favorites facing elimination are 50-72-2 ATS (71-53 SU) going back to 1991. Those faves down 3-2 in series 26-41 ATS (35-32 SU)
There have been 6 NBA Finals teams, down 3-2 in series, that were Game 6 favorites in last 25 years. Those teams went just 1-5 ATS (3-3 SU).
favorites of -3 or smaller facing elimination (not Game 7) 12-25 ATS since 91. Faves of -3 or smaller down 3-2 in series 9-17 ATS
There have been 6 NBA Finals teams, down 3-2 in series, that were Game 6 favorites in last 25 years. Those teams went just 1-5 ATS (3-3 SU).
favorites of -3 or smaller facing elimination (not Game 7) 12-25 ATS since 91. Faves of -3 or smaller down 3-2 in series 9-17 ATS
There are a lot of reasons to like the defending champions tonight:
•Golden State has only lost back-to-back games once this season.
•All-Star playmaker and defensive dynamo Draymond Green is back
•LeBron and Kyrie Irving are unlikely to combine for +80 points
•Kyrie won’t shoot 10-of-14 on contested field goal attempts
•The Dubs shot just 16-of-44 (.364) on uncontested shots – this is the best shooting team EVER
Using BetLabs data ... fading NBA Playoff teams after they won a game in a series as an underdog of four or more points has been very profitable. The Cavs’ win in Game 5 qualifies as such an event. In our database fading teams off an upset has gone 97-63 (60.6%) against-the-spread and has a ROI (return on investment) of over 18 percent.
LeBron might force a Game 7 but there are many reasons to think the series ends tonight.
•Golden State has only lost back-to-back games once this season.
•All-Star playmaker and defensive dynamo Draymond Green is back
•LeBron and Kyrie Irving are unlikely to combine for +80 points
•Kyrie won’t shoot 10-of-14 on contested field goal attempts
•The Dubs shot just 16-of-44 (.364) on uncontested shots – this is the best shooting team EVER
Using BetLabs data ... fading NBA Playoff teams after they won a game in a series as an underdog of four or more points has been very profitable. The Cavs’ win in Game 5 qualifies as such an event. In our database fading teams off an upset has gone 97-63 (60.6%) against-the-spread and has a ROI (return on investment) of over 18 percent.
LeBron might force a Game 7 but there are many reasons to think the series ends tonight.
