadium, something that is definitely notable considering the fact that both Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol are also residents in Tinseltown.

Griffin has really had some of the best in game dunks that we have ever seen in NBA betting action, most notably the dunk on Danilo Gallinari against the New York Knicks in which the youngster from Oklahoma literally jumped over the Italian, slammed the ball through the hoop, and picked up the blocking foul to boot. Griffin has 116 dunks this year, the second most in the league behind “Superman,” Dwight Howard.

The oddsmakers tend to believe that if there is going to be an upset in this competition, it is going to come from Toronto Raptors DeMar DeRozan (Odds to Win the 2011 Slam Dunk Contest: 5 to 1 @ Sportbet Sportsbook). DeRozan only has 32 dunks on the year, and he is clearly the shortest competitor in this field at just 6’7″, but he is certainly a tremendous athlete and knows that he can win this tournament. DeRozan has been a real bright spot in an otherwise dull season for Toronto fans, and a win here in the Slam Dunk Contest would at least give some help to a franchise that is in a lot of trouble.

JaVale McGee (2011 Slam Dunk Odds: 7.50 to 1 @ Sportbet Sportsbook) of the Washington Wizards isn’t even starting on a regular basis for one of the worst teams in the league, but he is certainly a big time splash that can bring our nation’s capitol to its feet. McGee, who is only playing 26 minutes per game and has been absolutely awful over the course of the last few weeks, is still No. 6 in the NBA with 82 dunks. At 7’0″, McGee knows that he can jump out of the building. If there’s another man that can put on the Superman cape like Howard did two years ago, this is the man that can do it.

Finally, we’ll take a look at one of the forgotten men on the Oklahoma City Thunder, Serge Ibaka (Odds to Win the Slam Dunk Contest: 10 to 1 @ Sportbet Sportsbook). Ibaka has 60 dunks this year, accounting for almost 1/3 of his made field goals for the year. Ibaka is a lanky competitor, and he is certain to be able to light up the crowd on a regular basis. He’s got the competition in him and might have some help from some of his fellow electrifying teammates to win this contest if he is to do so.

We have to remember that it isn’t always the biggest star in the show that beats the Slam Dunk Contest odds. Nate Robinson has three titles, while other names like Gerald Green, Josh Smith, and Fred Jones have won in the past 10 years. Griffin is definitely the best dunker in the bunch, but any of these men can get the job done with the right props. Just one dunk could change it all.

Odds to Win 2011 NBA Dunk Contest @ SportBet Sportsbook (as of 2/18/11):
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Blake Griffin 1 to 3
DeMar DeRozan 5 to 1
JaVale McGee 7.50 to 1
Serge Ibaka 10 to 1

The greatest stars in NBA betting action will all be assembled at Staples Center on Sunday night for one of the best games that the league has to offer. This year, the 2011 All Star Game odds will be contested in Tinseltown, and the game couldn’t be lined any closer than it is at a pick ‘em. Handicapping the All Star Game lines is tough, but we’ve got our top three picks for MVP picked out!

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers (Current All Star Game MVP Odds: 4 to 1 at Hollywood Sportsbook)
Kobe is a tremendous star, and he knows what it takes to win the All Star Game MVP award. Bryant won the award in 2002 and 2007 by himself and took down half the honors in 2009, sharing the award with Shaquille O’Neal. Bryant is averaging 25.1 points per game this season, the third highest mark for any player on the Western Conference team, and only the man that we are even remotely afraid of stealing his “thunder” is Kevin Durant — as a scorer, anyway. However, when push comes to shove, Head Coach Gregg Popovich knows that the ball belongs to Kobe, especially since this is his gym that we’re all playing in. Bryant will get the most looks and the most touches, and that will probably translate into the most points if he is on his game.

Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers (Current All Star Game MVP Lines: 9 to 1 at Hollywood Sportsbook)
It seems to be a bit of a stretch to think that this rookie can come in amongst all of the big boys and win the MVP award for the All Star Game, but in all honesty, what is going to stop him? Sure, we know that there are some massive rebounders on the Eastern Conference team, but we have seen some great games before out of Griffin against the likes of Kevin Love, Dwight Howard, and the rest of the best big men in the league. Knowing, again, that this is Griffin’s home court that this game is being played on, we know that Popovich should let the hometown crowd see more of him. That means more rebounds, more scores, and most important, more amazing dunks like this one that he had in the Rookies vs. Sophomores game. If the big man can put together a few moments like that, we wouldn’t be all that surprised if he found himself ending with 20 points, 12 boards, and some hardware that rookies don’t normally get to take home from All Star weekend.

