The Golden State Warriors will face Toronto Raptors in the NBA Finals which will start with Game 1 on Raptors’ home court. This is the Warriors fifth consecutive finals appearance while the Raptors are making their first ever appearance in this stage. Here’s the preview of Game 1. Bet on the NBA here.
The Raptors are making their first appearance in the Finals, carried by Kawhi Leonard’s brilliance throughout the postseason. Leonard led the Raptors comeback from a 2-0 deficit in the Eastern Conference Finals to eliminate the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in six games. The former San Antonio Spurs player and 2014 NBA Finals MVP is averaging 31.2 points and 8.8 rebounds while shooting 50.7 percent in the postseason. Therefore, they have the quality and depth to trouble the Warriors who’ve won three NBA title in four years.
The Warriors are heading to the NBA Finals for the fifth consecutive season, joining the Celtics teams from 1957 to 1966 as the only teams to make it to at least five straight NBA Finals. The Warriors do not have home-court advantage this time, and they’re not healthy, with arguably the best player in the world, Kevin Durant, nursing a calf injury. Even without Durant, the defending champions are a potent team. Durant, who averaged 34.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists in Warriors’ first 11 games, suffered a strained calf in Game 5 against Houston and has yet to return.
In two regular season matchups this season, the reigning champions played one game without DeMarcus Cousins and Andre Iguodala; and the second without Stephen Curry, Cousins, or Draymond Green. Therefore, Game 1 should be two completely different teams.
Toronto’s defense is well-equipped to defend the Warriors motion offense. With Durant and Cousins out, these two teams are evenly matched although the hosts for Game 1 and 2 have a superior depth. However, Warriors ability to be dynamic and unpredictable on the offensive end of the floor can make things difficult for the Raptors.
Betting preview
The Warriors have beaten Raptors in four of their last six meetings averaging 123 points per game. Therefore, you can back an Away Win at odds of 2.00.
Four of the last five games between these two finalists has seen over 225.5 points scored. Warriors have the best offense this postseason, averaging 117.3 points per game. Therefore you can back Over 214.5 Points in Game 1 at odds of 1.95.