Amarillo Slim at the 1974 World Series of Poker
I have a publicist colleague, Jimmy Shapiro, who once tried to get a sponsor to pay my $10,000 buy-in for the main event at the World Series of Poker. I was going to write about in for their online blog.
He came very close, but ultimately couldn’t get the 10K.
But Jimmy tried, and I will forever be indebted to him for giving it his best shot.
I was in Las Vegas anyway that summer (2008) covering Team USA training camp, and one night I ended up going over to the big room at the Rio with Mike Wise of the Washington Post, and we both played in a $220 buy-in “second-chance” tournament that they hold every night during the main event. I finished 18th and cashed moderately, my greatest poker achievement ever.
Anyway, Jimmy is working for Bovada now (Twitter is @BovadaLV), and he has e-mailed me some interesting odds relating to the NBA playoffs. Here they are:
Odds to win 2012 NBA Championship
San Antonio Spurs 17/10
Miami Heat 7/4
Oklahoma City Thunder 5/2
Boston Celtics 12/1
Philadelphia 76ers 33/1
Will the San Antonio Spurs win the NBA Championship with a playoff record of 16-0?
Yes 75/1
Series Price
Oklahoma City Thunder (Series Prices) 9/5 (+180)
San Antonio Spurs (Series Prices) 10/21 (-210)
Exact Series Result
Oklahoma City Thunder 4-0 18/1
Oklahoma City Thunder 4-1 15/1
Oklahoma City Thunder 4-2 4/1
Oklahoma City Thunder 4-3 7/1
San Antonio Spurs 4-0 10/1
San Antonio Spurs 4-1 7/2
San Antonio Spurs 4-2 21/4
San Antonio Spurs 4-3 12/5
Total Games in Series
4 15/2
5 9/4
6 9/5
7 8/5
Where Will the Series be Decided?
ChesapeakeEnergy Arena,Oklahoma City 13/10 (+130)
AT&T Center, San Antonio 5/8 (-160)
Player Props
Average 3rd Round Points Per Game – Tony Parker
Over/Under 18½
Average 3rd Round Assists Per Game – Tony Parker
Over/Under 7½
Average 3rd Round Points Per Game – Tim Duncan
Over/Under 15½
Average 3rd Round Rebounds Per Game – Tim Duncan
Over/Under 9
Average 3rd Round Points Per Game – Manu Ginobili
Over/Under 13
Average 3rd Round Points Per Game – Kevin Durant
Over/Under 27½
Average 3rd Round Points Per Game – Russell Westbrook
Over/Under 23½
Average 3rd Round Assists Per Game – Russell Westbrook
Over/Under 5
Average 3rd Round Points Per Game – James Harden
Over/Under 16
Average 3rd Round Blocks Per Game – Serge Ibaka
Over/Under 3½