Cnotes53 2017 NBA Best Bets-Trends-News Thru Playoffs !

[Cnotes53]

NBA Finals Game 1 betting preview and odds: Cavaliers at Warriors

Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors (-12.5, 214.5)

Series tied 0-0.

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals for the fourth straight game and the series begins Thursday night in Oakland, Calif. The Warriors won two of the first three meetings and the latest matchup will likely begin with Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (concussion) sitting out.

Cleveland star LeBron James doesn't understand why there is complaining that the two teams are one again sharing the Finals' stage. "Teams have had their opportunities to beat the Cavs over the last four years, and teams have had the opportunities to beat the Warriors over the last four years," James said at his Wednesday press conference. "If you want to see somebody else in the postseason, then you got to beat them." There also has been a lot of chatter about how James lacks a supporting case - an odd notion for a team that is in the NBA Finals and one Warriors coach Steve Kerr doesn't prescribe to in the least. "You don't get to The Finals with one man, no matter how good that one man is," Kerr said at his press conference. "So we have great respect for the Cavs, their resiliency. The fact that they're here four years in a row - we know exactly how hard that is. So we're preparing for a lot more than just LeBron, that's for sure."

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ABC

LINE HISTORY: The Warriors opened as 11.5-point home favorites when the odds were first released Monday night and as of Wednesday night that number is up to -12.5. The total hit betting boards at 216 and has been dropped to 214.5.

INJURY REPORT:

Cavaliers - C K. Love (Questionable, Concussion).

Warriors - PF D. Green (Probable, Ankle), SF A. Iguodala (Out, Leg), SF C. Boucher (Out Indefinitely, Ankle).

MATCHUP CHART:

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (62-38 SU, 40-59-1 ATS, 46-52-2 O/U): Love suffered a concussion in Friday's Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics and has yet to pass the protocol and coach Tyronn Lue doesn't know if he will be available. Love, a five-time All-Star, was seen on the practice floor Wednesday and Lue did indicate that Love will start the contest if he is cleared to play. Love's presence would alleviate some pressure off James, who is averaging 34 points, 9.2 rebounds and 8.8 assists in a stellar postseason.

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (70-29 SU, 43-55-1 ATS, 44-54-1 O/U): Veteran defensive stopper Andre Iguodala (left leg) will miss his fifth consecutive contest, leaving Golden State without a player who typically shadows James. "Well, he was MVP of the series in 2015, largely because he took that role on of guarding LeBron, but also because of what he did offensively," Kerr told reporters in reference to Iguodala's importance. "He's doing a little bit better. Some encouraging signs, but we have ruled him out for Game 1." Kerr did the duty of guarding James will be spread among at least four players - forwards Kevin Durant and Draymond Green and guards Klay Thompson and Shaun Livingston.

TRENDS:

* Cavaliers are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 vs. NBA Pacific.
* Warriors are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 vs. Eastern Conference.
* Under is 4-0 in Cavaliers' last 4 road games.
* Under is 5-0 in Warriors' last 5 overall.
* Under is 8-2-2 in the last 12 meetings in Golden State.

CONSENSUS: 53 percent of pointspread bets are on the underdog Cleveland Cavaliers while 59 percent of totals wagers are on the Over.

 

[Cnotes53]

NBA
Dunkel

Thursday, May 31


Cleveland @ Golden State

Game 501-502
May 31, 2018 @ 9:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Cleveland
123.624
Golden State
131.785
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Golden State
by 8
220
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Golden State
by 12 1/2
214
Dunkel Pick:
Cleveland
(+12 1/2); Over




NBA
Long Sheet

Thursday, May 31

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND (62 - 38) at GOLDEN STATE (70 - 29) - 5/31/2018, 9:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
CLEVELAND is 40-58 ATS (-23.8 Units) in all games this season.
CLEVELAND is 7-18 ATS (-12.8 Units) against Pacific division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 24-40 ATS (-20.0 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 13-24 ATS (-13.4 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 65-43 ATS (+17.7 Units) in all playoff games since 1996.
GOLDEN STATE is 67-41 ATS (+21.9 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game - 2nd half of the season since 1996.
GOLDEN STATE is 42-54 ATS (-17.4 Units) in all games this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 40-48 ATS (-12.8 Units) as a favorite this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 23-35 ATS (-15.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 13-24 ATS (-13.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
GOLDEN STATE is 10-8 against the spread versus CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
GOLDEN STATE is 12-6 straight up against CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
10 of 17 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




NBA
Armadillo's Write-Up

Thursday, May 31

Warriors-Cavaliers meet in Finals for 4th year in row; Golden State won seven of last eight series games (6-2 vs spread). Cleveland is 1-4 vs spread in its last five visits to Oakland. Over is 4-2 in last six series games. Both teams won last series in seven games; Golden State split its last six games; under is 9-1 in their last ten games. Off days since western final give Curry/Thompson time to rest their injuries. Cavaliers won four of last five games after going down 2-0 to Boston; under is 5-2 in their last seven games. Iguodala has been ruled out for the Warriors.




NBA

Thursday, May 31

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Cleveland is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Cleveland's last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cleveland's last 5 games on the road
Cleveland is 1-6-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Golden State
Cleveland is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing Golden State
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland's last 6 games when playing Golden State
Cleveland is 0-4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Golden State
Cleveland is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Golden State
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Cleveland's last 10 games when playing on the road against Golden State
Golden State Warriors
Golden State is 12-5 SU in its last 17 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Golden State's last 5 games
Golden State is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Golden State's last 5 games at home
Golden State is 6-1-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Cleveland
Golden State is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing Cleveland
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Golden State's last 6 games when playing Cleveland
Golden State is 4-0-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Cleveland
Golden State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Cleveland
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Golden State's last 10 games when playing at home against Cleveland

 

[Cnotes53]

THURSDAY, MAY 31
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

CLE at GS 09:00 PM

CLE +12.5

O 214.5

 

[Cnotes53]

James left in disbelief after brilliant Game 1 performance
June 1, 2018

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) LeBron James defied belief with another brilliant playoff performance and was in utter disbelief at teammate J.R. Smith and the officials about key plays down the stretch that sent the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 124-114 loss to Golden State in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night.

James posted the first 50-point game in the finals since Michael Jordan did it 25 years ago and had the Cavaliers in position to stun the heavily favored Warriors in the opener before Smith's blunder turned the tide in Golden State's favor.

James finished with 51 points and had the Cavaliers in position to win when his pass down low to George Hill drew a foul on Klay Thompson with 4.6 seconds left and Cleveland trailing 107-106. Hill hit the first shot to tie the game but missed the second.

Smith secured the rebound but dribbled to half court, thinking that Cleveland was leading the game. James was calling for the ball that entire time and could only hold his arms out in shock before walking back to the huddle for overtime.

The Warriors then scored on their first possession of overtime when Durant drew a foul from Hill that upset James once again and never looked back, outscoring Cleveland 124-114 in the extra session.

The game ended with James jawing with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson and then teammate Tristan Thompson getting ejected for a flagrant foul when he hit Draymond Green with the ball.

There were several calls down the stretch that angered James. He appeared to make a clean strip on Keven Durant that was called a foul and then he was visibly upset when he didn't get a call on a drive on the other end.

Then after James drove past Stephen Curry for a three-point play that put Cleveland up 104-102 with 50 seconds left, he appeared to draw a charge on Durant. But officials went to the replay and changed the call to a block.

James answered with an impressive drive, changing hands in midair before scoring to give the Cavs the lead. But it wasn't enough when Curry answered with a three-point play and Smith made his blunder.

The opener of the fourth straight finals between these teams followed a familiar script with the deeper Warriors overcoming a sensational individually effort by James the way they did in winning the past two titles.

James had his highest-scoring playoff game ever, tied Jerry West for the most 40-point games in a single postseason with eight and almost single-handedly led the Cavs to the win.

He made 19 of 32 shots, added eight rebounds and eight assists and played nearly 48 minutes for a third straight game.

But the lasting image of this game will be of James calling for the ball behind the 3-point line as Smith dribbled out the clock in a play reminiscent of one made by Dallas' Derek Harper in a playoff loss to the Lakers 34 years ago.

