The Bum's 2017 NBA Finals - Picks, Trends, News !

[StarDust Bum]

Cavs ignore last year's comeback after another 0-2 hole
June 5, 2017

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers are headed home in a familiar spot after the first two games of the NBA Finals.

Rather than reach back to last year's championship comeback for a confidence boost, James' focus is on figuring out what Cleveland must do to change its fortunes against a Warriors team that is fresher and far more dangerous this year, thanks to the addition of Kevin Durant.

''They're a different team,'' James said following a 132-113 loss in Game 2 on Sunday night that put Cleveland in an 0-2 hole.

That's been quite evident through two games. Durant leads all players with 71 points the first two games - six more than the player he replaced in the lineup, Harrison Barnes, scored in seven games a year ago.

Durant's scoring has taken pressure off Stephen Curry and allowed the Warriors to withstand Cleveland runs so well that they haven't trailed after the first quarter in either game.

A healthy Curry followed up a 28-point Game 1 with his first postseason triple-double on Sunday with 32 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. He looks more like a two-time MVP than the hobbled player he was in last year's Finals.

Klay Thompson shook off a shooting slump to score 22 points and the Warriors pulled away late for another lopsided win.

''They play well at home,'' Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said. ''They won their first two games like they're supposed to. Coming to a tough environment, we knew it was going to be tough, but they won the first two games. We get a chance to go home now to our home crowd where we play well, also.''

The Cavs began to turn things around last year after being outscored by 48 points in the first two losses in Oakland - seven more than this year. They split the two games at home before reeling off three straight wins to become the fourth team to win the title after losing the first two games.

''They're going keep to coming, man,'' Curry said. ''There is a lot of work for us left to do. And you got to expect them to play, obviously, better at home. And we're going to need to play better to win on the road.''

What was so discouraging for the Cavs is that they played better in Game 2 but the result didn't really change. They went to a smaller lineup that contributed to Golden State committing 20 turnovers a game after tying a Finals record with four.

The offense picked up thanks to 27 points from Kevin Love and the Cavs scored 22 more points than in the opener in a faster-paced game, but that also helped the Warriors improve their shooting from 43 percent to 52 percent as Cleveland had a weaker defensive on the floor.

''We definitely have a sense of what they're capable of, and we felt like a lot of times tonight we played better basketball,'' Love said. ''But they're a team you cannot - you can't let them go on runs.''

The key one came late in the third quarter after Cleveland cut the deficit to four points. The Warriors followed with a 16-4 run that included 3-pointers from Curry and Thompson, a three-point play from Durant in transition and four points from Shaun Livingston.

''That's what they do,'' James said. ''That's what Golden State does. If you make a mistake - like I said, we had a turnover, it came from me, and then we had a miscue and the floods opened again.''

The first two games have shown a stark difference in depth. While James has thrived so far and had 29 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists to tie Magic Johnson's record with his eighth career Finals triple-double Sunday, he hasn't gotten nearly enough help.

Kyrie Irving scored 24 points in the opener and Love had a big day in Game 2, but starters Tristan Thompson and J.R. Smith have been nearly invisible and the bench has offered little help.

The Warriors, on the other hand, have gotten key contributions from their four All-Stars: Curry, Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, as well as from players like Livingston, Andre Iguodala and Zaza Pachulia at times to set an NBA record with 14 straight postseason wins.

But after being so close last year and falling short, the Warriors know how difficult the next two will be.

''It's human nature to let your guard down, human nature, 2-0, everybody in the world `It's over, it's over,''' Livingston said. ''No, it's not over. We saw what happened last year. We've been here. The guys that were here last year understand it's the hardest thing to do is to try to close out a series and we've got two more games to go. We need to take that mentality to Cleveland.''

[StarDust Bum]

Durant halfway to title, Finals MVP
June 5, 2017

Future Hall of Famer turned ESPN/ABC analyst Paul Pierce took a lot of grief after declaring Kevin Durant the best player in the world after Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

Had he simply said, he's the best player of the world this month, so far, he would've been spot on. In helping build a 2-0 series lead, Durant is outplaying everyone, including LeBron James, who is currently averaging a triple-double (28.5 ppg, 13.0 rpg, 11.0 apg) and had one before the third quarter was over on Sunday. The King is shooting 55 percent.

