Why the Cavs are not the underdogs
Cleveland was rightfully the underdog last year, because GSW was the defending champion. But this year, it’s the other way around.
The air of excitement for this year’s NBA finals seems so palpably thick you can almost slice through it with a knife. Already, I have heard arguments from both sides on which team is better and the betting lines have been drawn.
But first things first. When you talk about betting, I think the odds-makers have it all wrong when they pegged the Golden State Warriors as the prohibitive favorite.
Golden State at a -260 favorite compared to Cleveland at +220, which is quite a significant gap.
CHAMPIONS. What boggles my mind is how they can diminish the fact that the Cavaliers are after all, the defending NBA champions with the roster pretty much intact with the addition of more firepower in the sharp-shooting Kyle Korver.
For comparison’s sake, Cleveland entered the Finals last year as +180 underdogs to the Warriors -210 favorites. That makes this year’s odds slightly more lopsided in Golden State’s favor, which to me just doesn’t add up.
Cleveland was rightfully the underdog last year, because GSW was the defending champion. But this year, it’s the other way around.
LEBRON. Not only are the Cavs the defending champions, they also happen to have the best player in the world in Leb- ron James.
James himself is quick to repeatedly remind us of such fact. (Not that I dispute it, I just find it rather unsettling.)
And actually, how can you argue against the numbers James has been posting in these playoffs?
Not only has he surpassed Michael Jordan in scoring the most number of points in the playoffs, but Lebron has been showing off his best form ever in his entire career in the post-regular season.
He has averages of 32.5 points per game, 8 rebounds per game, 7 assists per game, and 1.4 blocks per game.
Compare that to his career average of 27.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 7 apg, and 0.8 bpg. He has even improved his field goal percentage from 50.1% to 56.6% and his three point shooting percentage from 34.2 % to an incredible 42.1%.
Now when you are the defending champions, and you have the best player in the world in his best form ever, how can you peg that team to be the underdog?
FACTORS. Of course, I may be in the minority here, but you know me, I’ve never been one to shy away from swimming upstream. Be that as it may, let me try to make sense of why this is so and do a rebuttal.
The Kevin Durant factor. The addition of this former MVP and four-time scoring champion has been the major reason why GSW’s stock has risen tremendously.
But to me, how he impacts the team in a Finals series is still speculative. Scoring? Of course, he can contribute, but it’s not like GSW lost the series last year because they lacked firepower. Hell, Klay Thompson can score 60 points in only 3 quarters. This is a guy capable of winning a game all by himself.
The jury is still out on whether or not GSW is a more cohesive offensive unit with Durant around in crunch time.
Season record. Yes, the Cavs had a paltry regular reason record while GSW posted 67 wins. But I think the Cavs just got bored in the regular season and could not wait to get to the Finals. This is apparent by the fact that they cruised through the playoffs with a record of 12-1.
Sure GSW had a better record of 12-0 but that’s just a onegame difference. And remember that the Warriors were down by more than 20 points in the 3rd quarter in game 1 against the Spurs, before Kawhi Leonard got injured and they managed to mount a rally and win that game with Leonard out.
LAST ROUNDS. Are on John and Christine as their baby boy Bobby Velasco turned three years old recently. Cheers!
But to me, how he impacts the team in a Finals series is still speculative. Scoring? Of course, he can contribute, but it’s not like GSW lost the series the last year because they lacked firepower.