The NBA Finals are upon us and for the first time in NBA history we are getting a third straight match-up between the same two teams. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors have been head and shoulders above every other team in the NBA for the last three years and this rubber match should be really exciting.
LeBron James leads the Cavaliers, but don't count out Kyrie Irving in this series. His one on one play was huge for the team last year and he plays well against Stephen Curry for whatever reason. Kevin Love has also played his best basketball since coming to Cleveland this season and he should be a factor in this series. While everyone has talked about the Warriors adding Kevin Durant, the Cavs addition of Kyle Korver and Deron Williams has really made their bench into a strength and that could be a strength for them in this series as the Warriors are a bit top heavy. Channing Frye wasn't playable in this series last year, but lineups with him, JR Smith and Kyle Korver are a three-point shooting nightmare.
Of course, the Warriors are arguably one of the greatest teams ever assembled and they are a big favorite in this series for a reason. Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry get all the hype, but it is really Draymond Green that makes this whole thing work. His defense is otherworldly and he is really underrated on the offensive end. Throw in Klay Thompson as one of the best shooters in the league and Andre Iguadola and this is a very dangerous group. LeBron James may be the best player in the league, but it would be a big upset if the Warriors lost this series.
The series odds for this series say as much.
I'd say that is a little on the low side for the Warriors, but it's really hard to go against LeBron James. I find the series correct score props to be even more interesting.
The Cavaliers sweeping this series would be the most shocking thing and the odds reflect that. The surprising thing to me is that the favored outcome is Warriors in five games. That reminds me a bit of the Heat's last stand against the Spurs a few years ago when the first two games were split and relatively close and then the Spurs just turned it on and dominated. That is easy to envision, but this is also the best LeBron we have ever seen and it is so hard to bet against him like that.
A few more general betting odds for this series.
One of the more insane props I've seen is combining this year and next year. It just makes you realize how likely that this trilogy might get a sequel. These two teams are so good and the possibility of them having another rematch is far more likely than anyone would like to admit. Best of five?
Finally, let's take a look at the MVP odds for this series. If Cleveland somehow wins this thing, LeBron James should not only be named MVP but greatest NBA player of all-time. A lot has been said about LeBron versus Michael Jordan, but Jordan never had to face a team that was the favorite in the NBA Finals and no one has ever had to face a super team of this level. This would be huge.
If the likely thing happens though and the Warriors win this series? That's when things get interesting. Do Durant and Curry split the vote? Does Draymond suddenly become the default MVP? Or will Klay have the series we've been waiting for him to have and just go nuclear for a couple of games? Lots of great odds here.
A few other notable player props.