Durant, shooting 56 percent, is averaging 35.5 points, 11.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists. After a shaky opening where he clearly demonstrated some nerves in his first Finals game since 2012, he's dominated the series.

So, yes, at this point, Durant is having the best June of anyone in the sport. That's the goal. It's why guys lace them up. He's having the most impact at the right time. Those who went in on Durant as Finals MVP (2/1) like I advised pre-series are sitting pretty as the clubhouse leaders since it doesn't appear that the Cavs have a decent answer for him.

Currently, he's a 2-to-7 favorite in the latest Finals MVP odds from Sportsbook.ag. Coming in, due to expectations and public sentiment, he had the most to lose.

As the only one of the All-Stars in these Finals who hasn't experienced the feeling of holding a Larry O'Brien Trophy and soaking in its powers, Durant had the most to gain too.

Stephen Curry has been brilliant himself in atoning for a rough 2016 Finals where he was out there playing through a knee injury, but he's committed the majority of Golden State's turnovers and has disrupted their rhythm the few times they've looked out of sync. Although his makes have often been backbreakers and there isn't really such a thing as an ill-advised shot as far as he's concerned, he's missed opportunities to ride Durant and Thompson as the hot hand.

He also hasn't impacted the game on the defensive end against Cleveland the way this offseason's most polarizing acquisition has managed to.

Having joined the team that led the league in defensive efficiency prior to his arrival, Durant has risen to the occasion to ensure no drop-off. His five blocks in Game 2 carried an air of defiance. He's made LeBron look silly on multiple occasions. Twice, Durant made blocks on one end and immediately turned them into scoring opportunities. Showcasing his ridiculous skills, he made a pull-up 3-pointer on one and an impossibly acrobatic driving layup on another.

When he came into the league as the final draft pick in Seattle Supersonics history and won Rookie of the Year, Durant's desire to dominate was clearly visible. GM Sam Presti often told me how his competitive stood out, how impressive his work ethic and killer instinct was.

Over the course of a decade, he won an MVP but reached the championship round once, so the thought of the 6-foot-11 guard surpassing LeBron in his own era never came to fruition. The two even met as the top individual matchup highlighting the '12 Finals, and while Durant dominated and was fantastic in averaging 30.6 point, James' Miami Heat won the series 4-1 after dropping the opener.

Because of his departure from Oklahoma City and the uproar it created due to the "if you can't beat them, join 'em" vibe joining the Warriors carried with it, Durant has been vilified. He's taken it personally. All of it.

And now he's making the Cavs pay.

Halfway to a championship, the Warriors have an opportunity to run through the NBA playoffs unscathed, which would pack its own set of baggage as naysayers bemoan a lack of parity and champion the idea that the "superteam" concept could ultimately kill the game.

Durant won't lose a second of sleep over this, nor should he. In fact, as Cleveland looks to rebound and counterpunch in Wednesday's Game 3, the pressure remains on Durant to remain as locked in as he has been, to continue putting a cut-throat nature on full display.

For the first time in a few years, LeBron's spot on the throne has appeared tenuous. Analytics people tout San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard as the heir apparent due to his impact at both ends. Russell Westbrook averaged a triple-double and is generally regarded as the NBA's most dynamic presence. James Harden will probably be awarded the 2016-17 MVP award.

Durant seemingly sacrificed his chance for individual recognition by joining the Warriors, so it's ironic that now people like Pierce have decided to crown him. There's no question he's great, but what we're seeing in the Durant-infused Golden State Warriors is the manifestation of the game being played the right way by dominant players having their expected impact since they're not seeing constant double-teams or being flooded with disruptions. The game is always easier at both ends when you're allowed to find a rhythm.

Only on US Olympic teams or NBA All-Star squads do we see the level of talent both of these finalists have among their starting five, but the problem for the Cavs is that the Dubs have more of it. The difference likely isn't as pronounced as it appeared to be over the first two games in Oakland, but Golden State does have the more cohesive, consistent group.

Would Durant look this impressive if he and James swapped spots? While that's debatable, the fact that he's stepped his game up to take full advantage of his situation is the prevailing theme in these 2017 NBA Finals thus far.

