Golden State (2-0) at Cleveland (0-2)
When: Wednesday, June 6th 2018
Where: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland
Time: 9:05 ET | TV: ABC
Opening Odds: Golden State -5/218
Its been a while (May 25) since the Cleveland Cavaliers have taken to the court at Quicken Loans Arena, and they’ll need all they help they can get to try and stay in this year’s NBA Finals with the Golden State Warriors. Game 3 is set for Wednesday night with Golden State holding a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven series. Cleveland knew it would have a hard time rebounding from the Game 1 fiasco, but put up a valiant effort, staying close enough throughout, but ran out of offense at the end in a 122-103 setback. The defense was once again an issue for the Cavs, as the Warriors shot 51% and 57% respectively in Games 1 and 2, with Steph Curry leading the way. The former MVP drained an NBA Finals record nine 3-pointers on Sunday and is averaging 31 points in the series. Golden State still doesn’t have an answer for LeBron James, but they’re doing a nice job of preventing someone else from stepping up. James averaged 40 points in the first two games – including his 51-point outing in the opener – and it still wasn’t enough to get his squad a victory. Cleveland has only lost once at home this postseason, and that was the very first game in round one against the Indiana Pacers. They averaged 112 points in the three home games against Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals, and the Celtics are one of the best defensive teams in the league.
Defensive specialist Andre Iguodala (left knee) is listed as questionable for Game 3 and it will be decided Wednesday whether or not he plays for the first since May 20th. “He told me he’s feeling better, so I would upgrade him to questionable,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “But I think he’s getting closer, and I’m hopeful that he can play.” Forward Kevin Durant is getting it done on the offensive end with back-to-back 26-point outings and he has topped 20 points in all 19 postseason games thus far. Shaun Livingston has made all nine of his field-goal attempts in the series and center JaVale McGee is 8-of-9 shooting after getting the start in Game 3.
Backup guard Rodney Hood is expected to see increased minutes in Game 3 as Cleveland searches for anybody who can provide scoring punch to complement James and power forward Kevin Love. Hood was acquired from Utah Jazz in February and averaging just 4.4 points in the postseason but coach Tyronn Lue said “we’re going to give Rodney a chance” and Hood is ready for the challenge. Love is averaging 21.5 points and 11.5 rebounds in the series as he’s getting more aggressive offensively by taking more shots.
Cleveland is playing much better in this series than anyone expected, yet they’re down 2-0. No matter how good they shoot, Golden State is just better. Now that the series is shifting back to Cleveland, I expect the Cavaliers’ offense to play much better. Their defense is still a mess and Golden State will still make 50% of their shots. I’m leaning towards the over in this one. The last four games of the 2017 Finals and first two in this year’s edition, have gone over the total. The trend continues.
Pick: OVER 216.5
- Warriors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Warriors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Warriors are 6-14 ATS in their last 20 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Warriors are 7-18 ATS in their last 25 games following a straight up win.
- Warriors are 5-13 ATS in their last 18 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Warriors are 8-22-1 ATS in their last 31 games following a ATS win.
- Warriors are 7-21-1 ATS in their last 29 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
- Warriors are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Warriors are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 2 days rest.
- Warriors are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 vs. NBA Central.
- Warriors are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 Wednesday games.
- Cavaliers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games.
- Cavaliers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Cavaliers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
- Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Western Conference.
- Cavaliers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Cavaliers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Cavaliers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
- Cavaliers are 13-39-2 ATS in their last 54 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
- Cavaliers are 5-15 ATS in their last 20 vs. NBA Pacific.
- Cavaliers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
- Cavaliers are 2-10 ATS in their last 12 games playing on 2 days rest.
- Cavaliers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 Wednesday games.
- Under is 5-0 in Warriors last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Over is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Over is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 vs. NBA Central.
- Over is 6-0 in Warriors last 6 NBA Championship games.
- Under is 6-1 in Warriors last 7 road games.
- Under is 6-1 in Warriors last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Under is 7-2 in Warriors last 9 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 9-3 in Warriors last 12 overall.
- Over is 6-2 in Warriors last 8 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Under is 19-7 in Warriors last 26 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 19-7-1 in Warriors last 27 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 7-3 in Warriors last 10 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-0 in Cavaliers last 5 Wednesday games.
- Over is 6-0 in Cavaliers last 6 NBA Championship games.
- Over is 10-1 in Cavaliers last 11 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
- Over is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 vs. NBA Pacific.
- Over is 6-2 in Cavaliers last 8 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Over is 5-2 in Cavaliers last 7 games following a ATS loss.
- Under is 5-2 in Cavaliers last 7 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
- Under is 11-5 in Cavaliers last 16 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Over is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings.
- Warriors are 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
- Favorite is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
