Golden State vs Cleveland NBA Finals Game 1 Betting Guide

After a month and a half of playoff action, we are finally down to the final two teams who will compete for the NBA Championship, and it’s a match-up that isn’t really a surprise to anyone. The Golden State Warriors are the reigning champions, and are coming off a record breaking regular season that was one for the ages. The Cleveland Cavaliers limped to the Finals last season, and always looked as though they would get back there again once the postseason got underway. This is a rematch of the Finals from last year, but with one major difference; the Cavaliers are healthy this time around. The Warriors are deservedly the NBA online betting favorites, but we will all remember that it took them 6 games to dispose of a Cavaliers team that was missing Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving last season. This has all the makings of an instant classic, and it all gets started on Thursday night in Oakland.

Warriors or Cavs?

Inside the NBA crew makes their picks for The Finals: https://t.co/lnAVctNEkG pic.twitter.com/NhYHkY8n8d — NBA.com (@NBAcom) May 31, 2016

How To Bet The Cavaliers vs Warriors NBA Finals Game 1 Odds, TV & Game Info

When: Thursday, June 2 at 9 PM EST Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland TV: ABC NBA Odds: Warriors -265

Why bet on the Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers should be well rested coming into this series, as they only had to play 14 games to get to the Final. The only losses they have encountered so far came in the Eastern Conference Final when they lost both games on the road to the Toronto Raptors. Even with those losses, you never really felt that the series was in any doubt, as the trio of James, Love, and Irving have quite simply been lights out. What the Cavs are going to have to overcome now is a little trickier, as this is a Warriors team that they lost both games to in the regular season. They can take solace in the fact that Golden State only lost 9 games all season long, and that this Cavs team is much better than the one that struggled at times in the regular season.

Why bet on the Golden State Warriors

It looked for a while as though the repeat was going to become the impossible dream for the Warriors. Down 3-1 in the Western Conference Final, and still facing a trip to Oklahoma City, the Warriors looked dead in the water. They delivered an amazing comeback, though, including a Game 6 4th quarter rally that gave them the opportunity to go home and win the series in 7. MVP Steph Curry struggled through the first few games of that series, but he looked like his old self in the final 2 games, which suggests that his injury concerns may now be a thing of the past. Golden State will know that they have another tough task on their hands, as this is a stronger Cavs team than the one they beat last year to win the Championship.

My Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

The Warriors are sure to still be on a high after their big Game 7 win against OKC, and I think they will carry that momentum over to the opening game against a Cavs team that has been inactive for a little while. A fast start should help the Warriors live up to their betting odds as they hold on for a close win. Cleveland Cavaliers 103 Golden State Warriors 106