LeBron James, Miami Heat (Favorite To Win All Star Game MVP Odds: 4 to 1 at Hollywood Sportsbook)
He might not be a Cleveland Cavalier anymore, but he is still LeBron Freaking James, and the ball is still going to be in his hands when push really comes to shove and the game is on the line. Sure, Dwyane Wade, his teammate, is the man that is the defending MVP of this duel, but James is due to really light up Tinseltown in a huge way. He’s averaging 26.1 points per game this year, tied for second in the NBA, and in all likelihood, he isn’t going to be worrying about getting the ball into the paint for Amare Stoudemire or Dwight Howard all that often. The only man we’re afraid of stealing his touches down the stretch is Derrick Rose, but even then, Rose hasn’t quite been there and done that yet. If you like the Eastern Conference All Stars, you have to just love what James brings to the table at these odds.

Odds to Win 2011 All Star Game MVP @ Hollywood Sportsbook (as of 2/19/11):
(Get a HUGE 25% Bonus at Hollywood When Using This Link)

Amare Stoudemire 9 to 1
Blake Griffin 9 to 1
Carmelo Anthony 9 to 1
Chris Paul 9 to 1
Derrick Rose 6 to 1
Dirk Nowitzki 15 to 1
Dwight Howard 8 to 1
Dwyane Wade 7 to 1
Joe Johnson 15 to 1
Kevin Durant 4 to 1
Kevin Love 8 to 1
Kobe Bryant 4 to 1
LeBron James 4 to 1
Paul Pierce 15 to 1
Ray Allen 15 to 1
Field 15 to 1

The 2010 NBA Finals lines are out, and here at Bankroll Sports, we’re offering up our opinions on the odds to win the NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics.

Complete List Of Current Odds To Win The 2010 NBA Finals Can Be Found Below

All season long, the Celtics were the team that underachieved. They only finished the regular season at 24-17 SU at home and just 12-28-1 ATS. They only averaged 99.2 points per game in spite of the fact that they probably had one of the most talented offensive lineups in the game. Heck, only finishing fifth in the league in total defense probably wasn’t anything to write home about either.

However, the C’s talked all about how they just needed to flip the switch and that things would be different in the playoffs. My, how they were right.

The only time that Boston has lost two straight games in the playoffs came in Games 4 and 5 against the Orlando Magic. They have already stolen five wins as the visitors in the postseason, and they are an amazing 12-5 ATS to show for 17 playoff efforts.

The “Big Four” are combining to average scoring 67.5 points per game.

“The Truth,” F Paul Pierce is up to 19.1 points per game after scoring 30+ points in two of the final three games of the Orlando series. His counterpart, G Rajon Rondo has made a real name for himself, as he almost averaged a triple-double in the series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

First it was D-Wade. Then it was King James. Finally, it was Superman. They all fell. The Celtics were right. The proverbial switch has been flipped.

However, it’s Showtime in Tinseltown now for the Celtics, which means that the Lakers are going to be rockin’ and rollin’ in an effort to win their second consecutive NBA Finals.

Even though Los Angeles was the #1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs, this wasn’t exactly a dominant squad either. The Lakers limped down the stretch of the season and had to sweat just a bit about whether or not they were going to take home court advantage on the road to the NBA Finals or not.

Just like Boston, this was a team that was supposed to limp into the playoffs. G Kobe Bryant looked old. The youthful Oklahoma City Thunder were supposed to take all of the energy out of them. F Pau Gasol was supposed to be too soft. The bench wasn’t supposed to be deep enough.

Durant, Boozer, Williams, Nash, and Stoudemire… All names that are now watching as those Lakers that were “finished” are playing to complete the successful defense of their crown.

Bryant has turned the corner in a huge way, as he has been absolutely lights out, particularly since early in that series against the Thunder. He has a streak of four straight 30+ point performances under his belt coming into this series, and his statistics are simply off of the charts. Kobe is averaging 29.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game in the playoffs, shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 40.5 percent from beyond the arc.

F Pau Gasol has done plenty of damage as well, scoring right at 20.0 points per game to go with his 10.9 rebounds.

The bench might be under some scrutiny, but F Lamar Odom has done his share. In just under 30 minutes per game of action, Odom has compiled 10.6 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, which should set up a great clash between he and the secondary big men for the Celtics in the paint.

This is a rematch of the 2008 NBA Finals, won by the Celtics in six games. It was the official renewal of a team that had fallen from the days of Larry Bird, Bob Cousy, and all of the other fantastic names that are sitting in the rafters at TD Banknorth Garden. 2009 was the year of the Lakers, as Bryant helped further solidify his name amongst Lakers greats like Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

NBA Finals betting action starts Thursday night at Staples Center and will continue with Game 2 on Sunday before the series shifts back to Beantown for Games 3, 4, and 5 (if necessary) starting on Tuesday.

Odds to Win 2010 NBA Finals: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Sportsbook	Bonus
JustBet Sportsbook	100% Free Play Bonus	+165	-185
Diamond Sportsbook	100% Match Free Play	+165	-195
BetUS Sportsbook	100% Bonus Up to $500	+155	-190