Philippines, 19 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Early odds favor the Warriors over the Cavs in NBA Finals


PhilBoxing.com




For the fourth straight time since 2015, NBA Finals will be disputed by the defending champions Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Warriors won the championship the first time they met the Cavaliers in 2015. Cleveland exacted revenge the following year, with a historic come-from-behind 1-3 deficit to dethrone Golden State emerging victor in the last four games of the best of seven title series.

Long tom artist Stephen Curry became the first player to have been awarded the MVP unanimously in 2015 and despite the Warriors? loss in 2016, took the honor back-to-back.

Then came Kevin Durant, who the Warriors flacked from the Oklahoma City Thunder summer of 2017 helping the Warriors reclaim the crown.

As in their first three meetings, the Warriors are installed the heavy favorites to win again this year on the strength their loaded roster with four all-stars -- Curry, Durant, himself a former MVP, last season?s best defense man Draymond Green and Klay Thompson.

Las Vegas oddsmakers established the Warriors as huge favorites to survive the best-of-seven NBA Finals, which begin Thursday (Friday Manila time) at Golden State?s Oracle Arena in Oakland.

Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook manager Jeff Sherman reported that the Warriors opened as minus-1,200 favorites, with the Cavaliers at plus-750.

Meaning a $1,200 bet on the Warriors would win $100 if the champions successfully defend their title, while a $100 bet on the Cavs would win $750 if LeBron captures his fourth ring.

Less than an hour later, Sherman posted revised odds with Golden State enjoying a minus-1,000 which is the highest for the NBA championship since sportsoddshistory.com began its tracking in 2002.

Cleveland is at plus-650. The Warriors opened as 12-point favorites to take Game over the Cavs.

In the Golden State-Cleveland matchups in 2015 and 2016, the Warriors were minus-220. Golden State was minus-300 in 2017.

One other reason for the odds favoring the Warriors is Cavaliers big man Kevin Love remains in the NBA's concussion protocol, and his status, according to coach Ty Lue, is uncertain whether he can play Game 1.

Love missed almost all of Games 6 and 7 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics rookie Jayson Tatum in the first quarter on Friday. Jeff Green started in Love's place and contributed 19 points and eight rebounds in Game 7.

Love, 29, is averaging 13.9 points and 10 rebounds per game in the postseason. Three years ago, he missed the Cavaliers' NBA Finals series with the Warriors due to a separated shoulder injury.

Injured Warriors forward Andre Iguodala, meanwhile, continues to search for ways to return from a leg injury, having missed the final four games of the Western Conference finals.

Golden State coach Steve Kerr said the injury, originally described as a bone bruise, had no defined timetable for recovery and is typically a matter of an individual's pain threshold.

"He's frustrated," Kerr said. "His body has not responded at this point."

ESPN reported that Iguodala is seeking remedy to his knee discomfort and will be questionable, too, for Game 1.

Even before this recent dominant run, the Warriors have a long history of playoff success. Dating back to 1946-47, they've appeared in the championship round a total of 10 times, including this season.

Dating back to the Basketball Association of America days?when the team was located in Philadelphia?the franchise has won five total championships.

Cleveland, meanwhile, has appeared in five NBA Finals?including this season?and won just once.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Usyk Registers Career-Heaviest Weight as Dubois Looks Ready for Undisputed Rematch at Wembley
    , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • Rodriguez vs. Cafu Unification Clash Set for Frisco, Texas; All Fighters Make Weight
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • LOPEZ VS. VARGAS WEIGHTS FROM PECHANGA RESORT CASINO
    , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • “Bambol” Tolentino in Las Vegas: Supporting Filipino Athletes and Pacquiao
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Unstoppable: Team Philippines Storms Into Davis Cup Finals After Qatar Sweep
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Stumble Against Taipei, Look to Regroup vs. Hong Kong
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Fighting for clean sweep
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • WBA No. 2 Heavyweight Contender Michael Hunter Is Ready to Take on World Champion Kubrat Pulev; All Systems Go for Purse Bid Winner Don King
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Weights from Panama City; WBA Women's Interim Superfly Title at Stake
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated prospect Pryce Taylor Working hard to join Brooklyn’s Elite list of top heavyweight boxers
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Justin Goossen-Brown Set to Make DAZN Broadcasting Debut This Friday at Boxlab Promotions’ Night of Champions in Orlando
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Davis Cup Team Sweeps Kuwait to Stay Unbeaten in Group IV
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao Promises Surprise Against Barrios
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • PACQUIAO VS. BARRIOS UNDERCARD MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Rosaupan rules Pasay rapid chess championship
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Fall to China in Nail-Biter, Slip to 5–2 in Asia Cup
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • The 19th Thousand Island Cup Philippine Xiangqi Open tournament on August 3
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao’s Legacy in Motion: PacMan contra El Azteca
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Crush Singapore 13-0, Set Sights on China in Asia Cup Showdown
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Laylo, Dableo to play in Baguio Open
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao Shines in Final Press Conference: Can The Pacman Defeat Father Time and Barrios? (Analysis & Prediction)
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • More lucrative fights await Manny Pacquiao
    By Leo Reyes, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Rumors about Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Tapales, Laurente to help Inoue against MJ
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • AL BERNSTEIN, CHRISTY MARTIN AND ERIC BOTTJER TO SERVE AS ALL-STAR COMMENTARY TEAM FOR THIS FRIDAY’S ‘LOPEZ VS. VARGAS’ EVENT
    , Thu, 17 Jul 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.