NBA Finals Game 3

GS (-1.5) at CLE 

This NBA finals has been one for the ages thus  far (not really), but as far as gambling goes, one of the most predictable. People were hyped into a game one upset pick before the series started which resulted in an easy Warriors pick and cover. Game 2 saw the national media picking Golden State to win by 40 because Kyrie Irving was out. You literally couldn't watch ESPN or listen to a podcast without hearing how bad the Cavs would be. Game 3 has less of an obvious tell, but I think this will be the game Golden State finally starts to come around. The Warriors came out flat in game one probably because of nerves and sucked in game 2 because they thought it would be a cake walk. Not today. They're going to come out and play like the best team in basketball. LeBron is going to turn in a turnover heavy game tonight so expect a shit ton of fast break points. Mark it down chief. 

NBA Finals Preview

Catz:

Cleveland in 5

   All this week, I'm sure all you have heard is about how Steph Curry is the greatest shooter that has ever graced the earth, and the people in Nor Cal probably already have their championship t-shirts printed up right? It's a done deal to most! But not for Bobby Catz. People are really underestimating what LeBron James is doing/has done over the last five years. He's made 5 straight finals. Detractors simply point out that he is doing it in the East, but in reality what the fuck does that mean?? I don't care if he made five straight finals in the Chinese basketball league, its still impressive no matter which way you look at it. You know why? Because its basically impossible to beat this dude in a best of five series. Sure you might get a game, you may even get a series lead, but unless your name is Greg Popovich and you have a fantastic San Antonio team, you aren't beating him in the finals either. And don't even try to come at me with the Mavericks winning in 2012. They were extremely well coached as well and James had not quite yet learned what it took to be considered a champion. The problem for the Warriors? This Cleveland team knows exactly what they need to do in order to win and they do it very, very well. 

   I honestly do not think this series is going to be that close. Curry and Thompson are fantastic shooters possibly two of the best of all time, but they don't know what it takes to win on the biggest stage quite yet. Every great player has to go through a loss in the finals before they breakthrough. This series reminds me a lot of the one a few years ago between OKC and Miami, also featuring the King. Everyone liked the hot shooting Thunder in that one and what happened? Harden no-showed, Durant and Westbrook struggled and after losing game one, Miami rallied to win four straight. That is exactly what I think happens in this series. The first game will be the hot shooting Warriors getting a win after they go 20-22 from three or something crazy and then the next four games will be a showcase for the cerebral assassin LeBron as he averages a triple double and gets his third championship ring to add to his collection.

Mr. Nutz

Golden State in 6

Over the past week we have seen an influx of Cleveland supporters pile their opinions on the "who will win" dumpster fire for the Finals. Well I'm here to tell you this is the real world, not some fantasy land where all our dreams come true and the underdog always has a chance. The Warriors were not just the best team in basketball this year, they were absolutely dominant. That dominance comes from an offense that can not be slowed or stopped, no matter what different matchups you try to exploit. Much like the Spurs teams of the last 3 years, the Warriors have an exceptionally strong bench to back up one of the best starting 5's in the NBA. Hell, I don't even know who technically "starts" as the minute distribution for this team lends itself to about 7 different guys being starters. But when you can rotate guys like Andre Iguodola, Harrison Barnes, Draymond Green, David Lee and Shaun Livingston in and out of your lineup, you're not skipping a  beat! 

All this bench fire power only hurts the Warriors' opponent, the lowly Cleveland Cavaliers. People are trying to hype up LeBron James as some sort of basketball alien that was plopped down during the playoffs to win the whole thing by himself. Well, he's not. He's been to 5 straight finals right? Well he hasn't won them all, that's for damn sure. Oh and this time, he's relying on JR Smith, Iman Shumpert and Timofey Mozgov to get him to the promised land? No fucking thank you. I will take a broken D Wade and a garb salad surprise Heat roster over the reject Knicks any day. LeBron is exhausted. Not only from carrying this team through the EC playoffs, but from playing non stop Finals games. He's going up against the best D in the league, while chasing around someone from the best ball movement offense in the league. Good luck LeBron, this is just another loss in your finals column.  

NBA Finals

2014 NBA Finals Game 1

Catz's Take: One of the most highly anticipated rematches in NBA history starts tonight with the two-time defending champion Miami Heat traveling to San Antonio for game 1 of the finals. After interviewing hundreds of casual sports fans I have decided that the public seems to be backing the Spurs, and why shouldn't they? I mean the Spurs were only 25 seconds away from winning the title last year and it's not like Miami won game 6 in OT and then game seven as well. Oh wait, they did? Which is why I am confused as to why the public is backing the Spurs. 


I mean the Heat definitely got some lucky bounces and were able to turn those into a second consecutive championship, but luck is as much a part of this game as crazy is to Lance Stephenson. Plus you have LeBron James going for not just a three peat, but for his NBA legacy. People have been riding this kid from the beginning, wondering if he would ever be as good as Jordan. Well if he wins tonight he will do something that Jordan also did (granted Jordan did it twice) and it will at least place him in the same conversation. LeBron is ultra aware of his place in history, if you don't think this series means more to him than anything else in the world than you must be Lance Stephenson. I get that the Spurs are well coached and were able to slow down LeBron last year for the first few games, but this is a different year. You have an ultra focused LeBron James and a healthy D Wade, you know what that means? Trouble for the Spurs. I won't be surprised if this one doesn't go seven games like everyone thinks. As a matter of fact I won't be shocked if the Heat win in as little as five or six games. Which is why I'm going with the Heat tonight and the Heat in this series in five games.

HEAT (+4.5) at SA (UNDER 199) (Lx2)

Catz: HEAT in five games over SA