KD, only champion of the now defunct H-O-R-S-E even the NBA toyed with during All-Star weekend, has seen his style mesh with the substance of the game's biggest stage in order to force people to appreciate talents that have been slept on over the years as he's come up short alongside Westbrook. Reasons for why he's been unable to have this kind of impact prior to joining the Warriors would only be read as excuses, so all he can do is take advantage of the current moment.

Constant double-teams create wide-open opportunities, and while Cleveland may indeed have to continue selling out defensively to get the ball out of his hands in forcing Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala to beat them from the perimeter with those clean looks, it's still on Durant to make them pay with the right pass.

He set the tone in the series in the first quarter of Game 1 by not settling for jumpers and attacking every time there was even the hint of a window. He used the respect Cavs defenders have for his shot to buy attention and used his pump fake to immediately dash towards the bucket with his wide strides.

Durant is a unicorn, blessed with size, length and a brilliant offensive game. His demeanor is what is currently separating him from everyone else, and it's why, so long as it doesn't change and he remains aggressive, Golden State will easily claim this NBA title.

The time for individual accolades are gone for him, since there will never be consensus over whether he made the right decision or embraced the challenge without jumping ship. He'll have to settle for a Finals MVP award for individual validation and has likely won his last regular-season MVP so long as he's with the Warriors.

All Durant can be concerned with is starting a ring collection. So long as he keeps this up, the first one is less then a week from being won.

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Kevin Durant's menacing defense leads the way for Warriors
June 6, 2017

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Kevin Durant is growing a little tired of questions about his ability to play defense.

''Underrated?'' Durant responded when recently asked about the perception of his D. ''My coaches don't feel like that.''

Neither does he, and KD's menacing, 6-foot-9 presence from the paint to the perimeter is a big reason unbeaten Golden State is closing in on its second championship in three years.

While best known for his sensational scoring and shot-making from every corner of the court, Durant has been tough on LeBron James so far in these NBA Finals by smothering the Cavs superstar. The Warriors are two wins from a title going into Game 3 at Cleveland on Wednesday night.

Durant is chasing his first championship and seems determined to do whatever it takes.

So versatile with his length and ability to alter shots, he even played center during Sunday's Game 2 when Draymond Green dealt with foul trouble in the 132-113 victory.

''I don't think there's many teams in the league who their backup is better than their starter,'' Green said. ''So I think that's a luxury that we have with KD here, and when I went out with foul trouble, obviously he - to say pick up the slack is kind of a ridiculous term, because he's a great player, an MVP, one of the best players in the world. So just the way he played on the defensive end, the way he played on the offensive end, he's been doing it all playoffs long, but in these Finals, he's really picked it up, and it's been huge for us.''

Durant and Green have set the tone all season on the defensive end, establishing an intensity and toughness - and the rest of the Warriors had no choice but to do more during Durant's 19-game absence this spring with a knee injury.

''If we're locked in on the defensive end, we'll score enough points,'' Green said. ''Even on an off night, we'll score enough points.''

After his NBA Finals failure five years ago against James and the Heat, Durant vowed to become a legitimate, respected defender who could make nearly as much of an impact blocking shots and crashing the boards.

He insists he can do even more.

''I've gotten better, and 2013 is when I feel I really turned the corner as a defender. Around 2012, that's when coaches stopped thinking they could go at me and get a basket or get me in foul trouble,'' Durant said. ''But I don't expect anybody on the outside who really doesn't know the game to look at me as a defender because once you're labeled something that's what you're going to be. But I feel the last four or five years I've definitely continued to get better and better, and smarter. I have the physical tools, but it's also about mentally knowing what to do.''

Sure, James still notched his record-tying eighth career Finals triple-double and Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving had big nights. Yet Durant, Andre Iguodala, Klay Thompson and the others kept the pressure on the Cavs.

Durant blocked five shots to go with 33 points, 13 rebounds and six assists after going off for 38 points and eight assists in Thursday's Game 1.

''His defense was amazing, and we needed it. Especially with Draymond out,'' coach Steve Kerr said. ''It's a small game and you got shooters everywhere and you have to be able protect the rim with LeBron coming downhill, with Love posting up and Draymond's on the bench. So that's a pretty scary proposition for us. I thought that Kev's defense was unreal, and it was probably the key to the whole game.''

