NBA Finals 2015: Cavaliers vs. Warriors Game 1 Odds, Props and Predictions
As the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors prepare for battle in Thursday's Game 1 of the 2015 NBA Finals, one of the most anticipated championship series in recent memory is about to begin. With superstars on either side of the court and matchups that pique any avid basketball fan's hoops appetite, it should offer plenty from the neutral perspective.
With that said, both teams have been gearing toward this moment for quite some time, and their play has left differing opinions on how things will unfold. Only hours remain until tipoff at 9 p.m. ET on ABC, so take a look below at how Odds Shark is representing odds for Game 1 as well as various props.
Game 1 Odds
| Golden State (-5.5) | CLE 19-10, GSW 10-23 | 204 |
Series Props
The Warriors took a stranglehold over the NBA throughout the regular season with their 67-win explosion and have looked nowhere near interested in conceding their reign throughout a pesky Western Conference. As such, it's no surprise Stephen Curry and Co. are big favorites to take home the championship.
Per Odds Shark, Bovada has listed the Warriors as 1-2 favorites to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy. Meanwhile, the Cavs sit at just 17-10, once again an underdog to bring Cleveland its first NBA title.
It's no surprise, then, that Curry and other Warriors dominate the MVP favorites, as Odds Shark also showed:
| Stephen Curry | 5-8 |
| LeBron James | 17-10 |
| Klay Thompson | 12-1 |
| Kyrie Irving | 12-1 |
| Draymond Green | 14-1 |
| J.R. Smith | 30-1 |
| Tristan Thompson | 40-1 |
| Harrison Barnes | 40-1 |
| Andrew Bogut | 100-1 |
| Andre Iguodala | 125-1 |
| Timofey Mozgov | 200-1 |
As if anyone needed more proof that James and Curry are the leaders of their respective teams, their MVP odds practically mimic each team's odds of winning the series. That's no coincidence, as it's almost a given that Curry's greatness will be the difference if Golden State wins, and it's a foregone conclusion that James will be leading Cleveland should the Cavs reign supreme.
Of course, there's always J.R. Smith at 30-1 or Draymond Green at 14-1—big catalysts for their respective teams. Or if you're looking to turn a couple of bucks into a college fund, take Timofey Mozgov at 200-1—or just don't.
Last but most certainly not least, here's a glance at the odds for each respective series result, provided by Odds Shark:
| Cavs win, 4-0 | 18-1 |
| Cavs win, 4-1 | 12-1 |
| Cavs win, 4-2 | 5-1 |
| Cavs win, 4-3 | 6-1 |
| Warriors win, 4-0 | 8-1 |
| Warriors win, 4-1 | 7-2 |
| Warriors win, 4-2 | 4-1 |
| Warriors win, 4-3 | 13-5 |
Prediction
The bright lights, increased physicality and in-series adjustments of the playoffs were supposed to keep the Warriors from taking the next step. From Phil Jackson's tweeting to Charles Barkley's persistent doubting, all-time experts of the game have remained down on the Warriors' chances of continuing their sharpshooting ways through a bevy of playoff contenders.
That didn't keep Golden State from cruising through the Western Conference playoffs and losing only three games in three series. It's unlikely to stop them in the fourth and final showdown, even with James entering his fifth straight Finals appearance.
Of course, James has lost three times already in the Finals and would begin to set Cleveland up for another bitter disappointment should the Cavs drop Game 1 Thursday, per ESPN Stats & Info:
There's little doubt that if the Cavs find a way past these Warriors and deliver Cleveland its first NBA championship, it would rank right up there among James' greatest feats. He won't be doing it alone, as he has plenty of serviceable role players alongside him, but what's missing is that extra star-caliber punch he's had in each of his two Finals triumphs in Miami.
Kevin Love going down for the season didn't seem to halt Cleveland's chances, but James noticeably had to shoulder too much of a load with Kyrie Irving missing time as well. Irving will be back for the Finals, but every indication is he's still far from 100 percent, as Yahoo Sports' Marc J. Spears noted:
Iman Shumpert, Smith and Matthew Dellavedova will all play big minutes against Golden State's perimeter players, but Irving's inability to play at his usual level will leave the Warriors with a seismic advantage.
Irving struggled so badly against Derrick Rose in Round 2 that head coach David Blatt had to hide his point guard defensively as much as possible. We won't know whether he's healthier now than back then until Thursday night, but the signs certainly aren't promising.
In explosions against the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies, Curry not only showed what he can do when the opposing guard can't stay with him but proved he can do it in the midst of a grueling playoff series. To make matters even tougher for Cleveland, the Warriors have a much more potent bench unit that will be able to spot their starters some points.
James' greatness and the emergence of some of the Cavaliers' role players will allow Cleveland to steal two games and make it a series, but the Warriors' superiority will be on display from Game 1 on before winning the title in six games.
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