 

[Cnotes53]

SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
8:00 PM Cleveland Cavaliers Golden State Warriors ORACLE Arena

SCHEDULE FOR WEDNESDAY JUNE 6, 2018
Time (ET) Away Home Site
9:00 PM Golden State Warriors Cleveland Cavaliers Quicken Loans Arena


*********************

NBA CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD:

DATE W-L-T % UNITS
1- 0
05/31/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00


TOTALS............2-0-0 100.00% +10.00


*****************

NBA BEST BETS:...............ATS....................UNITS.......................O/U..................UNITS.........TOTAL

05/31/2018....................1 - 0....................+5.00......................1 - 0...................+5.00..........+10.00


TOTALS...........................1- 0.....................+5.00......................1 - 0...................+5.00.........+10.00

 

[Cnotes53]

James in disbelief after Game 1
June 1, 2018

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) LeBron James defied belief with another brilliant playoff performance and was in utter disbelief at teammate J.R. Smith and the officials about key plays down the stretch that sent the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 124-114 loss to Golden State in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night.

James posted the first 50-point game in the finals since Michael Jordan did it 25 years ago and had the Cavaliers in position to stun the heavily favored Warriors in the opener before Smith's blunder turned the tide in Golden State's favor.

James finished with 51 points and had the Cavaliers in position to win when his pass down low to George Hill drew a foul on Klay Thompson with 4.6 seconds left and Cleveland trailing 107-106. Hill hit the first shot to tie the game but missed the second.

Smith secured the rebound but dribbled to half court, thinking that Cleveland was leading the game. James was calling for the ball that entire time and could only hold his arms out in shock before walking back to the huddle for overtime.

The Warriors then scored on their first possession of overtime when Durant drew a foul from Hill that upset James once again and never looked back, outscoring Cleveland 124-114 in the extra session.

The game ended with James jawing with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson and then teammate Tristan Thompson getting ejected for a flagrant foul when he hit Draymond Green with the ball.

There were several calls down the stretch that angered James. He appeared to make a clean strip on Keven Durant that was called a foul and then he was visibly upset when he didn't get a call on a drive on the other end.

Then after James drove past Stephen Curry for a three-point play that put Cleveland up 104-102 with 50 seconds left, he appeared to draw a charge on Durant. But officials went to the replay and changed the call to a block.

James answered with an impressive drive, changing hands in midair before scoring to give the Cavs the lead. But it wasn't enough when Curry answered with a three-point play and Smith made his blunder.

The opener of the fourth straight finals between these teams followed a familiar script with the deeper Warriors overcoming a sensational individually effort by James the way they did in winning the past two titles.

James had his highest-scoring playoff game ever, tied Jerry West for the most 40-point games in a single postseason with eight and almost single-handedly led the Cavs to the win.

He made 19 of 32 shots, added eight rebounds and eight assists and played nearly 48 minutes for a third straight game.

But the lasting image of this game will be of James calling for the ball behind the 3-point line as Smith dribbled out the clock in a play reminiscent of one made by Dallas' Derek Harper in a playoff loss to the Lakers 34 years ago.

 

[Cnotes53]

Armadillo: Friday's six-pack

Over/under totals for TD passes thrown this season:

27.5? Carson Wentz

26.5? Kirk Cousins

22.5? Alex Smith

21.5? Patrick Mahomes

20.5? Case Keenum

3.5? Nick Foles


**********

Armadillo: Friday's List of 13: Random stuff with the weekend here??.

13) Sports betting starts in Delaware Tuesday; a vote is scheduled in New Jersey for Thursday and when that passes, it?ll start in the Garden State soon after that.

12) In 1971, Nike changed its name from Blue Ribbon Sports to Nike; a college student named Carolyn Davidson designed the now-famous swoosh logo. She was paid $35 and a few shares of Nike stock for her artwork. She should?ve held out for more.

11) A televangelist from Louisiana says Jesus has asked his followers to buy a new private jet- this one costs a mere $54M. The guy already has three other jets.

Oy.

10) Shohei Ohtani in day games: 4-0, 2.18, Angels won all five of his daytime starts.

Shohei Ohtani in night games: 0-1, 5.84, Angels lost two of his three night starts.

9) Former NFL coach Mike Martz will coach the San Diego team in the new AAF next spring, which means San Diego will score a lot of points and waste a lot of timeouts.

8) Joe Namath turned 75 years old this week; QB of the Jets who won Super Bowl III that made the AFL-NFL merger happen. Namath became a hideously overrated player because he won a title for a team in New York City- the playoff games he won that year were the only playoff games he ever won, but he also turned out to be a really nice guy who is always pleasant with fans and is a really good ambassador for the game.

7) There was an odd play early in the Phillies-Dodgers game Thursday; Mikael Franco tried to score from second on a single, the throw bounced away from the catcher, but Franco never touched home plate, in fact, he never came close to touching it.

No one said anything, the run scored and the game went on.

6) Carlos Torres was the ump for the Rays-A?s game Thursday; someone needs to tell him to call some damn strikes. He was squeezing both pitchers badly; the game is better if the ball is in play more. Get the hitters swinging the bat.

5) Baseball players get hurt a lot:
? Cardinals P Alex Reyes (lat strain) goes on the DL
? Clayton Kershaw will have an MRI on his back tomorrow.

4) St. John?s poached Auburn transfer Mustapha Heron; with the Big East expected to be a little down next winter, Red Storm could make some noise in conference for first time in a while.

3) Phillies 2, Dodgers 1? Bad news for LA; Clayton Kershaw?s back tightened up during this game and he?ll have an MRI on it.

2) Warriors 124, Cavaliers 114? Golden State wins Game 1 in OT, overcoming Lebron James? 51 points? he also had 8 rebounds, 8 assists.

This game didn?t sell out in Oakland, which is surprising. Golden State won, which isn?t surprising.

1) JR Smith rebounded a missed free throw in a tie game with 0:04.7 left; instead of shooting the ball, he dribbled it out, thinking Cleveland was ahead by a point. Whoops.

Smith was -20 in his 38:00 on the court, the worst plus/minus of anyone in the game. In the 15:00 Smith sat out, the Cavaliers were +7.

A guy who has played 13 years in the NBA didn?t know the score of a tie game with 0:04.7 left. That not good, especially if you bet the under.

 

[Cnotes53]

Replay overturn plays key role in G1
June 1, 2018

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Block or charge?

One of the most difficult calls to make in the split second of fast-paced NBA action helped swing Game 1 of the NBA Finals in Golden State's favor. Officials went to a replay review because they weren't sure if LeBron James' feet were outside the restricted area when Kevin Durant slammed into him in the final minute of regulation in a game Cleveland lost 124-114 in overtime Thursday night.

The play came with about 30 seconds left and the Cavaliers leading 104-102 after James converted a three-point play as part of a 51-point night.

The initial signal was for a charge, which would have given Cleveland the ball. But the officials then called for a replay, as NBA rules allow for that type of play in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime.

''We were told they were reviewing if I had my feet outside the line,'' James said. ''And when I knew that, I was like, OK, that's going to be our ball. I knew I was outside the charge line, so that's what the communication was to us. We were over on the sideline, drawing up a play, you know, to try to execute, try to go up a couple possessions.''

During the replay, officials can also look to determine if the defensive player was in a legal guarding position, and they decided James wasn't.

''It was determined he was out of the restricted area, but he was not in a legal guarding position prior to Durant's separate shooting motion,'' referee Ken Mauer told a pool reporter. ''So we had to change it to a blocking foul.''

The overturn angered the Cavaliers, who were upset the call even went to review because they felt James was clearly outside the restricted area.

''It doesn't make sense to go review something if the review is if he's on the line or if he's close to the charge circle, that's the review. He wasn't close,'' coach Tyronn Lue said. ''So what are we reviewing? Either call a blocking foul or call an offensive foul. For our team to come out and play their hearts out and compete the way we did, man, I mean, it's bad.

''It's never been done before where you know he's outside the restricted, and then you go there and overturn the call and say it's a block. It's never been done, ever, in the history of the game. And then tonight in the finals on the biggest stage, when our team played well, played our (butt) off, man, it ain't right. It ain't right.''

Durant said he had seen that play reviewed before and was confident he would get the call once officials looked at the replay.

''I knew that. I knew he was late on the drive, and I knew I had my man beat and he came over a little late,'' he said. ''So when they called the charge, I was surprised, but I'm glad they reviewed it.''

While James was moving when Durant left the ground, he still believed he was in a legal position and should have gotten the call even after it went to replay.

''I thought I read that play just as well as I read any play in my career, defensively,'' he said. ''I saw the drive, I was outside the charge line, I stepped in, took the contact. It's a huge play. It's a huge play.''

