NBA Finals prediction poll: Cleveland-Golden State
The Golden State Warriors are 5-point favorites over the Cleveland Cavaliers and the total is 206½ in Sunday’s Game 7. A survey of opinions from Las Vegas Review-Journal staff members, other media, oddsmakers and professional handicappers:
Mark Anderson, Review-Journal: Warriors, 105-101
Finally a close game, and the home crowd gets Golden State going. The Warriors also will benefit from the home calls, much like the Cavaliers did in Cleveland.
Steve Cofield, ESPN Radio 1100: Cavaliers, 106-101
The Warriors are a broken team mentally. They are worried more about the officials and getting rough with LeBron James than running their offense unselfishly.
Dave Cokin, SmokinCokin.com: Warriors, 103-96
The Cavaliers look like the better team right now, but I’ll bank on the dominant Game 7 tendencies and will back the home team. Might finally get a game that’s in doubt till the end?
Doug Fitz, SystemPlays.com: Warriors, 103-100
The Warriors win, but the Cavs will make them earn it and keep it close to the end.
Bernie Fratto, BernieFratto.com: Warriors, 105-97
The Cavs may see light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s probably an oncoming train. Beating Golden State three in a row, on the road at Oracle Arena, in a Game 7 NBA Finals contest? It just feels insurmountable. And I haven’t even mentioned the Cleveland sports curse.
Allen Leiker, Review-Journal: Warriors, 106-103
Ayesha Curry said she overreacted after watching her husband get pushed around in Game 6. Did she, though? The NBA got its way: Game 7, LeBron vs. Steph.
Bruce Marshall, Goldsheet.com: Warriors, 106-97
Provisional picked based upon the status of Andre Iguodala, who if close to full strength gives the desperate Warriors more defensive flexibility and their best chance to slow the LeBron locomotive. Not sure Kyrie Irving’s World B. Free act plays as well in Game 7 as it did the last game in Oakland.
Micah Roberts, VegasInsider.com: Cavaliers, 108-105
After blowouts in each game, they each save the real drama for Game 7. Cavs keep the momentum going and give Cleveland its first pro title since 1964. A parade in Cleveland? Never seen it before.
Jeff Sherman, Westgate sports book: Cavaliers, 101-96
Offensively, the loss of Andrew Bogut is insignificant. However, his loss as a rim protector was evident in Game 6, and Andre Iguodala is also banged up now. Before Game 1, I went with the Cavaliers to win the series, and will stick with it at this point with momentum clearly on Cleveland’s side.
Alex B. Smith, AxSmithSports.com: Cavaliers, 119-110, OT
LeBron James & Co. finally bring a championship home to Cleveland in a legendary comeback performance.
Ken Thomson, SportsXradio.com: Warriors, 109-99
My heart wants LeBron James and the Cavs, but my brain says Stephen Curry scores 44 and leads the way.
Dave Tuley, ESPN.com: Warriors, 102-100
We have not had a close game yet, but I’m calling for it in Game 7. This will come down to whether the Splash Brothers can get hot on their home court, but even if they do, I expect LeBron James to at least keep the Cavs close as he averages an NBA-record 34.4 points per game in Game 7s.
Matt Youmans, Review-Journal: Cavaliers, 104-100
Despite a poor start to the series, LeBron James is heavily favored to be voted Most Valuable Player, win or lose. The Warriors are limping to the finish line, so I’m sticking with my initial prediction of Cavs in seven.
Straight-up picks: Warriors 8, Cavaliers 5
ATS picks: Cavaliers 9, Warriors 4
Total: Under 8, Over 5
