PREMIUM
Game of the Year (NBA) - Rogers' 10* Game 1 BEST BET
(NBA) Cleveland vs. Golden State,
Point Spread: 5.50 | -102.00 Cleveland (Away)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: 5.50 | -102.00 Cleveland (Away)
Result: Loss
The Warriors host LeBron James and the Cavs in Game 1 of the NBA Finals tonight, and they are a big favorite to win not only tonight, but also capture the NBA Championship. Golden State certainly deserves to be a favorite, but I think the home team is asked to cover a few too many point here tonight.
Here are my keys to the game:
1. Previous History - The Warriors have not been a good bet at home in these playoffs, only covering the spread three time in their last 11 at Oracle Arena. They won the first two games of the Western Conference Finals by a combined five points, and were very fortunate not to have lost Game 2 outright.
2. LeBron James - If the Cavs are going to pull off the upset, they will need LeBron James to be the best player on the floor. That's really not asking too much, as he has been as good as anyone in these playoffs, and he says he's better than he's ever been. "If you put everything together as far as my mind, my body, my game. If you put everything in one bottle, this is probably the best I've been."
3. X-Factor - There is no substitute for experience, and that's perhaps the most significant edge that LeBron has that none of the Warriors have. James says it best: "I've been in so many loud arenas. This is going to be one of them," he said. "I've played in OKC in the (2012) finals to start off the series. I've played in Boston. I've played in Detroit when they were in their heyday. I've played in Chicago in 2011 to open up the Eastern Conference finals. I've played in San Antonio."
Selection: This is a play on the Cleveland Cavaliers (10*)
Here are my keys to the game:
1. Previous History - The Warriors have not been a good bet at home in these playoffs, only covering the spread three time in their last 11 at Oracle Arena. They won the first two games of the Western Conference Finals by a combined five points, and were very fortunate not to have lost Game 2 outright.
2. LeBron James - If the Cavs are going to pull off the upset, they will need LeBron James to be the best player on the floor. That's really not asking too much, as he has been as good as anyone in these playoffs, and he says he's better than he's ever been. "If you put everything together as far as my mind, my body, my game. If you put everything in one bottle, this is probably the best I've been."
3. X-Factor - There is no substitute for experience, and that's perhaps the most significant edge that LeBron has that none of the Warriors have. James says it best: "I've been in so many loud arenas. This is going to be one of them," he said. "I've played in OKC in the (2012) finals to start off the series. I've played in Boston. I've played in Detroit when they were in their heyday. I've played in Chicago in 2011 to open up the Eastern Conference finals. I've played in San Antonio."
Selection: This is a play on the Cleveland Cavaliers (10*)