It could be that Durant's defense will quiet the critics at last, especially if he comes out a winner after that scrutinized move from Oklahoma City last July to join the super-Warriors.

''I don't feel like I get picked on or people call sets just to try to score on me. That hasn't happened in a while,'' he said. ''I've grown leaps and bounds from where I was. I feel like I've been a solid defender in this league for a while.''

With all of their offensive firepower, the Warriors often turn a stretch of timely defensive stops into scoring spurts that can swing the momentum. Or, in many cases, give them just the jolt they need to put a game out of reach for good.

''I operate under the assumption that our guys know what to do and they know their system,'' Golden State assistant and defensive specialist Ron Adams said. ''We have an eclectic system. There's freedom offensively, and we have some freedom defensively, and we're good at it.''

When the Warriors added Durant, JaVale McGee, Zaza Pachulia and David West to a roster that blew a 3-1 Finals lead to James and fell short of a repeat last year, many wondered if they would have enough in the middle to defend the rim.

''It was a question mark for some people going into the season, losing (Andrew) Bogut and some other guys,'' general manager Bob Myers said. ''Ron is interesting. He's always had good defensive teams. And we take pride in it, we care about it. I know the offense gets most of the attention but our players, they work at it, collectively, individually. They want to be a good defensive team. We try to do it all year. Sometimes it's better than other times, but this is the time of year you really need it the most. For us, we view it as important as our offense.

''It's not as sexy, but it's important.''

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NBA Finals ratings highest since Jordan's last title in 1998
June 5, 2017

CLEVELAND (AP) The first two games of the NBA Finals are the most-watched since Michael Jordan's final championship in 1998.

Despite two lopsided outcomes, Golden State's two home wins over Cleveland averaged 19.6 million viewers, according to numbers released Monday by the Nielsen company.

That's an increase of 5 percent from the 18.6 million average in 2016.

The Warriors' 132-113 victory on Sunday drew an average of 20.1 million viewers, up 13 percent from Game 2 last year and the most for a Game 2 since Chicago and Utah met in 1998. The telecast peaked with 23.1 million viewers.

This is the first time two teams have met three straight times in the NBA Finals.

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NBA Finals MVP Odds
June 5, 2017

Prior to Game 1 of the 2017 NBA Finals, oddsmakers at Sportsbook.ag posted numbers on which player will be named the Most Valuable Player.

The oddsmakers at the offshore betting shop were expecting a toss-up for the hardware with Golden State's Kevin Durant and Cleveland’s LeBron James listed as the two favorites.

Durant is the clear favorite to capture the honor following a 33-point effort in Game 2 as he listed at 2/7 odds (Bet $350 win $100), while James dropped to 17/2 (+850) after opening at 39/20 (+195) just before the opener this past Thursday.

Stephen Curry sits behind Durant as the second favorite to win MVP as his odds moved up slightly from 12/5 to start the series to 11/5 after registering 32 points in the Game 2 blowout.

Listed below are the latest odds per Sportsbook.ag as well as the opening odds before the series.

Odds to win 2017 NBA Finals MVP following Game 2 (6/18/17)

Kevin Durant (Warriors) 2/7
Stephen Curry (Warriors) 11/5
LeBron James (Cavaliers) 17/2
Draymond Green (Warriors) 40/1
Klay Thompson (Warriors) 60/1
Kyrie Irving (Cavaliers) 75/1
Kevin Love (Cavaliers) 150/1
Andre Iguodala (Warriors) 500/1
Tristan Thompson (Cavaliers) 500/1
JR Smith (Cavaliers) 2000/1

Odds to win 2017 NBA Finals MVP following Game 1 (6/18/17)

Kevin Durant (Warriors) 5/8
Stephen Curry (Warriors) 11/5
LeBron James (Cavaliers) 9/2
Draymond Green (Warriors) 12/1
Kyrie Irving (Cavaliers) 20/1
Klay Thompson (Warriors) 40/1
Kevin Love (Cavaliers) 75/1
Andre Iguodala (Warriors) 150/1
Tristan Thompson (Cavaliers) 200/1
JR Smith (Cavaliers) 1000/1

