NBA Finals Game 2 betting guide – can Lebron bounce back?

Golden State leads the Finals 1-0

Game One: Golden State Warriors defeated Cleveland Cavaliers 104-89
Game Two: Monday, June 6, 2016, at 10am AEST, at Golden State
Game Three: Thursday, June 9, 2016, at 11am AEST, at Cleveland
Game Four: Saturday, June 11, 2016, at 11am AEST, at Cleveland
Game Five (if required): Tuesday, June 14, 2016, at 11am AEST, at Golden State
Game Six (if required): Friday, June 17, 2016, at 11am AEST, at Cleveland
Game Seven (if required): Monday, June 20, 2016, at 10am AEST, at Golden State

Season record:
Golden State Warriors: 73-9 (39-2 at home, 34-7 away)
Cleveland Cavaliers: 57-25 (33-8 at home, 24-17 away)

Series odds:
Golden State Warriors ($1.25 with Sportsbet.com.au)
Cleveland Cavaliers ($4 with Sportsbet.com.au)

Game two head-to-head odds:
Golden State Warriors ($1.36 with sportsbet.com.au)
Cleveland Cavaliers ($3.30 with WilliamHill.com.au)

Game two line odds:
Golden State Warriors: -6.5 ($1.95 with WilliamHill.com.au)
Cleveland Cavaliers: +6.5 ($1.95 with WilliamHill.com.au)

THE old adage a champion team always beats a team of champions was never more stark in game one of the NBA Finals.

And a convincing 104-89 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers to put the Golden State Warriors one up in the series has seen their odds of winning the title slashed from $1.43 to $1.26 with sportsbet.com.au

By contrast, Lebron James and the Cavaliers have been wound out from $2.90 to $4.

In game one, for once, it was not the Warriors’ reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Steph Curry leading the way.

And he had no help from his mate Klay Thompson, who usually steps up when their leader is struggling.

The Warriors’ super Splash Brothers couldn’t make a shot to save themselves.

Curry led the league in scoring with over 30 points per game, while Thompson averages 22.1 per game.

Yet the pair combined for just 8 of 27 shooting on their way to just 20 points between them.

The superstar had an absolute stinker with only 11 points on a shocking 4-15 shooting to go with five turnovers.

Thompson too was rarely in the game, scoring just the nine points.

The pair only made four three pointers between them. When you consider the outside shot is like a lay up for the pair, and between them they average over seven per game, the statistic is remarkable.

The Warriors have demolished the Cavs without either of their two best scorers contributing.

It must be humbling to know that these two blokes will be out to atone for their game one performances in game two tomorrow.

Curry has been smashed in the player performance market, with over 30 at just $1.81.

The punters think he is going to have a big one and we’re with them.

Perhaps the bargain market on this match is Curry over five three pointers at better then even money.

For any mild mannered baller that would be a ludicrous number, but for Curry you have to snap it up at $2.03 with Sportsbet.com.au.

His mate Thompson is $1.87 to go over 23.5 points and we’re predicting one of those classic games where the pair combines for 60 points and demolishes the Cavs.

Draymond Green was left to do pretty much what he wanted and registered a near triple double with 16 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and four steals in a brilliant all round performance.

And the $1.87 about him to go over 31.5 points rebounds and assists looks like a good bet.

If you’re still on the Cavs bandwagon, we reckon you should be riding James’ coat tails.

Back the champion in to have more of a scoring influence than the 23 he dropped in game one and go over 26.5 in game two at $1.87.

And, despite star running mates Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, James pretty much has to do it all if the Cavs are going to be a chance in this game, so the over 43 points, rebounds and assists at $1.87 looks the goods when you consider he had a “quiet” game of 23, 11 and nine in game one.

Our player performance picks:

• Steph Curry over 30 points ($1.81)
• Lebron James over 26.5 points ($1.87)
• Steph Curry over five three pointers ($2.03)
• Klay Thompson over 23.5 points ($1.87)
• Drayman’s Green over 31.5 points, rebounds and assists ($1.87)
• Lebron James over 43 points, rebounds and assists ($1.87)

All odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au

Game 2 betting predictions

Match result: Golden State Warriors to win ($1.36 with Sportsbet.com.au)
Line betting: Golden State Warriors -6.5 ($1.95 with WilliamHill.com.au)

As we mentioned, they got nothing out of their superstars, but the Warriors did not need it. When you’re as good as this team, you can handle an off night from your two best scorers because you have the best bench in the NBA and a spread of blokes who can fill it up when called upon. Popular back up point guard Shaun Livingston stepped up with a playoff career high 20 points off the bench, sixth man Andre Iguodala had 12 and the Brazilian blur Leandro Barbosa chimed in with 11 points in 11 minutes to kill the Cleveland Cavaliers in game one, while Aussie big man Andrew Bogut was the first man in double figures in the game, finishing with 10 points in 15 minutes. The Cavs were led in the scoring column by Kyrie Irving with 26 points, but he shot just seven of 22 from the field and his selection and inability to get team mates involved (four assists) stood out. Kevin Love had 17 and 13, but went missing in the final term when the game was there to be won and bench back up Channins Frye, who was meant to be the Cavs’ difference maker this time round, had just two points in seven minutes. If game one is to go by, this series is the Warriors’ for the taking. The already have one hand on game two. Back them to do it in a canter.