While there’s no denying that history shows the team with the home court advantage in the NBA Finals usually wins the title, but if anyone knows a thing or two about overcoming a foe on the road, it would be LeBron James who led the Miami Heat to the 2012 title in five games over Oklahoma City despite not having the home court advantage.
Nevertheless, betting on road teams can be a tricky proposition at best. This expert NBA betting analysis will help you in your quest to find the ‘road warriors’ you may be looking for.
NBA Sportsbook Odds Take Center Stage – How to Bet Visiting Teams In Championship Final Series
Just can’t wait to get on the road again
The life I love is makin’ music with my friends
And I can’t wait to get on the road again
– Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson
Remember the One-Third Rule
One of the oldest NBA rules to betting on road teams is to know that on average, roughly one-third of all NBA playoff games are won by the road team – and this goes back all the way to every postseason game in NBA history!
2016 Finals Numbers
The Golden State Warriors went 45-36-1 O/U in 82 regular season games while going 22-18-1 O/U at home and 23-18 O/U on the road.
The Cleveland Cavaliers went 41-41 O/U during the regular season, including 22-19 O/U at home and 19-22 O/U on the road.
The Under is 5-2 in Cleveland’s last seven games, 4-2 in their last half-dozen home games and a consistent 9-4 in their last 13 meetings against the Warriors.
The Under is a near-perfect 5-1 in Golden State’s last six games and a consistent 9-3 in their last dozen road games overall. Last but not least, the Under is 3-1 in the last four meetings between these NBA finalists.
Cleveland and Golden State in 2016
During the 2016 NBA playoffs, Cleveland is 7-0 SU at home and 5-2 SU on the road. Cleveland’s only losses were two games at Toronto that extended the series to 6 games. Golden State is 9-1 at home during the 2016 playoffs, and 3-4 on the road.
Golden State’s only home loss was in Game 1 against Oklahoma City. The Warriors lost on the road twice at Oklahoma City, and once each at Houston and Portland.