Opening Odds to win 2017 NBA Finals MVP (6/18/17)
Kevin Durant (Warriors) 21/10
LeBron James (Cavaliers) 11/5
Stephen Curry (Warriors) 12/5
Draymond Green (Warriors) 8/1
Kyrie Irving (Cavaliers) 8/1
Klay Thompson (Warriors) 25/1
Kevin Love (Cavaliers) 45/1
Tristan Thompson (Cavaliers) 60/1
Andre Iguodala (Warriors) 85/1
JaVale McGee (Warriors) 150/1
JR Smith (Cavaliers) 250/1
Ian Clark (Warriors) 500/1
Kyle Korver (Cavaliers) 500/1
Deron Williams (Cavaliers) 1000/1
David West (Warriors) 2000/1
Zaza Pachulia (Warriors) 2000/1

Odds Subject to Change - Updated 6.5.17

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Cavaliers mull starting Shumpert
June 5, 2017

The Cleveland Cavaliers, down 2-0 after blowout losses to the Golden State Warriors, may switch up their starting lineup for Game 3 of the NBA Finals.

Cavs coach Tyronn Lue is considering starting Iman Shumpert in place of JR Smith at shooting guard for Wednesday night's game in Cleveland, according to ESPN.

Shumpert experienced cramping in the second half of the Cavs' 132-113 Game 2 loss on Sunday night and required intravenous fluids after the game, a team source told ESPN.

Shumpert finished with six points, four rebounds and three steals in 22 minutes off the bench, shooting only 1 of 6 from the field.

The Cavs may go with Shumpert in the starting lineup because of his defense in trying to slow down Warriors stars Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant.

On Sunday night, Curry and Durant teamed up to get the Warriors within two victories of another championship. Curry recorded his first career postseason triple-double with 32 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds while Durant -- seeking his first ring -- had 33 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and five blocks.

Smith has been a non-factor in the two losses with just three points on 1-of-4 shooting in 28 minutes in Game 1 and zero points on 0-of-2 shooting and four fouls in 14 minutes.

Lue said the Cavaliers must improve their defense to have a chance in Game 3.

"I think that having awareness, can't relax, can't fall asleep," Lue said after Sunday's loss. "This team, their offense is constant movement, so you got to be locked in. You can't take a peek somewhere else and lose your man. So they make you pay. And they have a lot of guys who are great passers, so you got to be alert at all times."

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NBA Finals Series Odds
June 5, 2017

Home Team listed first - Best of 7 Games (2-2-1-1-1)
(Opening Odds in parentheses)

NBA Finals

Golden State vs. Cleveland (Warriors lead 2-0)

Warriors (-240) -1500
Cavaliers (+200) +750

Exact Game Props - Prior to Series (5/26/16)

Golden State vs. Cleveland

5 Games Warriors Win 5/2
7 Games Warriors Win 3/1
6 Games Warriors Win 4/1
6 Games Cavaliers Win 5/1
4 Games Warriors Win 13/2
7 Games Cavaliers Win 8/1
5 Games Cavaliers Win 15/1
4 Games Cavaliers Win 30/1

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Trends to Watch - Game 3
June 5, 2017

NBA Finals Betting Trends - Game 3

-- The home team has gone 12-8 straight up in Game 3 of the last 20 NBA Finals, including a 4-1 mark the past five seasons

-- The last two teams to fall down 2-0 in the Finals have won Game 3 at home (2016 Cavaliers and 2008 Lakers)

-- Seven of the previous nine clubs returning home from a 2-0 deficit have been victorious in Game 3 (2007 Cavaliers and 2002 Nets lost in this situation)

-- Over this span, the previous nine teams to take a 2-0 lead won the championship seven times (2016 Warriors and 2006 Mavericks lost series)

-- Only two sweeps have occurred in the last 20 Finals (2007 Spurs and 2002 Lakers)

-- The ‘over’ has hit in three of the past four Game 3's of the Finals as Wednesday's Game 3 total is 20 points higher (226) than it was in 2016.

