Game 5 betting tips for the NBA Finals – is this the clincher?

NBA Finals, Game 5. Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers. Monday, June 13, 9pm

Series results – Golden State Warriors 3-1:
Game 1 – Golden State 104 – Cleveland 89
Game 2 – Golden State 110 – Cleveland 77
Game 3 – Cleveland 120 – Golden State 90
Game 4 – Cleveland 97 – Golden State 108

Game 5 money line odds:
Warriors: -243
Cavaliers: +200

Game 5 spread:
Warriors -7 (-111 at Bovada.lv)
Cavaliers +7

THE splash brothers came alive in game 4 to give the Golden State Warriors the 3-1 series lead. Now heading back home, most NBA fans and bettors are expecting the Warriors to win back-to-back championships on its home court.

But they’ll have to do it without one of their guns.

The enigmatic Draymond Green has been handed a one-game suspension by the NBA at exactly the wrong time. Green was involved in a war of words with LeBron James and because of his poor history with flagrant fouls, the NBA decided to smack him with another on Sunday night.

That controversial decision could deny Green, who has played the most minutes of any player for Golden State this season, to potentially miss their final game of the season. Not only does it hinder the Warriors’ chances of winning, but it hangs a dark cloud over the entire playoffs.

The conspiracy theorists are out in full swing, suggesting the NBA is desperate for the series to extend further, but no NBA team has ever won after trailing 3-1 in the finals, so it shouldn’t make any difference to the overall result.

Green missing game 5 does have an impact on the Finals’ MVP betting market. Green was +100 to win the award, but his chances look all but gone now and bettors won’t be getting their money back. It’s disappointing, but hopefully we can make some coin on Monday’s game.

NBA Finals Game 4 betting and tips

The market changed significantly with the exclusion of Draymond Green. The Golden State Warriors were the overwhelming favorite earlier in the betting, but its price has drifted out to -243 and it gives the Cavaliers a favorable match-up in the paint.

The key to the Cavalier’s success in game 3 was its shooting percentage, but also the ability of LeBron James and Kyrie Irving to drive to the rim. That tactic was stuffed in game 4 by the likes of Green, Andrew Bogut and Anderson Varejao. If Cleveland is any chance of taking this series back to Ohio, it must drive on Bogut early in the game and force the Australian big to pick up cheap fouls.

Losing your inspirational leader won’t be easy for the Warriors to overcome, so Cleveland should be enthusiastic heading into Oakland. If you’re considering a bet on Cleveland this game, you might want to see less of Iman Shumpert. The former New York Knick has been dreadful off the bench and we wouldn’t be surprised if he sat the entire 48 minutes.

The inclusion of Kevin Love was a mixed bag result in game 4. Love played a steady game, but didn’t have the impact Cleveland bettors were hoping. The offense seemingly fitted better without Love in the lineup, but we’re expecting Love to play more minutes in game 5.

For the Warriors bettors, seeing current Finals MVP favorite Stephen Curry make some long bombs in game 4 would have put them at ease. The key to the Warriors success is whether the splash brothers can get hot and if they do, the game is as good as over.

Klay Thompson has been the more steady player throughout the finals with Curry not finding his best form, but seeing the shots drop in Cleveland may have got him going. Fans assumed Curry was carrying some form of injury which kept him out earlier in the playoffs, but the truth is Cleveland defended him perfectly, until game 4.

The Cavaliers were guilty of leaving both Curry and Thompson wide open throughout the entire second half. That can’t have been strategy, therefore we’re worried about the Cavaliers’ fitness and desire to win.

We were on the fence about whether the Warriors would cover the early spread line, but despite Green being a spectator, we expect the Warriors to close the series out at home and do it in fine style. A 10-point win is on the cards.

Our Game 5 betting tip: Warriors -7 (-111) at Bovada.lv