Champions are huge favourites
NEW YORK: The Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers are set to meet in the NBA Finals for the fourth consecutive year, and both teams are coming off road wins in Game 7 of the conference finals.
As far as Las Vegas oddsmakers are concerned, the similarities end there.
The Warriors were established as huge favourites for the best-of-seven championship series, which begin on Thursday (Friday Thai time) in Oakland.
Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook manager Jeff Sherman tweeted on Monday night that the Warriors were opening as minus 1,200 favourites, with the Cavaliers at plus 750. That means a US$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 James can capture his fourth championship.
Less than an hour later, Sherman posted revised odds with Golden State at minus 1,000 and Cleveland at plus 650.
The price on the Warriors is the highest since sportsoddshistory.com began its tracking in 2002.
The biggest Finals favourites previously in that span were the 2002 Los Angeles Lakers, who were minus 750 entering their sweep of the New Jersey Nets.
James, heading to his eighth consecutive Finals and his ninth overall, has never faced such long odds. His 2007 Cleveland squad were plus 360 prior to getting swept by the San Antonio Spurs.
In the recent Golden State v Cleveland match-ups, the Warriors were minus 220 in both 2015 and 2016, and Golden State were minus 300 in 2017.
The Warriors won the championship in 2015 and 2017, and Cleveland emerged victorious in 2016.
The Warriors opened as 12-point favourites to take Game 1 from the Cavs.
According to ESPN Stats and Information, the last time the NBA Finals opener had a point spread at least that high was when the 12-point underdogs Philadelphia 76ers upset the Los Angeles Lakers to start the 2001 title series. The Lakers won the next four games.