Although both teams had to recover from 3-2 deficits in the Conference Finals, the Warriors and Cavaliers are once again meeting in the NBA Finals, vying for the Larry O’Brien trophy for the fourth consecutive year.
Before the Warriors acquired Kevin Durant in the summer of 2016, the first two series between the two teams were competitive, with Golden State winning the first meeting and the Cavs roaring back from a 3-1 hole in the second meeting to even the score. However, Durant and the Dubs dominated Cleveland in last year’s Finals, and oddsmakers expect a similar outcome this time around.
One sports betting site, Bovada.lv, has installed the Warriors as -800 favorites for the 2018 NBA Finals. For those unfamiliar with betting formatting, that means you’d need to risk $800 on a Warriors win in order to make a $100 profit. Conversely, Cleveland is a +500 underdog, meaning a $100 bet on the Cavs would result in a $500 profit if they pull off an upset.
The ongoing absence of Andre Iguodala for the Warriors makes this year’s matchup a little more intriguing, since Iguodala has typically been tasked with being the primary defender on LeBron James during the Finals matchups between the two teams. His left knee bone bruise will make that a difficult task, even if and when he’s able to get back on the court.
On the other hand, the Cavaliers may be missing a key contributor of their own, with Kevin Love‘s status for Game 1 still up in the air. As long as Love remains in the NBA’s concussion protocol, James won’t have a ton of help as he and the Cavs go up against a star-studded Warriors squad led by Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green.
LeBron’s presence “represents the small possibility of a miracle,” according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe, who writes today about what lineups the Cavs might lean on in order to give themselves a fighting chance against Golden State. No matter what Cleveland throws at the Warriors though, it probably won’t be enough, Lowe concedes.
So, rather than simply asking you in today’s poll which team will win this year’s Cavaliers/Warriors showdown, we want you to make your prediction a little more specific. Will the Warriors sweep? Will this be a longer series? Do the Cavs have a chance? Vote below, then head to the comment section to share your thoughts on the 2018 NBA Finals.
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Where did that phrase, gentleman’s sweep, come from?
The only reference I’ve heard to a five-game sweep is when, and I can’t remember who, a player suggested that in one game the team was robbed of a victory and really legitimately won the game but it was taken away.
Add the 4 real wins gives a five-game sweep.
Anybody else recall that?
It’s called a gentlemen’s sweep because you allow the sub par team to win 1 game, as a gentleman would do.
Warriors fan
Not to forget
1975 Washington bullets
Heavy favorite to win final
But
Rick Barry destroyed bullets
Cleveland had king James
Will destroy warriors as well
Except queen James isn’t half the player Barry was. Queen James relies on the league creating an unfair advantage for him. With the entire fan base watching the playoffs they have to be less obvious, and the warriors understand they are playing against the refs. Cavs don’t stand a chance. Also comparing this warriors team to that bullets team is hilarious.
What a jokester. Did you see the refs help GSW win.
That was a block on LeBron. KD was in the gather already. Live I thought it was a charge though. George hill missing the free throw and JR smith not taking the putback cost them the game, not the refs
were gonna see how big of a presence iggy is defensively. i think the cavs will steal one simply because i feel like GS will underestimate CLE thinking it will be an east series.
Re warriors will let the Cavs win 1 home game so they can themselves can finish at home.
Cavs are probably wishing they still had Jae Crowder for this series….no Iguodala is a really big deal. It was a significant issue 2 years ago when GS lost. Still, barring something crazy, I’d have to look at GS the obvious favorites to win this in 5 or 6. Cleveland is better in some areas, but they just dont have enough wing depth. If they can make shots, it gives them a better chance, but Lebron will have to be otherworldly. If he pulls this off, I wouldn’t even know how to describe it. GS better hope nobody else goes down for them, and they’ll need Steph to show up in the finals for once. Cant let George Hill take him out…KD also has to be aware of his importance in this series. If he can even come close to cancelling out LeBron, this could be an even quicker series
Really Warriors fans, what you where trying to say is that the refs play for the dubs, then yes we can agree with that. & please I have never heard anyone say that Barry was the best player ever in the league. But so many ex-players do say that Lebron is the most complete player ever it can beat you in so many ways doing so many different things, unlike others (MJ) he could only outscore you, not outplay you, so please some respect for the most influential sportsman in the world right now, & the GOAT when it comes to basketball, & you better enjoy him, he won’t play forever.