Golden State Warriors are favored?

The Cleveland Cavaliers may have the best player in the NBA so why have the odds-makers made them underdogs to win the NBA Championship versus the Golden State Warriors.

Early money on the Cavs has forced the initial betting odds to change, but the Warriors are more than a 1/2 favorite at multiple sportsbooks. Bet Online and Americasbookie have both given Golden State -220 odds to win their first title in 40 years, while Cleveland is a +190 and +185 underdog at the betting sites, respectively.

The Warriors are favored in both Game 1 and Game 2, giving the Cavs 5.5 points and six points, respectively. Golden State has home-court advantage in the finals, possibly playing four games at the arena in which they went 39-2 during the regular season. Cleveland was just three games over .500 on the road, though they’ve gone 6-1 away from home in the playoffs.

Golden State has been a significant favorite in each playoff series, following a 67-win regular season. Cleveland was favored in their first three series, despite being the No.2 seed and not having home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Playing in the Western Conference, the Warriors faced the more difficult road to the NBA Finals. The Cavs have had a more dominant playoff run, losing two games compared to Golden State’s three postseason losses. Both teams won three consecutive games when falling behind 2-1 in the second round.

Much of the public is backing the Cavs and LeBron James, who’s carried a banged up Cleveland team to the finals. But James is 1-2 when being an underdog in the finals, losing to the San Antonio Spurs in 2007 and 2014. The Oklahoma City Thunder were favored to win the title in 2012, but James and the Miami Heat defeated them in five games.

Stephen Curry has led the Warriors to the NBA Finals in his first MVP season, and recent winners of the award have been difficult to beat when they make it beyond the conference finals. Three of the last four MVP winners that have reached the NBA Finals have won the championship.

Trends – Cleveland at Golden State

Red – Hot trends are trends 80% or higher. Blue – Cold trends are trends 20% or lower.
ATS Trends

Cleveland
Cavaliers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 Thursday games.
Cavaliers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 vs. NBA Pacific.
Cavaliers are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 vs. Western Conference.
Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a S.U. win.
Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Cavaliers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Cavaliers are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Cavaliers are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Cavaliers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 road games.
Cavaliers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games following a ATS win.
Cavaliers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games following a SU win of more than 10 points.

Golden State
Warriors are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 vs. Eastern Conference.
Warriors are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Warriors are 20-8-2 ATS in their last 30 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Warriors are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 games following a S.U. win.
Warriors are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Warriors are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 home games.
Warriors are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 Thursday games.
Warriors are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 vs. NBA Central.

OU Trends

Cleveland
Under is 4-0 in Cavaliers last 4 road games.
Under is 4-0 in Cavaliers last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 4-0 in Cavaliers last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 vs. Western Conference.
Under is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 vs. NBA Pacific.
Under is 5-2 in Cavaliers last 7 games following a ATS win.
Under is 9-4 in Cavaliers last 13 Thursday games.

Golden State
Under is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Under is 6-0 in Warriors last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Under is 7-0-1 in Warriors last 8 home games.
Under is 4-0-1 in Warriors last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-0 in Warriors last 5 vs. NBA Central.
Under is 8-1-1 in Warriors last 10 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 10-2 in Warriors last 12 overall.
Under is 9-2 in Warriors last 11 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 9-2 in Warriors last 11 games following a SU win of more than 10 points.
Under is 7-2 in Warriors last 9 games following a S.U. win.
Under is 9-3 in Warriors last 12 games following a ATS win.
Under is 10-4 in Warriors last 14 vs. Eastern Conference.

Head to Head

Cavaliers are 3-9 ATS in the last 12 meetings.
Cavaliers are 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Golden State.