Durant made both foul shots to tie the game.

 

[Cnotes53]

Cavs putting up a fight
June 1, 2018

NBA Finals - WE HAVE A SERIES

Great games inevitably come down to singular moments that forever encapsulate the moment, and nothing will be more memorable in Game 1 of the NBA Finals than J.R. Smith trying to dribble out a tie game because he forgot the damn score. Never change, Swish. Please, for the love of god, always do you.

I?ve been telling everyone that will listen that the NBA Finals will be far more compelling than people realize for simple reason that it?s potentially the greatest team of all time clashing with potentially the greatest player to ever exist. And Game 1 delivered in so many ways that it?s not even fathomable at this very moment.

LeBron scored 51 points in a loss. FIFTY-ONE POINTS. Steph Curry hit a wide open three at the buzzer to tie the game at the half while ending with 29-9-6 of his own. The Cavaliers were great, and people won?t even have noticed that Kevin Love notched a double-double. They were ferocious from the onset, and were one of the only teams to really hold off the Warriors in the third quarter. Hell, even Tristan Thompson got ejected! The Warriors almost eventually covered a -12.5 point line thanks to Cleveland blowing it in overtime. So. Much. Drama!

In many ways, this game delivered the promise that the NBA Finals always does ? thrilling basketball. This series may end up being a sweep. It might go five games. The Warriors are going to win. But it?s going to be fun to watch, and Cleveland has found a scheme that can at least keep them competitive.

By the way, if you weren?t betting on the Game 1 props (which I pretty much nailed, in part thanks to overtime) then you should get on the second batch coming up for Sunday?s mega tilt.

Let?s look at this from the important angles as we barrel in to Sunday?s game. Cleveland not only covered the spread, they nearly won the game if not for J.R. Smith being an idiot and saving George Hill from scrutiny for missing a free-throw that might?ve actually won the game. If anyone was a sore spot for the Cavaliers, it was Hill who continued to be embarrassing with just 7 points and a horrendous effort on defence.

But there are so many bright sides here for Cleveland. First of all, Kevin Love looked engaged and was mightily effective despite going just 1-for-8 from distance. The Cavaliers had a definitive plan to get him involved, and Love was relatively effective, while shooting 9-for-20 from the field. Even Larry Nance Jr. was getting to the rim when he needed to, and was monstrously effective as a rebounder with 11 boards total.

The hard part is accepting that the brunt of scoring by Cleveland was done by LeBron James. Listen, this isn?t Jeff Green unloading 35 points randomly. This is the King. He doesn?t just kiss the sky, he lives up there. He can do that again only because he has to. The freedom he?s enjoying without Andre Igoudala in front of him is obvious. Honestly, if there were anyone else on the planet ? including Kevin Durant ? I?d be skeptical. James has earned your faith as a 40+ scorer each and every night.

The OVER was slammed because of the 24 points scored in overtime, but it was set at an incredulous 217.5 mark to begin with. If anything, you have to assume that Game 2 is ending in regulation and that means that the actual TOTAL is going to sit right on the rim in Game 2. Even then, it?s hard to convince yourself that the Cavaliers are going to stay in this fight.

Or is it? Look at what they?ve done in these playoffs alone from a birds eye view. Lost to Indiana handedly in Game 1 and then squeaked through in Game 2 and eventually won the series. Survived Toronto in Game 1 and then swept the series. Destroyed by Boston so badly in the two opening matchups that people thought they were done, and came back to win in seven.

This is not a Cleveland team that is going to go peacefully. LeBron James against a double-digit line isn?t necessarily even money because the team that?s laying those points is Golden State, but you almost have to take it.

A one win advantage has nearly doubled the series price on the Warriors to win the NBA Finals to -1750 from -1000, while the Cavaliers have merely inched up to +850 to steal the series somehow someway. I?m not saying that they?re going to do that, because you?d have to be a lunatic to think that Cleveland is going to win this series (or Damarious Randall). I?d be saying that even if Hill hit that free throw or J.R. Smith wasn?t a complete blockhead.

What I?m thankful for more than anything is that we have a series on our hands. It?s one that is going to be absolutely amazing. For all the glitz and glamor that Golden State paraded on the court during Game 1, the one thing you have to know is that they pretty much played at their ceiling?and nearly lost. This is a gettable team, and more so than any other time because Igoudala is that important how they play defence.

That?s why you?re betting on Cleveland again in Game 2, while holding the UNDER. It?s not that LeBron won?t have a great game, because he will. But you can expect a better matchup from his teammates, and the same somewhat leaky defence from Golden State that doesn?t have a way of slowing down the tidal force that LeBron breaks out.

This is the series we were all hoping for, and no matter the result of Game 2, I?m going to be glued to the television enjoying every second of what unfolds. LeBron is the greatest underdog bet of all time, and you?d be foolish to underestimate how much of a difference maker he can be. Yes, even against Golden State.

Game 2 NBA Finals ? Cleveland +12.0 over Golden State (UNDER 215.5)

 

[Cnotes53]

Game 2 - Top Wager
June 1, 2018

NBA Finals - Game 2
Golden State Warriors vs Cleveland Cavaliers

The Golden State Warriors played with fire in Game 1 and were lucky not to get burned. The Cleveland Cavaliers had two chances to win the game at the end of regulation but couldn?t get it done and Golden State dominated in overtime to claim the victory. The Warriors can take a strong lead in this series by taking care of business once again in Game 2.

Golden State is at home again and will be the favorites to win the back-to-back contests. LeBron James had another dominant performance and will need to keep it up in order to give his team a chance to pull the upset.

Cleveland may have missed its chance to steal a game in Oakland. The Warriors hope to control Game 2 better in NBA basketball betting.

Game 2 of the 2018 NBA Finals is on Sunday, June 3, 2018 at 8 p.m. ET at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. The contest will be nationally televised on ABC.

We'll have NBA odds at BookMaker.eu available for every game of the 2018 NBA Playoffs.

Odds Analysis

The Warriors were big favorites in Game 1, as the spread moved up to 13 points before the tip. The Cavaliers actually barely covered despite the game going to overtime, but they were close throughout. In Game 2 the oddsmakers are thinking similarly as the Warriors have opened up as 12-point favorites. About 73 percent of the early action is on Cleveland to cover again.

The scoring total is listed at 216 points with the ?under? the more popular pick.

Golden State is listed as the -900 favorite on the moneyline to claim Game 2, while the Cavaliers are listed as +614 underdogs. Cleveland almost paid off nicely on the moneyline last time out but couldn?t quite pull out the win.

Last Time Out

James had 51 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, and the Cavs needed just one more point late in regulation to pull out the win. But George Hill missed the game-tying free throw and then J.R. Smith inexplicably brought the offensive rebound out as time expired instead of laying it back up.

The Warriors dominated in overtime to claim the 124-114 win. Steph Curry had 29 points while Draymond Green added 13 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists and five steals. Kevin Durant wasn?t great but did finish with 26 points, nine rebounds and six assists,
The Cavaliers got a boost from the return of Kevin Love, who missed Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals with a concussion. He had 21 points and 13 rebounds in the contest.

Injury Report

Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson left the game momentarily in the first half due to a leg injury but returned and played the rest of the way. He was solid, finishing with 24 points on 8-of-16 shooting.

James got hit in the eye by Green in Game 1 and it was red in the second half. James fought through it and it does not figure to be an issue moving forward.

Golden State was without small forward Andre Iguodala, who missed a fifth consecutive game with a knee injury. He wants to get back badly but it?s unknown when he will be available. The Warriors have been cycling through different players as the fifth man in crunch time alongside the stars Curry, Durant, Thompson and Green.

Free NBA ATS Picks

The spread was much too high in Game 1, and the Cavaliers proved that by exchanging blow for blow with the Warriors from start to finish. It remains to be seen, though, if Cleveland expended too much energy in that one and can bounce back both physically and mentally.

James may be due for a letdown as he has been playing at an unbelievably high level and even the best players have mediocre performances. Take the Warriors to jump out to an early lead and cruise to the victory, covering the spread along the way in NBA basketball wagering.

Best Bet: Warriors 118, Cavaliers 102

 

[Cnotes53]

Warriors seek 2-0 lead
June 1, 2018

Game 2 ? Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors

The Cleveland Cavaliers had their chance to steal Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night in Oakland and let it get away. The question now is whether or not Game 1 was an aberration or whether the series is going to be a lot more competitive than most people thought.

