The Golden State Warriors’ dynasty is still going strong and kicking. With Steph Curry leading the way, the Warriors are going for their sixth NBA title in eight seasons after a two-year hiatus from the Finals.
The Warriors and Celtics compete in a best-of-seven series to decide the Eastern Conference champions. Under Curry’s leadership, the Warriors have a 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals matchup. The Celtics, an NBA powerhouse with a long and rich history, are also making their first visit to the championship game since 2010.
The Warriors and the Celtics won one game each in the season series. However, Marcus Smart accidentally hit Steph Curry in the leg while diving for a lost ball during the Celtics’ 110-88 win on March 16. This caused the star forward to miss the last 12 regular season games.
NBA Finals Odds Prediction
This year’s NBA Finals matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Boston Celtics seemed inevitable, culminating in one team’s efforts to remain in front of the other’s strategy curve.
The championship series as a whole has the makings of a memorable one. It’s also challenging to foresee what’s going to happen. In this article, you will be provided with all the latest NBA Finals odds, trends, and predictions to keep you posted on what you need to know.
Against The Spread
The Warriors are a -3.5 point favorite to win the game. Game 1 of the playoffs will be an excellent opportunity for the Warriors to continue their home-court advantage. According to VSIN, home teams are 4-1 ATS in the last five Finals openers, winning by an average of 14 points.
Back-to-back seven-game playoffs have left the Celtics little time to recover before facing the Warriors. At home in the playoffs, Golden State is 7-2 ATS and remains undefeated in its last four games at the Chase Center.
It’s possible that Boston will be able to keep the game close at various stages, but you have to watch closely the way the Warriors are currently playing on the home court. Since Game 1 will be played at Oracle Arena, it is expected that the Warriors, who are rested and in better shape, will cover the spread.
The Totals or Over/Under
Under a score of 211.5. During the first game of this series, the Warriors will be attempting to set the pace, while the Celtics will be determined to hold Golden State under 105 points. With an overall record of 24-24-2, the UNDER has been hit in five of Boston’s last nine playoff matches. This season, Golden State’s home record is 20-29-1, with the total going OVER in five of the team’s last nine games.
Even though the records and recent statistics favor one side, we will see a matchup between two of the most excellent defensive squads in the league. Second in points allowed (101 ppg), while the Warriors aren’t far behind (109.1 ppg).
Both clubs scored 218 and 198 points in the regular season when they faced each other. Because of this, the UNDER is the better bet here. After limiting Miami to under 100 points in three of their last four games, we should expect the Celtics’ defense to do the same against Golden State in Game 1.
The Celtics’ Ability to Cover the Odds
Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum on the wing are two of Boston’s most potent offensive players. However, the Celtics’ strength has always been on the defensive end, as was evident during the regular season. During the regular season, Boston had the best defense in the NBA, letting opponents score only 106.2 points per 100 possessions.
Despite being ranked second-worst in the NBA in terms of ball security, Golden State committed a turnover on 15.0% of their offensive possessions. However, the Celtics’ defense has been outstanding in the playoffs, allowing only 1.05 points per possession and allowing their opponents to shoot 43.3% from the field.
The Warriors’ Ability to Cover the Odds
The Chase Center has been great for the Warriors during the playoffs, as seen by their perfect 9-0 record and net rating of +14.4% per 100 possessions. Even though Golden State’s defense ranks third or fourth in most NBA statistics during regular season play, its offense ranks first in the NBA playoffs; its defense is also commendable.
Golden State has a statistical advantage on the offensive boards, where they have a 28.2% success rate in securing missed shots. With Stephen Curry, the Warriors also possess the best shooter in the history of the NBA, who ranked first in the league in 3-pointers made this season.
Don’t Forget to Bet Responsibly!
After knowing all these NBA betting odds predictions and picks, what’s left to do now is to gamble sensibly at all times. All licensed and regulated operators in the US include information for bettors, including how to recognize problem gambling and access to support services. Keep in mind that only approved and regulated gambling sites in your state should be used.
