Which teams will be crowned kings of the East & West?
The NBA Conference Finals get underway next week to determine which teams will be crowned champions of the East and West, leaving two to face-off for NBA’s ultimate prize. To help you navigate through the next fortnight, we’ve compiled a comprehensive betting guide to the Conference Finals.
Western Conference: Houston Rockets vs Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets (regular season record: 65-17)
A team led by stars James Harden and Chris Paul will always be full of points, demonstrated by their thrashing of the Minnesota Timberwolves in round 1 of the playoffs when they piled on 50 points in a single quarter. It has been their steely defence which has received all the praise in this post-season however, with the Rockets only conceding one game to both the Minnesota and Utah in their respective playoff series.
A much-improved defensive line can be attributed to 23-year-old center Clint Capela, who stands at 6’10” and averages a post-season high 2.6 blocks per game. Capela has proved a nightmare for opposition offenses and will be critical in his team’s quest to blunt the attacking arsenal of the Warriors.
Key Stats
The Rockets hold a 2-1 record over the Warriors this current NBA season, with the one loss coming without James Harden.
The Rockets ranked both inside the top 6 offensively and defensively at the end of the regular season
Golden State Warriors (regular season record 58-24)
Led by their star-studded top 5 - Curry, Thompson, Durant, Iguodala and Green - it comes as no surprise that GSW are here again. A dynasty in the making, the Warriors are playing in their sixth consecutive playoff series and aiming for their third championship in four years.
Any hints of their mortality shown during the regular season due to injuries to key players look to be problems of the past.
After a regular season which included some uncharacteristic defeats, the Warriors look like they have rediscovered their mojo in the post-season, showcasing some of their trademark high intensity offense and ball movement which allows players to get wide open and drain three-pointers.
In round 1, a Curry-less Golden State breezed past a Spurs team, who were without their star player Kawahi Leonard, and then they dispatched the Pelicans with ease 4-1 to book a place in the Western Conference final.
They are looking more and more like the team which tore the Cavaliers to shreds last season, having every right to be the bookies’ favourite to lift the trophy.
Key Stats
A player known for coming up big in the playoffs, Iguodala (2015 Finals MVP) is currently shooting three-pointers at 39.3%, in comparison to his regular season record of 28.2%, which was his career worst.
Curry will need to regain confidence in his troublesome knee after a hit-and-miss start to this season’s playoffs, shooting only at 43% down from 48.4% in 2017.
Our verdict
Many fans will claim that this is the real NBA Finals series, given how dominant both teams were throughout the regular season. Expect a gripping contest between these two heavyweights, which may well go the full 7 games.
With their experience and big game players, it’s hard to go past Golden State. Houston have been outstanding this year and no one will be surprised to see James Harden crowned as MVP, but the Rockets are likely to come unstuck by their unproven ability to dig deep when the shots fail to fall.
Betting tip: Golden State to win the series @ $1.60
Eastern Conference: Boston Celtics vs Cleveland Cavaliers
Boston Celtics (regular season record 55-27)
The most intriguing team of those left standing is the overachieving Boston Celtics, who have made a habit of beating teams far superior to them this season. When their two pin-up boys in Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving went down with season ending injuries in the regular season, any aspirations of success for fans this year were seemingly quashed.
What most analysts and fans alike didn't foresee however, was Boston's young crop relishing the spotlight of the playoff stage. This has mainly been attributed to coach Brad Stevens, who has instilled a philosophy of “next man up” on his players.
Under Stevens’ guidance, players such as 20-year-old Jayson Tatum and 24-year-old Terry Rozier are lighting-up the playoffs, filling the void left by Hayward and Irving to show class beyond their years. First-up they put the Milwaukee Bucks to the sword, followed by a smash and grab through the Ben Simmons led Philadelphia 76ers.
One can only dream of how far the Celtics’ run can last, but until the flame is extinguished, fans can continue to watch in awe as the next generation of superstars are born.
Key Stats
Terry Rozier lifts his game to another level in the closing stages of big games. The only player to score or assist on more points in the fourth quarter or overtime this post-season is LeBron James.
Coach Brad Stevens is no stranger to an underdog story. In 2011 he steered the Butler Bulldogs college team all the way to the NCAA Final, becoming the smallest school in 40 years to reach the coveted college grand finale.
Cleveland Cavaliers (regular season record 50-32)
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ first assessment in this year’s playoffs came against a Pacers team who took it upon themselves to make the series a war. Lebron James (aka King James) took the series by the scruff of the neck, dominating from the front with multiple clutch 40+ point performances to steer his side to a thrilling 4-3 series victory.
The Cavs then put it all together to qualify for the Conference Finals, dismantling the hapless Toronto Raptors both at home and away for a comfortable 4-0 sweep. In ominous signs for Celtics fans, JR Smith and Kevin Love have rediscovered their form, improving their field goal percentage to alleviate the pressure off James.
Key Stats
The Cavs hold a 2-1 record over the Celtics this season, with two of those games played in Boston.
Barring the King, Game 1 against the Raptors was the first game a Cavaliers player (JR Smith) scored above 20 points.
Lebron has taken his game to yet another level this post-season. He's averaged 34.3 points per game (4.2 more than his closest rival) and in game 2 against the Raptors, he was personally responsible for 77 of his team's 128 points which is his highest ever individual contribution in a single post-season game.
Our verdict
While Boston have been on a magical run, this is where it ends unfortunately. Milwaukee and Philly are not in the same league as the Cavs. Expect Lebron's experience and class to come through in abundance to put the gritty Celtics away in no more than six games.
May 06, 2018 07:01 PM
AAP