Oddsmakers still don?t give Cleveland much of a chance, as the Golden State Warriors are listed as 12-point favorites for Game 2 on Sunday night on ABC. Let?s look at Game 2 and NBA picks.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors
Date and Time: Sunday, June 3, 2018, 8:00 p.m. Eastern
Location: Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
NBA Odds: Warriors -12, O/U 216
TV Coverage: ABC

The Cavaliers did a lot of things right on Thursday night, but a missed free throw by George Hill, a blunder by J.R. Smith and a disputed foul call gave the Warriors a chance and in overtime the Warriors blitzed Cleveland, winning 124-114. The Cavaliers got a brilliant game from LeBron James, as he had 51 points, but they still lost. Stephen Curry had 29 points to lead the Warriors.

Many people are talking about Smith inexplicably running out the clock at the end of regulation with the game tied or they are talking about the blocking foul on James that was changed from a charge on Kevin Durant. What most people are not talking about is the missed free throw by Hill that would have given Cleveland the lead with four seconds remaining.

The teams get two days off before Game 2 on Sunday night at Oracle Arena, where the Warriors have won 18 of their last 19 playoff games. You may not remember that when Golden State beat the Cavaliers in 2015, the first two games of the series went to overtime.

The question for Game 2 is how Cleveland recovers. "We've got to move on," James said to the media. "This game is over and done with. We had opportunities." The Cavaliers are hoping that none of their players are suspended for Game 2 after Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love were involved in an altercation with Draymond Green late in overtime. The Warriors are hoping that Andre Iguodala is ready to go. He has not played since suffering a bone bruise against Houston.

3-Point Shooting

The Cavaliers were just 10-of-37 from 3-point range in the Game 1 loss. Golden State let LeBron score at will, but no one else really hurt the Warriors to a great extent. Kevin Love scored 21 points but he was 1-for-8 from 3-point range. The Warriors were a little better from 3-point range, as they went 13-of-36. If both teams heat up a little from beyond the arc in Game 2 it should be a high scoring contest.

Key Stats

The Cavaliers are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games playing with two days of rest. The Warriors are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games playing with two days of rest. The Over is 5-0 in the last 5 NBA Finals games.

Cavaliers vs. Warriors Free Picks

There is a good chance that Cleveland gave it their best shot in Game 1 and that they get routed in Game 2. LeBron said to the media after the game that his team played great. "We played as well as we have all postseason," James said, "We gave ourselves a chance possession after possession after possession. There were just some plays that were kind of taken away from us, simple as that."

It is very difficult to play two great games in a row, so I will lay the points and take Golden State in Game 2. I thought Game 1 would be high scoring and it was, although it did go into overtime. The game would have gone over the total even without overtime, but just barely. I still think the total is too low and I think the over is worth a play again. I?ll take Golden State and the over in Game 2.

Cavaliers vs. Warriors ATS Pick: Warriors and Over the total
Cavaliers vs. Warriors Score Prediction: Warriors 119, Cavaliers 100

 

[Cnotes53]

Warriors got every break in Game 1
June 1, 2018

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) The ending was weird.

The postgame was weird.

At least Game 1 of what was supposed to be a lopsided NBA Finals was anything but boring. It had a little of everything: A player stumbled and buckled Klay Thompson's knee to send the Warriors' sharp-shooter limping to the locker room in the opening minutes; let Stephen Curry get loose for a 30-footer at the halftime buzzer; grabbed a rebound in the final seconds of regulation with the score tied and inexplicably ran toward midcourt as if he thought the game was over.

And all that was just J.R. Smith.

The opener of this Cleveland-Golden State series should have been memorable for other reasons - LeBron James scoring a playoff career-high 51 points, the Warriors having three players score at least 24 and Draymond Green nearly getting a triple-double. Instead, this game's legacy is an overturned charge call late in regulation, Smith's gaffes, contradictory explanations from Cleveland and hot tempers in the final seconds.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr's assessment? ''Lucky.''

Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue's assessment? ''Robbed.''

Warriors 124, Cavaliers 114, overtime. That's what the box score says and will forever say, and the defending champions are now one step closer to winning their third title in four years. Golden State left Oracle Arena relieved. Cleveland left angered. Those emotions will likely remain in place all the way until Game 2 tips off on Sunday night.

James wants the Cavs to put it behind them.

''We've got to move on,'' James said. ''This game is over and done with.''

Easier said than done, particularly with two full off days to now deal with, two full off days to replay everything over and over and over and over and over again.

Let's be clear: The Warriors aren't here because of luck. They have a coach who has won 80 percent of his career games. They have four All-Stars in the same lineup. They have two NBA MVPs.

But they got every break in Game 1. Every break.

Start in the beginning, when Smith slipped and stumbled into Thompson's knee. It had all the makings of some sort of knee structural disaster - the hit came from the side, Thompson twisted awkwardly, went down in a heap and was obviously in immediate, intense pain. Thompson limped away to the Warriors' locker room for evaluation.

He was back in a few minutes. Big break No. 1.

''I'm happy it's just a muscle that got strained,'' Thompson said.

Then came the final seconds of the first half, Cleveland having a foul to give. Smith would have been best served hugging Curry to make sure no shot got off. Instead, Smith went for a steal - he didn't get it - and Curry turned and coolly buried a 30-footer and sent the teams into intermission tied. Big break No. 2.

''The Finals, man, anything is liable to happen,'' Curry said.

From his perspective, good things.

From Cleveland's perspective, bad things.

Cleveland led by two in the final minute, poised to steal Game 1, when James stepped up and tried to take a charge against Kevin Durant. Referee Ken Mauer called an offensive foul, but it was overturned after replay review.

''We had doubt as to whether or not James was in the restricted area,'' Mauer said.

James was well outside the area, and the Cavs didn't buy the explanation.

''I read that play just as well as I've read any play in my career, maybe in my life,'' James said.

Durant tied the game with a couple of free throws awarded on the call reversal. Big break No. 3.

And with about 4 seconds left in the fourth, George Hill went to the line with Cleveland down by one for two shots. Made the first. Missed the second. Smith got the rebound, and ran away from the basket. Overtime. Big break No. 4.

''He thought we were up one,'' Lue said.

''I knew it was tied,'' Smith insisted.

The extra session was all Golden State. The home team left happy. The fans that packed Oracle Arena went home happy. James went back to his hotel to deal with blurred vision (courtesy of what appeared to be an unintentional first-half eye poke by Green), and the Cavaliers were further angered by Shaun Livingston following Golden State policy by taking a shot in the final seconds of a decided game instead of just getting charged with a shot-clock turnover.

''Tonight we played as well as we've played all postseason, and we gave ourselves a chance possession after possession after possession,'' James said. ''There were just some plays that were kind of taken away from us. Simple as that.''

Many onlookers thought this series would be a rout, a Golden State coronation.

If the Warriors keep getting every break, they'll certainly be right.

 

[Cnotes53]

On Basketball: Golden State cannot relax now, or else
June 4, 2018

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Learn from your mistakes, Golden State.

Learn from how one got away in 2016. Learn from how sleepwalking through the third quarter on Sunday night made Game 2 of this series much more interesting than it ever should have been, at least until Stephen Curry went wild in the fourth quarter. Learn from Boston, both this year and six years ago. Learn from what cost San Antonio a title in 2013, too.

Don't give LeBron James hope.

Or else.

Golden State leads these NBA Finals 2-0, after a 122-103 win put the defending champions two wins away from what would be their third title in the last four seasons. Only four teams have ever wasted a 2-0 lead in the finals - and Golden State is one of them, letting a championship ring slip away against James and the Cavaliers two years ago.

The series shifts to Cleveland for Game 3 on Wednesday night. James looked exhausted when Game 2 was over, but he'll be somewhat rested by then. And he will most definitely be fueled by a boisterous home crowd that will want to both give him an immediate lift - and make one last series of impressions before he goes into free agency and considers leaving the Cavaliers again next month.

Game 3 is everything for the Cavs. If they go down 3-0, series over.

Game 3 has to be everything for the Warriors as well. They know it, too.

''I think because we've been here several times, I don't think I'll need to say much,'' Golden State coach Steve Kerr said. ''Guys in the locker room, they already know that.''

They better.

