2018 NBA Finals?
Lopsided odds to hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy? W's opened -1200, which means risking $1200 to win $100, now down to -900.
This is the 1st time in NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL history that the same two teams have faced each other in four consecutive finals. So we have some history here...
The W's easily hoisted the trophy in 2015 4-2. In 2016, after the W's record setting 73-9 regular season, they steam rolled to a 3-1 lead in the finals and were on the edge of history.
However, the Draymond Green game 5 suspension put an asterisk on the Cav's dramatic and unprecedented comeback win in seven. Were it not for said suspension, the dominant W's might be looking at a four peat.
The Cavs opened at +690, which means risking 14.50 to win $100 with LeBron, in his eighth straight finals appearance (ninth overall)?
At any rate, those odds still make these Cavs the biggest finals dog ever, and the largest since Rick Barry's 1975 W's "upset" the Washington Bullets in a sweep.
That Rick Barry (MVP) led Warrior's championship team has a unique distinction related to teamwork, which no other team in NBA playoff history has matched.
But I digress, there are many reasons why the odds for these finals are so stacked. Last year the W's again cleaned out the Cav's 4-1, and this year the Cav's are without Kyrie Erving.
Still the uber long odds are an awful tempting proposition considering Lebron is having a post season for the ages, and is going to do anything but roll over and play dead.
Bearing the distinction which the 75 W's hold in mind, James is averaging 41.3 minutes per game, and fatigue became evident in the seven game Eastern Conference finals versus the Celtics.
Statistically and personnel wise, many believe this series should not be close and could get downright ugly. The Cavs would seem to be out gunned and out matched in this series on both sides of the ball. Upon further review...
On the season, the W's best the Cav's in every major category. However, since the All Star break, the Cav's come out on top in most categories.
After the trade deadline, many slighted the Cav's in predicting they would not even make the finals. One must always account for heart, experience and persistence.
Down the March and April stretch, due to key injuries and resting players, in going 10-10 the W's were outright pedestrian.
Speaking of injuries, when will Kevin Love be back from concussion protocol and what is Iguodala's knee status?
Hypothetical: don't count your chickens... what happens if Curry or Durant go down? In that scenario, +690 or any hedge on the Cav's won't be looking so far fetched.
W's sweep +200, there's a hot bet? More likely W's in 5 +130, in 6 +380, or in 7 +330. FYI, Cavs are 12000 to 1 to sweep the W's. That's not a typo, or a bet I would make. The W's swept the regular season 99-92 in Oracle, 118-108 at Quicken Loans, 2 of 82 who cares?
Look at the home records; regular season Cav's 29-12; W's 29-12; playoffs W's 8-1; Cavs 8-1. Now the road records; regular season Cavs 21-20; W's 29-12; however in the playoffs W's 3-4; Cavs 4-5.
Overall, these two teams are not as far apart as many might think? Anything can happen if both teams hold home court.
From a business perspective, (never forget it is all about the money), a series sweep would be bad for ratings and revenues, so probably not in the cards. However, 4-1 or 4-2 W's would not surprise at all.
Game 1: 75% of spread bettors are taking W's -12, 81% of money line bettors are taking Cavs at 7.71, with ML smart money coming in on the W's at 1.12.
Things that make you go... Tickets available as of 05/29: Game 1: 1418; Game 2: 1098; Game 3: 1871; Game 4: 1717; Game 6: 1086, and there are only 806 tickets remaining for Game 5 and 413 for Game 7... Hmm?
Since you just never know, as a hedge on the W's, a small wager on Cav's in 7 at an incredible 2000 to 1 might not hurt either. Then again, I've seen stranger things happen.
Rather than computer simulation, fantasy or the multitude of mythical pollster NCAA Div 1 football champions without a real playoff system...
That's why they actually play the games, and real champions should always be decided on the field of play? Or in this case, to see who gets crowned, court must be held on the hardwoods. Just sayin.
This is the 1st time in NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL history that the same two teams have faced each other in four consecutive finals. So we have some history here...
The W's easily hoisted the trophy in 2015 4-2. In 2016, after the W's record setting 73-9 regular season, they steam rolled to a 3-1 lead in the finals and were on the edge of history.
However, the Draymond Green game 5 suspension put an asterisk on the Cav's dramatic and unprecedented comeback win in seven. Were it not for said suspension, the dominant W's might be looking at a four peat.
The Cavs opened at +690, which means risking 14.50 to win $100 with LeBron, in his eighth straight finals appearance (ninth overall)?
At any rate, those odds still make these Cavs the biggest finals dog ever, and the largest since Rick Barry's 1975 W's "upset" the Washington Bullets in a sweep.
That Rick Barry (MVP) led Warrior's championship team has a unique distinction related to teamwork, which no other team in NBA playoff history has matched.
But I digress, there are many reasons why the odds for these finals are so stacked. Last year the W's again cleaned out the Cav's 4-1, and this year the Cav's are without Kyrie Erving.
Still the uber long odds are an awful tempting proposition considering Lebron is having a post season for the ages, and is going to do anything but roll over and play dead.
Bearing the distinction which the 75 W's hold in mind, James is averaging 41.3 minutes per game, and fatigue became evident in the seven game Eastern Conference finals versus the Celtics.
Statistically and personnel wise, many believe this series should not be close and could get downright ugly. The Cavs would seem to be out gunned and out matched in this series on both sides of the ball. Upon further review...
On the season, the W's best the Cav's in every major category. However, since the All Star break, the Cav's come out on top in most categories.
After the trade deadline, many slighted the Cav's in predicting they would not even make the finals. One must always account for heart, experience and persistence.
Down the March and April stretch, due to key injuries and resting players, in going 10-10 the W's were outright pedestrian.
Speaking of injuries, when will Kevin Love be back from concussion protocol and what is Iguodala's knee status?
Hypothetical: don't count your chickens... what happens if Curry or Durant go down? In that scenario, +690 or any hedge on the Cav's won't be looking so far fetched.
W's sweep +200, there's a hot bet? More likely W's in 5 +130, in 6 +380, or in 7 +330. FYI, Cavs are 12000 to 1 to sweep the W's. That's not a typo, or a bet I would make. The W's swept the regular season 99-92 in Oracle, 118-108 at Quicken Loans, 2 of 82 who cares?
Look at the home records; regular season Cav's 29-12; W's 29-12; playoffs W's 8-1; Cavs 8-1. Now the road records; regular season Cavs 21-20; W's 29-12; however in the playoffs W's 3-4; Cavs 4-5.
Overall, these two teams are not as far apart as many might think? Anything can happen if both teams hold home court.
From a business perspective, (never forget it is all about the money), a series sweep would be bad for ratings and revenues, so probably not in the cards. However, 4-1 or 4-2 W's would not surprise at all.
Game 1: 75% of spread bettors are taking W's -12, 81% of money line bettors are taking Cavs at 7.71, with ML smart money coming in on the W's at 1.12.
Things that make you go... Tickets available as of 05/29: Game 1: 1418; Game 2: 1098; Game 3: 1871; Game 4: 1717; Game 6: 1086, and there are only 806 tickets remaining for Game 5 and 413 for Game 7... Hmm?
Since you just never know, as a hedge on the W's, a small wager on Cav's in 7 at an incredible 2000 to 1 might not hurt either. Then again, I've seen stranger things happen.
Rather than computer simulation, fantasy or the multitude of mythical pollster NCAA Div 1 football champions without a real playoff system...
That's why they actually play the games, and real champions should always be decided on the field of play? Or in this case, to see who gets crowned, court must be held on the hardwoods. Just sayin.
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