Thu 16/04/2015 - 21:24 EDT

Cavaliers-Warriors Finals Favored As NBA Playoffs Start

Cavaliers-Warriors Finals Favored As NBA Playoffs Start

cavaliers

The Sweet 16 of the NBA playoffs tips off with four games on Saturday and four on Sunday to get things started and to no surprise, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors are the favorites to meet in an exact Finals matchup at +160 at Sportsbook.ag.

Warriors Are No. 1 Overall Seed

Golden State had one of the great regular seasons in league history with 67 wins and an incredible 39-2 record at home, which ties for the second-best mark in league history. All the Warriors have to do to win a title is not lose at Oracle Arena again as they are the overall No. 1 seed. They  open the playoffs Saturday against No. 8  seed New Orleans. The Pelicans pulled off a surprise in their season finale on Wednesday, upsetting visiting San Antonio to end the Spurs' 11-game winning streak. That dropped the Spurs to the No. 6 seed in the West instead of No. 2.

The Warriors have the league's most efficient defense and No. 2 offense in efficiency. They have the expected league MVP in Steph Curry, Coach of the Year in Steve Kerr and Defensive Player of the Year in Draymond Green. The Warriors  three of four during the regular season vs. the Pelicans, splitting in New Orleans, while scoring 112, 128 and 112 points in the three victories. It should be noted that Pelicans star Anthony Davis played in just two of those games.

Golden State is the biggest opening-round series favorite at -5000. The Warriors are +220 to win the NBA title and -110 to win the West. San Antonio is next at +220 to win the West but now the Spurs have a tough opening series starting on the road Sunday at the No. 3 Clippers, who have won seven straight and 14 of their past 15 games. It's only the second time the Spurs have opened the playoffs on the road in the Tim Duncan Era.

Cavs Don't Have Home Court Vs. Hawks

The Cavaliers are No. 2 in the East behind Atlanta but heavy -240 favorites to win the conference and also +220 to win the NBA title. Cleveland should have little trouble in the first round against No. 7 Boston, which has to be the biggest surprise playoff team as even GM Danny Ainge expected a return to the draft lottery. Despite their underwhelming final record and the fact they were ranked No. 11 in the East as late as March 5, the Celtics stormed into the playoffs, winners of nine of their past 10 games and compiling the most wins in the conference since Feb. 1, finishing 24-12 in that span. Boston just beat Cleveland twice in the last week of the season but the Cavaliers didn't play anyone of note. The Cavs are -4000 series favorites. They are likely to face  No. 3 Chicago in the second round.

Top-seeded Atlanta opens Sunday against Brooklyn, a team the Hawks easily swept this season. Ironically, the Hawks also get to switch first-round picks with the Nets as final payment for the Joe Johnson trade. The Hawks open as -1200 series favorites. The Hawks would face either No. 4 Toronto or No. 5 Washington in the conference semifinals so they catch a huge break in avoiding the Cavs and/or Bulls until the East Finals. Atlanta is +400 to win the East with the Bulls at +600. Chicago should have little trouble in Round 1 against Milwaukee.

Category : Betting Picks

Tag : 2015 nba playoffs , cavaliers warriors finals , cleveland cavaliers , Golden State Warriors , nba odds

More articles...
Betting Picks - 01/04/25
Back Duke Blue Devils to win March Madness 2025 NCAAB tournament 

The 2025 March Madness tournament is almost at a climax as we have hit the Final Four weekend, with the four number one seeds all going head-to-head. The Duke Blue Devils will take on the Houston Cougars for a place in the final, and they will face the winner of Florida Gators' clash with the Auburn Tigers, as an excellent tournament […]

Betting Picks - 23/03/25
Mariners Are Among Our Picks to Win on 2025 MLB Opening Day 

What: 2025 MLB Opening Day Who: Seattle Mariners vs. Athletics When: Thursday, March 27 at 7 p.m. Where: T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington How to watch: Root Sports After a long offseason and an exciting spring training, Opening Day is coming this week for Major League Baseball fans and people are understandably pretty fired up. […]

Betting Picks - 19/03/25
Carlos Alcaraz is Our Pick to Win the 2025 Miami Open 

What: 2025 Miami Open Where: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida When: Now until March 30 How to watch: ESPN In the blink of an eye, there's another exciting tennis tournament for everyone to get excited about. We're of course talking about the 2025 Miami Open, with things coming right after the Indian Wells tourney […]

Betting Picks - 13/03/25
Scottie Scheffler is Our Pick to Win the 2025 Players Championship 

What: 2025 Players Championship When: Now through March 16 Where: Players Stadium Course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida How to watch: CBS The Players Championship is here and golf fans everywhere are pretty fired up over things. From now until Sunday, the best golfers on the planet are going to look to put on a […]