Boston had James in a 2-0 hole this year, then lost Games 3 and 4 in Cleveland and wound up falling in seven. The Celtics had him and the Heat down 3-2 in the Eastern Conference finals in 2012, and couldn't finish. The Spurs led 3-2 in the 2013 NBA Finals, had a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter of Game 6, and came undone.

The Warriors led 2-0 and 3-1 in 2016. This is not the same Golden State team (Kevin Durant helps). This is not the same Cleveland team (Kyrie Irving would really help). But the Warriors would be foolish to not remember that series, not to remember the ultimate cautionary tale.

They're saying all the right things.

''It's nothing to feel happy about being up 2-0,'' Warriors guard Klay Thompson said. ''This (Cleveland) team plays great at home and we expect their other guys to play better at home too, not just LeBron. So we're not going to relax at all because this team's been down and out before and counted out by the media. We're not going to focus on that. We're just going to focus on what we can do to win Game 3.''

This series at times has been the Cavaliers versus the cavalier.

Golden State was fortunate to win Game 1, and realized as such. The Warriors should have been up much bigger than 13 at halftime of Game 2, and found themselves in a dogfight instead of a victory lap in the third quarter when the Cavs got within five on a number of occasions.

It took things like JaVale McGee going 6 for 6 and David West stepping up in a critical late-third-quarter moment to hit his first 3-pointer in seven months to help the Warriors keep the Cavs at bay Sunday, until Curry ran wild late on his way to a NBA Finals record nine 3s and turn the game into a rout. It took James, grotesque-looking eye and all, playing like his version of a mere mortal - 29 points, 13 assists, nine rebounds, 10-for-20 shooting.

''It was too easy for them,'' Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said of the Warriors.

Give Golden State credit. They adjusted nicely against James after his 51-point barrage in Game 1. They took a page from the 2014 Spurs - who beat James in five games in the NBA Finals that year, the end of his Miami era - and routinely picked him up 30 to 40 feet away from the basket. Do that, and more often than not James will say that giving up the ball is the right play.

The Warriors welcome that. They want the other Cavs to have to beat them.

The formula worked Sunday. They just have to do it twice more to win another title. And just like the Warriors on the not-wanting-to-relax front, James said he hopes the Cavaliers continue feeling uncomfortable as well.

''Just because we're going home doesn't mean we can relax,'' James said. ''This is the last team in the world you want to relax against. They've proven they can win on someone else's floor, no matter if it's through adversity as people may call it like when they were going through the Rockets series or whatever the case may be.''

It's often been said, even by James himself, that a series doesn't really start until one team wins on the other's home floor. All Golden State has done so far has hold serve.

That's true.

But by the close of business Wednesday night, we'll know if this is a series or not.

 

[Cnotes53]

Finals shifts to Cleveland, Cavs down
June 4, 2018

LeBron James is friends with Draymond Green, has worked out with Kevin Durant, speaks with great reverence for Stephen Curry and Steve Kerr.

They all do like each other.

And, to those watching the NBA Finals, that might be easy to forget at times.

Turns out, when the same franchises meet for the fourth consecutive year to decide the NBA championship, familiarity indeed does breed contempt. Tensions have been high at times in the first two games of this series, emotions have started to boil over on a couple of occasions, and that trend will likely be continuing until someone hoists the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

''Even with turnover from players, you have a continuity of management, continuity of culture in organizations,'' NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. ''There's the institutional memory there of the wins and the losses. And so, I think it is very meaningful and when you have the same teams that are meeting for the fourth time, it's part of a larger storyline. It's not just a one-off game or a one-off series.''

Translated: Everyone should have seen this coming.

There was the dustup at the end of Game 1 when Cleveland's Tristan Thompson was angered by the Warriors' Shaun Livingston trying a jumper with the outcome already decided. There was Klay Thompson angered by the recklessness of J.R. Smith crashing into his leg early in the series opener. There was Kendrick Perkins jawing at Stephen Curry after the third quarter of Game 2.

The Warriors and the Cavaliers are certainly not lacking for intensity in these finals.

''Much ado about nothing,'' Curry said Sunday night, likely not the most completely honest statement of his career since it couldn't have been just a coincidence that he made all five of his 3-pointers in the next 8:33 to turn the game into a blowout.

Game 3 is in Cleveland on Wednesday night, with the Warriors up 2-0. Emotions will simmer until then.

''It's just basketball,'' Tristan Thompson said. ''It's just a competitive sport. Of course we're going to get irritated with each other, just because we're both competitors and we both want it all. But it never goes off the court. Maybe for some guys it does, but not for me.''

Rivalries are what make the sport great.

There was the Celtics-Lakers hatred of eras gone past. Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls and the Detroit Pistons otherwise known as the Bad Boys. Pat Riley, back in the day, used to forbid his Knicks and Heat teams from helping up opponents when they knocked them over and discouraged fraternizing with the enemy - ever, including the offseason.

Times have changed. Guys vacation together now. It's a new era.

''We're not holding hands and singing songs as friends,'' Curry said. ''We're enjoying the competitive environment. I think that's the consistent thing between our two teams. Obviously we see each other twice a year during the regular season and then you wait until June. ... It's just about winning a championship. You don't want to let anything distract us from that on the floor.''

Sometimes, the ribbing goes off the court.

James raised eyebrows when he showed up with a suit jacket and matching shorts for Game 1, then arrived at Game 2 with a similar look. Never missing a chance to get under someone's collar, Green showed up at Game 2 also in the jacket-shorts mode.

''Fun,'' Green said.

There's basketball beefs, and then there's real-world beefs. Someone tried to get Green to draw a parallel between the Warriors-Cavs animus and the recent musical rivalry between Pusha T and Drake.

He didn't bite.

''This is nothing like that, nothing at all like that,'' Green said.

Everything is fun for the Warriors right now, since they've won the first two games. Understandably, not much seems like fun to the Cavaliers. But no matter how this series ends, whenever it ends, there will be hugs and handshakes.

Until then, it's just all part of the game.

That's why things, while often heated, never seem to get overheated.

''They're a championship team, we're a championship team, and we both have experience,'' the Warriors' Kevon Looney said. ''So it's going to get a little chippy out there.''

The commissioner is fine with that, provided things stay within reason.

''The game ends, they take their proverbial cold shower and then they put it behind them,'' Silver said. ''Until the next game.''

 

[Cnotes53]

Warriors chase third title in 4 years
June 4, 2018

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Stephen Curry and coach Steve Kerr's Golden State Warriors have repeatedly said they want to build something special for the long haul, to compete for championships year after year.

LeBron James considers his familiar NBA Finals opponent among the best teams ever.

Where the Warriors stack up if they win a third championship in four years will make for a dynasty debate. And their domination doesn't appear to be ending anytime soon, so if they keep winning Golden State will have its place in history.

''As a fan of the NBA, you could go down the list of the teams that won multiple years and just dominated the league for stretches of time,'' Curry said.

The Warriors are trying to join Bill Russell's Celtics, the Bulls led by Michael Jordan and the Lakers' trio of title runs fueled by George Mikan in the 1950s, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the `80s, and Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant nearly 20 years ago as the only franchises in NBA history to capture three championships in four years.

The Warriors are halfway there, holding a 2-0 lead against the underdog Cavs as the series shifts to Cleveland for Game 3 on Wednesday.

''Listen, Golden State is one of the best teams I've ever played. It's one of the best teams that's ever been assembled,'' said James, who is playing in his eighth straight NBA Finals and fourth in a row against Golden State.

Curry, sharp-shooting Klay Thompson, fiery Draymond Green and 2015 Finals MVP Andre Iguodala make up an All-Star-studded squad trying to repeat after James thwarted that quest two years ago when the Cavs stopped the defending champs. Kevin Durant bolted from Oklahoma City to join the cast last season.

''You look at it, they've got four Hall of Famers on their team in Klay, Dray, Steph and KD. They've got a Finals MVP that comes off their bench,'' James said in reference to Iguodala. ''... I don't know where they will fall in my book, but they will have a nice chapter.''

Not everybody is ready to crown the Warriors as a dynasty, not just yet anyway. Not even if they win the title this year.

''I don't like to go dynasty stuff, they've been the team of the decade,'' said Gary Payton, the longtime Seattle SuperSonics point guard who played 17 seasons through 2007. ''That's what it is. They've been doing their thing. When we get into a dynasty is Michael Jordan and them winning six, that's a dynasty. The Golden State Warriors (would have) won three out of four, that's great.