-- Golden State has yet to lose a playoff game this postseason, while beating Portland, Utah, and San Antonio on the highway in Game 3 of each round

-- The Warriors are a perfect 6-0 SU/ATS on the road in the playoffs

-- Cleveland is 2-1 SU/ATS in Game 3’s this postseason, while the Cavs have beaten the Warriors in Game 3 of each of the last two NBA Finals at home

-- Overall, Cleveland is 5-1 SU and 2-4 ATS at home in this year’s playoffs

Listed below are the past 20 Game 3's in the NBA Finals, with total results

GAME 3 OF THE NBA FINALS (1997-2016)
Year Matchup Total
2016 Cleveland 120 vs. Golden State 90 Over (206.5)
2015 Cleveland 96 vs. Golden State 91 Under (194.5)
2014 Miami 92 vs. San Antonio 111 Over (197)
2013 Miami 77 vs. San Antonio 113 Over (187.5)
2012 Miami 91 vs. Oklahoma City 85 Under (193)
2011 Miami 93 vs. Dallas 95 Push (188)
2010 Boston 84 vs. L.A. Lakers 91 Under (191.5)
2009 Orlando 104 vs. L.A. Lakers 108 Over (198)
2008 L.A. Lakers 87 vs. Boston 81 Under (195.5)
2007 Cleveland 72 vs. San Antonio 75 Under (179.5)
2006 Miami 98 vs. Dallas 96 Over (189.5)
2005 Detroit 96 vs. San Antonio 79 Over (170.5)
2004 Detroit 88 vs. L.A. Lakers 66 Under (169.5)
2003 New Jersey 79 vs. San Antonio 84 Under (185)
2002 New Jersey 103 vs. L.A. Lakers 106 Over (192.5)
2001 Philadelphia 91 vs. L.A. Lakers 96 Under (189.5)
2000 Indiana 100 vs. L.A. Lakers 91 Under (195)
1999 New York 89 vs. San Antonio 81 Over (169.5)
1998 Chicago 96 vs. Utah 54 Under (182.5)
1997 Utah 104 vs. Chicago 93 Over (185.5)

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Cavs not making any lineup changes
June 6, 2017

CLEVELAND (AP) LeBron James isn't changing his game, Tyronn Lue isn't changing his lineup. The Cavaliers aren't slowing down.

Defiant - and some might argue delusional - in the face of a 2-0 deficit to the postseason-perfect Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, the defending champions are sticking with their plan.

They may have no choice.

Back home after being outrun and outgunned by the Warriors, who won Games 1 and 2 at Oracle Arena by a combined 41 points, the Cavs find themselves in the same predicament they were in last year. This time, though, the hole feels deeper mostly because Kevin Durant is now leading a team seeking revenge after blowing a 3-1 lead to Cleveland in last year's Finals.

To this point, chapter three of Cleveland vs. Golden State, a Finals dubbed ''The Three-Match'' has been a mismatch.

Still, Lue, the Cavs' cool-under-pressure coach, believes his team can equal the Warriors' frenetic pace and flip the script as it did in 2016.

''We just have to take care of the basketball,'' Lue said Tuesday after the Cavs practiced at Quicken Loans Arena. ''I think taking good shots when we're playing with pace and not turning the basketball over, letting them get out in transition. So that's our game. We're not going to change our game because of who we're playing. And I'm confident that we can play that way, and we did it last year.

''A lot of people said we couldn't. But that's our game. That's who we are. And we're not going to change just because we're playing Golden State.''

One of the options Lue has heading into Wednesday's Game 3 is to bench struggling starting guard J.R. Smith for Iman Shumpert, who played well defensively in Game 2 but wore himself out guarding Durant and needed IV fluids afterward.

Smith drained a 3-pointer for the series' first basket, but hasn't scored since. He's just 1 of 6 from the field, and for some strange reason, one of the game's most confident shooters has been hesitant to let his jumper fly.

Lue, though, is staying with Smith, who said his wife, Jewel, offered advice on how to end his slump.

''She had a great idea for me,'' he said. ''She told me every time I touch it, shoot it.''

That's how the Warriors seem to be playing.

Golden State's break-neck speed on offense has been a sight to behold. With unmatched firepower, the Warriors are pushing the pace and the Cavaliers to exhaustion.

According to ESPN's research, the pace of play in the first two games was faster than in any of James' previous 212 career postseason games. And, the first quarter in which the Warriors outscored the Cavs 40-34 and the teams combined for 130 possessions, was the fastest James' career - regular or postseason - spanning 5,100 quarters.

