The Sixth Man Award has generally gone to the best bench point production from a team with one of the best records that season, and there's a $7 chance that is incredible value this season.
Best Bet
Payton Pritchard @ $7
Can a $7 pick be a lock? I won't go that far, but I'm completely shocked to see Payton Pritchard the third line of betting, and personally would have the Celtic priced up around $3.50.
Boston has lost Jaylen Brown, and although Paul George fills that role he's not going to be replacing 25 points a game. Joe Mazzulla is keen to run Pritchard off the bench, and appears to be starting Scheierman at the two.
Pritchard averaged 17 a game last season, and actually had a better scoring output coming off the bench, but started 50 games last season. He won't be starting this year, and in this system could average close to 20 a game.
Bet on Payton Pritchard for Sixth Man with betr
Next Best
Reed Sheppard @ $31
I think the Rockets will be right up there this season, and I expect Sheppard to move back to the bench full-time with VanVleet returning.
The sharpshooter averaged 13.5 points per game last season, and will still play an integral role in this Houston lineup which lacks genuine range from deep.
If the Rockets have a top-four record in the NBA this season and Sheppard is averaging 16+ points per game, he will be a finalist for this award.
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Value Bet
Jared McCain @ $41
Ajay Mitchell is the favourite for this award, but I can't ignore what Jared McCain is capable of in a similar role to Mitchell.
McCain lifted in the post-season for the Thunder after taking a while to find his feet following a season-long injury in his rookie year, and in his last 11 games averaged 12.5 points in just 21 minutes per game during that playoff stretch.
If the Thunder combo guard can produce those numbers in a playoff environment, he's capable of doing even more in a sixth or seventh man role for OKC this regular season. Remember, Keldon Johnson won this award last season averaging just 13.2 points per game for the Spurs.