''It's coming to be a dynasty. If you win a couple more, then you're talking about a dynasty. So three of them is in the right stage and the right movement to becoming a dynasty, yes.''

The defending champions are playing in a fourth straight finals chasing a repeat they couldn't pull off in 2016 after capturing the franchise's first title in 40 years during 2014-15 with Kerr as a rookie head coach.

TNT analyst and former player Charles Barkley wants nothing to do with dynasty talk regarding the Warriors.

''We don't have any dynasties. It's been a long time since we've had a dynasty,'' Barkley said. ''The Bulls won six, the Spurs won five. We've had a lot of really good teams. I think the only dynasty is the Spurs. They've been great for 20 years. The Warriors are not going to win. Winning two in four years is not a dynasty.''

Golden State would love nothing more than to continue building momentum as the franchise approaches the opening of its new San Francisco arena, Chase Center , in summer 2019 if all remains on schedule. That leaves one last season at Oracle Arena.

B.J. Armstrong earned titles alongside Jordan with the Bulls from 1991-93. If the Warriors win another, they will join dynasty status in Armstrong's mind.

''They're right there,'' Armstrong said. ''For them to have a sustained level of excellence like they've had, I don't take that for granted and I think anyone who's played or observed this game knows how difficult that is for one, let alone to be able to get here four times and have an opportunity to win three speaks for itself. ...

''If they win this one, they're right up there with all of the teams for a dynasty-type caliber situation up here in Golden State.''

Curry was around for all the losing: 26 wins his rookie season of 2009-10, 23 two years later then gradually building to more victories each season thereafter.

He is proud to be part of a transformation - one the two-time MVP hopes they contend for titles for years to come.

''What we've been able to do here ... kind of taking a small step every year until 2015, winning our first championship, it is a sense of pride around that,'' Curry said. ''Being the elder statesman here and seeing what has all gone into being on this stage every single year - when it comes to the guys that I get to suit up with every single night, from Bob Myers down to the coaching staff to the ownership - it's just a transformation that I got to see firsthand and all the details that went into it.

''So at some point, when this is all said and done, I hope to kind of just sit back and really truly appreciate, from start to finish, all that went into it. But there is an awareness of where we were to where we are. And I appreciate it.''

 

[Cnotes53]

NBA Finals Game 3 betting preview and odds: Warriors at Cavaliers

Golden State Warriors at Cleveland Cavaliers (+4.5, 216.5)

Warriors lead series 2-0.

The Cleveland Cavaliers badly need a victory if they plan on turning the NBA Finals into a true series. The Golden State Warriors won the first two games of the best-of-seven series and look to place Cleveland in a major hole when they visit the Cavaliers on Wednesday.

Cleveland forward LeBron James averaged 40 points in the first two games - including his epic 51-point outing in the opener - and it still wasn't enough to get his squad a victory. "I don't like the way I feel, the mood I'm in right now," James told reporters at his Tuesday media availability. "When you're down like this, a deficit like this against a team like this, there's no good feeling. I personally don't feel good today about the deficit we have. I feel great about (Wednesday), the opportunity we have." Warriors guard Stephen Curry made an NBA Finals-record nine 3-pointers in Game 2 and is averaging 31 points in the series but he said his team has a lot of work still to do. "We understand how hard it is to win in this building," Curry told reporters. "No matter what's gone on in the series, when you change venues, you've got to reassert your dominance and try to find that right momentum to start. We have a great opportunity (Wednesday) to do that."

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ABC

SERIES PRICE (PER PINNACLE):

LINE HISTORY: The Warriors opened as 5-point road favorites for Game 3 and as of Tuesday afternoon the pointspread is down slightly to 4.5. The total hit betting boards at 217.5 and is down to 216.5.

INJURY REPORT:

Warriors - SF A. Iguodala (Questionable, Leg), SF C. Boucher (Out Indefinitely, Ankle).

Cavaliers - No injuries to report.

MATCHUP CHART:

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (72-29 SU, 44-56-1 ATS, 46-54-1 O/U): Swingman Andre Iguodala (left knee) was termed questionable for Game 3 and it will be decided Wednesday whether or not he plays for the first since May 20. "He's doing better," Golden State coach Steve Kerr said at his Tuesday press conference. "He told me he's feeling better, so I would upgrade him to questionable. But I think he's getting closer, and I'm hopeful that he can play." Meanwhile, forward Kevin Durant is getting it done on the offensive end with back-to-back 26-point outings and he has topped 20 points in all 19 postseason games.

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (62-40 SU, 41-60-1 ATS, 48-52-2 O/U): Playoff disappointment Rodney Hood will receive some minutes in Game 3 as Cleveland searches for anybody who can provide scoring punch to complement James and power forward Kevin Love. Hood was acquired from Utah Jazz in February and hasn't fit in and is averaging just 4.4 points in the postseason but coach Tyronn Lue said "we're going to give Rodney a chance" and Hood proclaims he is ready. "I don't know when it's going to come or what stage of the game, but just being ready," Hood, who has played just four minutes in the series, told reporters. "I've been preparing, I've been working hard, so if I get the opportunity, just go out there and play. Just have fun."

TRENDS:

* Warriors are 7-18 ATS in their last 25 games following a straight up win.
* Cavaliers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games.
* Under is 6-1 in Warriors' last 7 road games.
* Over is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings.

CONSENSUS:

56 percent of pointspread bets are on the underdog Cleveland Cavaliers while 55 percent of totals wagers are on the Over.

 

[Cnotes53]

NBA
Dunkel

Wednesday, June 6

Golden State @ Cleveland

Game 505-506
June 6, 2018 @ 9:05 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Golden State
128.016
Cleveland
127.393
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Golden State
by 1
213
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Golden State
by 5
218
Dunkel Pick:
Cleveland
(+5); Under




NBA
Long Sheet

Wednesday, June 6

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GOLDEN STATE (72 - 29) at CLEVELAND (62 - 40) - 6/6/2018, 9:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
GOLDEN STATE is 43-55 ATS (-17.5 Units) in all games this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 41-49 ATS (-12.9 Units) as a favorite this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 9-20 ATS (-13.0 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 9-21 ATS (-14.1 Units) after 3 or more consecutive wins this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 24-36 ATS (-15.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 14-25 ATS (-13.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 66-44 ATS (+17.6 Units) in all playoff games since 1996.
GOLDEN STATE is 68-42 ATS (+21.8 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game - 2nd half of the season since 1996.
CLEVELAND is 41-59 ATS (-23.9 Units) in all games this season.
CLEVELAND is 17-32 ATS (-18.2 Units) in home games this season.
CLEVELAND is 6-15 ATS (-10.5 Units) when playing with 2 days rest this season.
CLEVELAND is 8-19 ATS (-12.9 Units) against Pacific division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 25-40 ATS (-19.0 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 25-41 ATS (-20.1 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 7-19 ATS (-13.9 Units) after a loss by 10 points or more this season.
CLEVELAND is 14-25 ATS (-13.5 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 106+ points/game this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
GOLDEN STATE is 11-9 against the spread versus CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
GOLDEN STATE is 14-6 straight up against CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
10 of 19 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




NBA
Armadillo's Write-Up

Wednesday, June 6

Game 3
Warriors won their last four games, by 29-9-10-21 points; they shot 57% from floor Sunday- Curry was 9-17 on arc, Durant/Thompson shot combined 18-27 from floor as Golden State jogged in Game 2. When Livingston/McGee shoot a combined 11-11, they ain?t losing. Cavs won their last eight home games, covered last four. Golden State won nine of last ten series games (7-3 vs spread), two of last three in Ohio. Over is 6-2 in last eight series games. Under is 9-3 in Warriors? last 12 games, 5-2 in their last seven.

NBA Finals
GState 124-114 OT, -13, O217.5
GState 122-103, -11.5, O216.5




NBA

Wednesday, June 6

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Golden State Warriors
Golden State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Golden State's last 12 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Golden State's last 7 games on the road
Golden State is 7-2-1 ATS in its last 10 games when playing Cleveland
Golden State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Cleveland
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Golden State's last 8 games when playing Cleveland
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Golden State's last 9 games when playing on the road against Cleveland
Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland's last 6 games
Cleveland is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Cleveland is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Cleveland's last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Cleveland's last 15 games at home
Cleveland is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Golden State
Cleveland is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Golden State
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Cleveland's last 8 games when playing Golden State
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Cleveland's last 9 games when playing at home against Golden State

 

[Cnotes53]

Cavaliers facing critical Game 3 at home
June 6, 2018

CLEVELAND (AP) For LeBron James, losing is no longer an option.