It's no wonder James, who has been his typically dominant self, averaging 28.5 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, stopped attacking in the second half. He was gassed, and the Cavs couldn't keep up as the Warriors scored 132 despite 20 turnovers.

Cleveland prefers to play at a high tempo as well, and while that would seem to play into a trap with Golden State, Lue and James were adamant the Cavs aren't pumping their brakes.

''That's not our game. We don't play slowdown basketball,'' James said. ''We play at our pace. We play our game. We got to this point playing our way. We have won a lot of games playing the way we play, so we're not going to change.''

However, what has to change is production from Cleveland's role players. James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love are doing their part, but Cleveland's Big 3 isn't getting enough support.

Tristan Thompson has been neutralized as the Warriors are devoting multiple players to keep Cleveland's relentless rebounder off the boards. Sharpshooter Kyle Korver is just 1 of 6 on 3s, backup point guard Deron Williams is scoreless in 33 minutes and Richard Jefferson, two weeks shy of his 37th birthday, is the only reserve contributing more than expected.

In real time, Cleveland's two losses in Oakland looked lopsided, but Irving said the tape revealed some positives.

''When you watch it, it doesn't necessarily seem as bad because you understand that the things that you can't control,'' he said. ''They're just kind of boneheaded plays that you are just like, `Oh, man, we can be better.' Whether they're speeding us up or whether they're getting in our chest or challenging us, we need to hit back. And it's just as simple as that.''

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ABC is off and running with NBA Finals
June 6, 2017

NEW YORK (AP) The NBA Finals is off and running with its best ratings through two games since the Chicago Bulls' last championship in 1998. Now ABC has to hope the Cleveland Cavaliers can make it competitive.

The first two games, both won by the Golden State Warriors, averaged 19.2 million viewers, the Nielsen company said. The interest in championship series usually increase if they are evenly-matched, so if the Cavs can take a few games ABC would be in great shape.

Unfortunately for the network, the Warriors haven't lost in the playoffs yet.

NBC had a strong showing with the debut of Megyn Kelly's newsmagazine, ''Sunday Night,'' featuring her interview with Vladimir Putin. It landed among the week's 10 most-watched TV shows and, although it lost to CBS' ''60 Minutes'' in the time slot, won among younger viewers.

Basketball led ABC, which averaged 6.8 million viewers, to a weekly victory in prime time. NBC had 5.2 million viewers, CBS had 4.4 million, Fox had 2.3 million, Univision had 1.5 million, ION television had 1.3 million, Telemundo had 870,000 and the CW had 820,000.

Fox News Channel was the week's most popular cable network, averaging 2.21 million viewers in prime time. HGTV had 1.49 million, MSNBC had 1.32 million, USA had 1.27 million and TBS had 1.23 million.

ABC's ''World News Tonight'' topped the evening newscasts with an average of 7.5 million viewers. NBC's ''Nightly News'' was second with 7.1 million and the ''CBS Evening News'' had 5.7 million.

For the week of May 29-June 4, the top 10 shows, their networks and viewerships: NBA Finals: Cleveland vs. Golden State, Game 2, ABC, 19.69 million; NBA Finals: Cleveland vs. Golden State, Game 1, ABC, 18.7 million; ''America's Got Talent,'' NBC 12.32 million; ''World of Dance,'' NBC, 9.71 million; ''Little Big Shots,'' NBC, 7.45 million; ''NCIS,'' CBS, 7.35 million; ''60 Minutes,'' CBS, 6.79 million; ''The Big Bang Theory,'' CBS, 6.73 million; ''Bull,'' CBS, 6.51 million; ''Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly,'' NBC, 6.2 million.

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Cavaliers aim to turn around Finals
June 6, 2017

CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Cavaliers find themselves in the same place through two games in the NBA Finals they were at this point last season.

Blown out in Games 1 and 2 by the Golden State Warriors, looking for something to change in the first home game before the series is over for all intents and purposes.

Things turned out OK for the Cavs in 2016. They won Game 3 by 30 points and eventually became the first team in NBA history to recover from a 3-1 deficit to win the Finals.

"You understand the journey and how much of the energy it took from a mental and physical standpoint in order to come back from something like that," said Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving. "But you know it's definitely possible."

