The Golden State Warriors (-280 to win the series) rebounded from a bad loss in Game 1 of the 2019 NBA Finals, as they evened up the series with the Toronto Raptors (+210) with a gutsy win in Game 2. With the series coming over to Oakland for first time, do the Warriors have enough healthy bodies to win two in a row? Or will the Raptors show they also have what it takes to answer the bell under pressure?
Betting on the Toronto Raptors (58-24 Regular Season)
Pascal Siakam isn’t going to score 32 points per game against even a hobbling Golden State squad, so when he put up just 12 points on a salty 5-for-18 shooting from the field in Game 2’s 109-102 home loss, the focus shifted to his teammates, and still fans were left wondering how their team lost. For one, the Raptors’ big men were outplayed by Golden State’s. DeMarcus Cousins and Andrew Bogut had their shining moments, while Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka combined for just 13 points and 13 boards. Gasol and Ibaka are two former All-Stars who aren’t that far away from their primes (Ibaka is just 29!), but they have been so frustratingly inconsistent for Toronto, which needs them to have significant contributions every game. Kawhi Leonard had 34 points in Game 2, but he needs to be more efficient than his 38.2 field goal percentage so far in the series.
Call it overthinking and a little outlandish, but this writer believes the Raptors’ loss can in part be attributed to the Toronto fans. You see, even though TO had a sketchy first half against the Warriors, they led by 5 points going into halftime, which is actually a good sign. Get a pep talk, come out, and improve, and you’ll cruise to victory. But when they took the court, the TV broadcast showed rows upon rows of vacant seats as fans remained stuck in queue for beer, popcorn, pretzels, and bathroom breaks. The silence was deafening as Golden State tore into a quiet Raptors defense, and quieter bleachers. Fans are a sixth man for Toronto, especially during the playoffs, and to not have them there cheering over every single play cost their team. So what you say? This is analogous to what Toronto will face in Golden State – whispers over every positive effort on their end. This team needs fan fuel during the Finals, and without it they have little chance to steal one on the road.
The totals have gone 7-2-1 under in Toronto’s last 10 road games.
Betting on the Golden State Warriors (57-25 Regular Season)
The Warriors’ heart is getting tested in the Finals. With some key players dealing with injuries, the defending champions will return home for Game 3 banged up. Apart from the still-missing Kevin Durant and the still-not-100-percent DeMarcus Cousins, the Warriors also saw Klay Thompson hurt his hamstring in the fourth quarter of Game 2. Thompson did not return to the contest, but expressed his optimism for his availability for Game 3. Thompson had 25 points on 10-for-17 shooting in Game 2, complementing the production of Stephen Curry, who had 23 points. Draymond Green, meanwhile, had a near triple-double of 17 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists. His role has become more important to the Warriors than ever before in the postseason. As mentioned earlier, Cousins and Bogut have provided sparks for the team, with the former getting a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds in Game 2, while the latter had six points in seven minutes off the bench.
The Warriors are 5-0 straight up (SU) in their last five home games.