With Cleveland down 2-0 to Golden State in the NBA Finals, James knows better than anyone that he and the Cavaliers are facing a must-win situation in Game 3 on Wednesday night at Quicken Loans Arena.

No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series. James acknowledged the Cavs are facing a ''tall task'' as it is against the Warriors, who are seeking their second straight title and third in four years.

Stephen Curry made nine 3-pointers in Golden State's Game 2 win, and the Warriors, who live by a ''Strength In Numbers'' slogan, could get back forward Andre Iguodala for Game 3. Iguodala has missed the past six games with a knee injury but practiced Tuesday.

Cavs coach Tyronn Lue plans to switch up his rotation and play forward Rodney Hood, whose role has been reduced since the start of the postseason.

**********************

Cavs turning to seldom-used Hood
June 6, 2018

CLEVELAND (AP) Rodney Hood's most significant moment in these playoffs came while sitting on the bench.

Well, he's getting up and getting in the NBA Finals.

Looking for an offensive weapon to negate Golden State's size and ability to switch assignments on defense, Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said he'll play Hood in Game 3 on Wednesday night in hopes of cutting into the Warriors' series lead.

Hood, who began this postseason in Cleveland's starting lineup, has been mostly a non-factor during the Cavs' spring run which included him refusing to check into the final minutes of a blowout win over Toronto in the second round.

That's not an option now.

''We're going to give Rodney a chance,'' Lue said following practice at Quicken Loans Arena on Tuesday. ''He'll get a shot and see how he does. He's been working, staying ready. So we'll see.''

Lue did not specify if Hood will start, when he'll come in, how much he'll play or whose minutes will be affected.

Hood promised to be ready for anything.

''I don't know when it's going to come or what stage of the game,'' Hood said. ''I've been preparing. I've been working hard, so if I get the opportunity, just go out there and play. Just have fun.''

Trailing 2-0, the Cavs are searching for some kind of spark and could find it if the 6-foot-8 Hood can tap into some of the offensive skills that made him attractive to Cleveland at the trading deadline.

He was acquired on Feb. 8 from Utah, and there were more than a few basketball experts who viewed the lean lefty as the best new piece on a day when the Cavs also dealt for guards George Hill, Jordan Clarkson and big man Larry Nance Jr.

Lue didn't get nearly enough in Games 1 and 2 in Oakland from J.R. Smith (5 of 19) or Kyle Korver (4 points). Korver has been completely neutralized by the Warriors, who are not giving him any room to shoot.

''It's hard because they switch out on everything,'' Lue said. ''So all the actions you run for Kyle, they just switch out to deny and take him away. When they are helping on LeBron's penetration, the one guy they're staying at home on is Kyle. They're not leaving his body.''

Unlike the 37-year-old Korver, Hood is quick enough to beat the Warriors off the dribble, create open space to shoot and maybe get to the rim. Defensively, he's got length and mobility.

He's shown flashes. The Cavs now need him to shine steadily.

''He's very talented,'' said forward Kevin Love. ''He's a guy that can step in and fill up a scoreboard. Left-handed. A little bit unorthodox in the way that he plays. Just having that height on him and that wingspan, and the ability to not only make shots, but on the defensive end to switch out. Also play a guy like K.D. (Kevin Durant) at his size and just make it tough on both ends of the floor for their team. That gives all of us a lot of confidence that he can come in and make an impact.''

Hood's short stay in Cleveland has been nondescript.

He averaged 16.8 points for the Jazz, but the 25-year-old never truly found his rhythm while coming off the bench for the Cavs over the regular season's final 21 games. Still, he was in Lue's starting lineup for the series opener against Indiana before Cleveland got beat soundly.

Hood saw spot duty the remainder of that series, and was essentially ineffective in three games against the Raptors before Lue tried to send him into the closing minutes of the clinching win on May 7 as the Cavs completed a sweep of the Eastern Conference's top-seeded team.

When Hood declined, it upset a few teammates. Hood insisted he wasn't protesting his reduced role and explained that there had been a mix-up. He apologized to the Cavs, many of whom laughed off the incident as minimal in a season overflowing with juicier drama.

While waiting for another chance, Hood has received positive support from Cleveland's coaches and former teammates, including Joe Johnson who could relate to his plight after sitting in Houston.

Hood is confident he's ready.

''Just going out there and try to help the team, on offense be aggressive and on defense just be physical,'' he said.

Hood struggled during a playoff series with Utah against Golden State a year ago, making just 1 of 15 3-pointers and shooting 12 of 38 overall.

Those stats don't matter now.

The only number that counts is his and will soon be called.

****************************

Cavs home looking to turn around Finals
June 5, 2018

CLEVELAND (AP) LeBron James laughed as he came around the backstage partition after arriving fashionably late for his crowded, post-practice news conference.

As he stepped onto the podium, back among friendly faces and in the building where he has done some of his finest work, James seemed at ease, almost content. No signs of stress anywhere.

Moments later, his demeanor shifted.

A few reminders about his team's urgent predicament against Golden State, questions about President Donald Trump and another review of Cleveland's heartbreaking loss in Oakland swung his emotions.

''I know it feels like we're down 2-0, and I don't like the way I feel,'' James said. ''I don't like the mood that I'm in right now. There's no, like, `OK, you're down 2-0 and you feel better than when you're down 2-0 before.' When you're down like this, in a deficit like this - versus a team like this - there's no good feeling. So I don't feel good about it.''

The Cavaliers may be in a dark place.

For the third time in the past four Finals, James and his teammates enter Game 3 against the Warriors in a win-or-make-summer-vacation-plans situation. After they wasted a 51-point effort by James - with a reversed official's call, missed free throw by George Hill and bone-headed move from J.R. Smith - and let Game 1 slip away in overtime , and following Stephen Curry's 3-point barrage in Game 2 , the Cavs are faced with the reality that their season, strange as it has been to this point, is in serious jeopardy.

However, coach Tyronn Lue, who plans to give disappointing forward Rodney Hood playing time on Wednesday night, feels his team can change the complexion of this series.

''We're very confident we can do that,'' Lue said. ''The guys are engaged and locked in. Winning tomorrow is a step forward, but then going out with Game 4 also. We're locked into doing that, and we know we can.

''We believe.''

It's easy to understand Lue's confidence. After what the Cavaliers have experienced this season, a 2-0 deficit in the Finals against a star-studded Warriors squad on the cusp of being stamped as a modern-day dynasty seems manageable.

Cleveland has endured injuries, trades, tragedy and drama for months. The Cavs, who climbed from a 2-0 hole to beat Boston in the conference finals, have major roster holes and unfixable flaws. There's no denying their toughness.

''We've been very persistent and very resilient throughout this whole season, no matter what has been going on,'' James said. ''We have an opportunity to come home and protect home, as Golden State has done. It's a very tall task. A very tough challenge going against these guys, going against this team.''

Teams that have taken a 2-0 lead are 29-4 in the Finals, but the Warriors know better than to be overconfident. They've learned the hard way.

Golden State held a 3-1 lead in the 2016 Finals before the Cavs rallied to win three straight and dethrone the Dubs. And last year, the Warriors trailed by six with 3:09 left before storming back to win 118-113 in Game 3.

Cleveland has won eight straight playoff games at Quicken Loans Arena, which may be louder than ever with hometown fans still frothing from some calls that went against the Cavaliers in the Bay Area last week.

Just the sight of Warriors forward Draymond Green should be enough to push the decibel readings inside the building to unsafe levels.

''I don't really think about being up 2-0 because the series could turn so fast,'' Warriors star Kevin Durant said. ''It's a great position to be in. I don't want to take that for granted; don't get me wrong. But the job is not done, and you can't relax or be comfortable when you're still trying to win this thing. We know coming on the road is going to be tougher.''

The Warriors may have Andre Iguodala back for the first time in the series.

One of the team's best defenders, Iguodala has missed six straight games with a left knee injury suffered in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals. Coach Steve Kerr said the 34-year-old has improved.

''He's getting closer, and I'm hopeful that he can play,'' Kerr said. ''If not tomorrow, then in Game 4.''

While Kerr looked forward, James was forced to take another glance back at Game 1.

On Sunday, uncut TV footage showed James uncomfortably sitting on Cleveland's bench next to Smith, who inexplicably dribbled out the final seconds of regulation. James was shown asking Lue if the team had any timeouts and then reacting as if he had been punched in the stomach when he learned the Cavs could have stopped the clock.

''Damn cameras,'' James joked when asked about the video. ''I finally got Game 1 out of my head. You're taking me back, huh?''

James, who is averaging 40 points, 10.5 assists and 8.5 rebounds in two games, abstains from social media during the postseason. He was unaware the video went viral or that he's being criticized for not inspiring his teammates.

''Me being criticized? I don't believe that,'' he said sarcastically. ''I don't care at all. I mean, we're in the NBA Finals. How much more picking up of teammates do you want me to do?''

 

[Cnotes53]

Livingston, McGee giving Warriors big lift
June 5, 2018

CLEVELAND (AP) Shaun Livingston and JaVale McGee have been giving the Golden State Warriors a huge lift in these NBA Finals by making every shot they take look easy.

Then again, they all have been easy.

Livingston is a perfect 9 for 9 from the field in this championship series. McGee is 8 for 9, and his lone miss came when he tried a dunk and stuffed the ball into the rim instead. The average distance of their made field goals is a staggeringly close 3 1/2 feet, which is basically gimme range in golf and darn close to gimme range in basketball as well - especially at this level.

For as spectacular as LeBron James has been in the first two games, his Cleveland Cavaliers are down 2-0 largely because the Warriors' supporting cast members like Livingston and McGee - journeymen of sorts - are soundly outplaying their Cavs' counterparts.

Stephen Curry is playing like an NBA Finals MVP, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson have been brilliant, and Draymond Green is quietly averaging a near triple-double. But the Warriors' motto is ''strength in numbers,'' and Livingston and McGee are personifying that.

''It's just being aggressive, being in the right spot too,'' Livingston said. ''It's nothing really magical about what I do or how I've been playing. I've been fortunate enough to, you know, shoot at a high clip. But a lot of those are dunks. Also, just being in the right spot on the court.''

Livingston has taken three jumpers, all of them mid-rangers of about 13 feet, in this series. Everything else has been at the rim. McGee made one shot from about 6 feet; his other eight attempts from the floor have basically been dunks.

McGee was moved into the starting lineup for Game 2. He said Tuesday that he doesn't know if he'll stay there for Game 3 in Cleveland on Wednesday night.

''These are some of the greatest teams in the world, ever,'' McGee said. ''It's a beautiful thing to be a part of it and to be a contributor in it.''

It's a difficult enough spot for the Cavaliers to deal with Curry, particularly when he is coming off an NBA Finals-record nine 3-pointers in Game 2. It's daunting to deal with Durant, one of the few guys in the league who can post up against James, turn and face the four-time MVP and shoot over him with relative ease. It's maddening to chase Thompson around and have him get shots off using his super-quick release, even when he's fairly well covered.

Golden State opponents expect that.

Livingston and McGee shooting 17 for 18, that just doesn't seem fair.

''I think when you're locked in and you're trying to take away K.D., you're trying to take away Steph and Klay, Livingston, McGee, they're going to get some shots,'' Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said. ''We've just got to do a better job of taking away the easy dunks and layups around the basket. When you're focusing on those three guys, other guys are going to get shots. But we've got to do a good job of just taking away the easy ones.''

McGee got the Warriors off and running in Game 2 with two easy dunks to open the game. Golden State never trailed.

Livingston said that wound up being a huge energy boost for Golden State, and he knows that the Cavaliers will aim to take the easy ones at the rim away in Game 3. As such, the Warriors might already have a counter in mind for whatever anticipated adjustment Cleveland makes.

''Coaches, I think they have a good game plan moving forward, seeing maybe what kind of adjustments Cleveland can make,'' Livingston said. ''We just have to be ready. Steph, Kevin, Klay, our scorers, they take the majority of the load, right? So they get a lot of the attention and the pressure. I think we have to be ready, all us other guys, to relieve some of that pressure.''


************************************


Finals Outlook - Game 3
June 6, 2018


NBA Finals Game 3 Preview

He most certainly can?t do it all, but LeBron James is getting close to it. Even with an obscene output that has the King averaging an outrageous 40-10-8 line that seems out of this world, the Cavaliers aren?t anywhere close to competing with Golden State. That first game was right there, but a series of blown opportunities slipped right through the sweaty fingers of the Cavaliers.

J.R. Smith has received a rightful amount of criticism (amongst other things) for his gaffe at the end of regulation in Game 1, but we really have to look at this from multiple viewpoints. LeBron could?ve missed a shot that Kevin Durant was blitzing to block anyways. The Cavaliers are not a phenomenal team coming out of timeouts, so 4.5 seconds (or whatever it was) may not have been enough time to get a good shot off. There?s no telling if the chance that the Cavs hypothetically afforded themselves would?ve hypothetically mattered.

The point isn?t that J.R. Smith does J.R. Smith things, it?s that the Cavaliers simply haven?t had great luck this entire series. In Game 2 things didn?t get any better as the Warriors casually smacked them upside the head in a 122-103 blowout that felt much worse. Cleveland went 3-for-19 in terms of open shots and making even half of those would?ve given them the fight that they showed during Game 1. The truth is that there?s no such thing as an easy bucket against Golden State.

Cleveland doesn?t have a second weapon and that becomes painfully obvious the longer this series goes on. Smith himself is averaging just 7.5 points in this series through two games, which would send off alarm bells if he didn?t average 11.3 points per game in the three NBA Finals meetings with the Warriors prior to this one. Even worse? He?s only scored 20+ points twice.

Kevin Love is the obvious go-to guy in this regard, but his 21.5 points and 11.5 rebounds this series so far are pretty much his ceiling. His best playoff series came last year against Boston where he averaged 22.6 and 12.4 in a 4-1 SU stomping during the Eastern Conference Finals. It?s not that his virtual 20-10 isn?t useful, it?s just that it?s not really going to get much better. Love has scored 30+ points just once in his entire playoff career (which isn?t that long to be fair).

Kyle Korver?s projections are worse. Larry Nance?s aren?t very good. Don?t get me started on Jordan Clarkson or Jeff Green. The point is that there just aren?t enough guys on Cleveland that can score enough points to keep up with a Golden State team that doesn?t seem capable of running out of gas.

To gain a glimpse in to where the 2018 NBA Finals is headed mathematically, you only really need to look at what the oddsmakers think in the NBA Series Props section. They?ve have two listings at the top of the charts for total games played ? one is for 4.5 games where the OVER is favored at -160 and one for 5.0 games where the UNDER is favored at -220. This seems like a whacky way to build a ?push? in to your bet, but the truth is that the guys who use computers and (hopefully) brains to put these odds together have essentially surmised that this series is headed towards a sweep.

You can flat out bet on Golden State to win Game 4 at +125 against Game 5 at +130 (or Game 6 at +800 and Game 7 at +1400) in the NBA Series props section. That was probably a cleaner way to show you just how probable a sweep was now that I think about it.

It?s not just that Golden State is a far better team, it?s that they know that they can just flick a switch and start bombarding a Cleveland team that is too shell shocked form its own mortality to fight back. The -4.5 points that the Warriors are getting feel like a gift from the oddsmakers. That -172 moneyline seems like the Lock of the Freaking Year.

What isn?t quite clear is why the books consider Cleveland to basically be +8.0 at home versus on the road. Forget the opponent. Even with a 35 point shellacking of the Raptors and a 30 point win over the Celtics in these playoffs, Cleveland is just +8.6 against their Eastern Conference playoff rivals when hosting. That positive point differential is paired with a relatively remarkable 8-1 SU record that is leveled out with a 4-5 ATS run.

For whatever it?s worth, Cleveland?s more promising home court advantage is leveraged against a -7.7 point differential when travelling in the post season that matches an awful 4-7 SU and 5-6 ATS record.

So I guess I can understand why the oddsmakers think Boston is worth +8.0 more points at home compared to when they visit Oracle. They have a near-15-point differential between home and away games this year. But it?s also clear that Indiana, Boston and Toronto are on an entire tier down from the Golden State Warriors.

As everyone else is, I?m excited to see if Cleveland can find an answer. But with Igoudala coming back to bolster an already incredibly fluid lineup, things will get harder for Cleveland. As if they weren?t hard enough.

Game 3 NBA Free Pick ? Golden State -4.5 over Cleveland (UND 216.5)

 

[Cnotes53]

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

GS at CLE 09:00 PM

CLE +4.0

U 216.5