The Warriors have outscored Cleveland by 41 points through two games. They've blown the doors off of LeBron James and company in both games in the third quarters, outscoring the Cavs by 13 points in Game 1 and 11 on Sunday.

Kevin Durant wasn't wearing a Golden State jersey while his current teammates collapsed in last year's Finals. He has scored 71 points through two games. Harrison Barnes, the player Durant replaced in the Warriors' lineup, scored 65 for the whole series.

Durant is a former MVP in the prime of his career who was added to a roster that won an NBA-record 73 games last season before the stunning Finals defeat. He is partnered with Stephen Curry, a two-time MVP who has scored 60 points through two games and is coming off a triple-double in Game 2.

And the Warriors point to Game 3 as the initial turning point.

"I think it was the nature with which they won that game, the force that they brought," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "They blew us out. I don't remember what the final score was, but it wasn't close. And I thought that gave them confidence, gave their crowd confidence.

"We came back and won Game 4 in a great effort and had them right where we wanted them, but I think Game 3 gave them that confidence, and obviously everything changed in Game 5."

Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said he is sticking with shooting guard J.R. Smith in the starting lineup despite his struggles. Smith has scored just three points in two games on 1-of-6 shooting.

Then again, Smith was scuffling through the first two games of last season's Finals and came back with 20 points in Game 3.

"I have the same confidence level I've had since I started playing this game," Smith said. "I feel like I can make any and every shot. I feel like I'm going to -- feel like I'm going to play well every time I step on the floor. Obviously that doesn't happen every time.

"My confidence has never dwindled, lacked, chipped, nothing. I feel like when I'm on the floor, I mean obviously Bron is Bron, but I feel like I'm one of the best players on the floor."

James is averaging a triple-double through two games, with 28.5 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists. Twice during his career he has led the Cavs back from an 0-2 deficit in a playoff series -- in the 2007 Eastern finals against Detroit and of course last season.

James, who actually ended his protest of NBA podium interviews after Tuesday's practice by again taking reporters' questions on stage, said losses take "a mental toll."

"It's something I am accustomed to," James said. "It's something that I feel like is -- that it's OK for me to kind of always go back and know that I can refocus. I can get my guys ready, get myself ready. But you hate to continue to put yourself in these positions."

The Warriors are 14-0 to start the postseason. They're the first NBA team to ever do it. With a win in Game 3 they would pass the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins for the most consecutive playoff wins by any major professional sports team.

For what it's worth, no team has ever recovered from a 3-0 deficit in the NBA playoffs. The Warriors are two wins from sweeping all four rounds, including the last one, against the defending champs.

"We want 15-0," Kerr said. "That's what we want. Are we 14-0 right now? We want 15-0. That's what we want. We literally have never once mentioned 16-0. To me it's a miracle that it's even a possibility. It's so hard to do.

"But we are here, we're more focused on what happened last year like in terms of we were up 2-0 and we came here and the series shifted. That's the important lesson, not any historical benchmarks or anything like that."

[StarDust Bum]

Wednesday’s six-pack

— Reds 13, Cardinals 1— Scooter Gennett, a free agent in our fantasy league, hit four HR’s in this game. He had 17 total bases, two short of the all-time record (Shawn Green).

— Boston 5, New York 4- Drew Pomeranz threw 123 pitches in his five innings of work, but he got the win.

— Arizona Cardinals moved their OTA’s inside Tuesday; it was 105 in Phoenix.

— This spring, 27 of 85 NHL playoff games have gone to OT; 62% of NBA playoff games have been decided by double digit margins.

— Hope you didn’t bet the over in the Jets’ win total for this year: David Harris was first vet to go, now Eric Decker could be next. They’re trying very hard to get a lot younger.

— Headed to DL: Bartolo Colon (Braves), Yasmany Tomas (Arizona), Devon Travis (Jays), Jared Cosart (SD), Mike Napoli (Tex).

****************************

Wednesday’s List of 13: Mid-week musings…….

13) Chicago Cubs use an odd defense against sacrifice bunts, with Anthony Rizzo playing in between the mound and 1st base, and the 2B holding the runner on first.

For fantasy baseball purposes, this has made Rizzo technically a second baseman and he is now eligible as a 2B in many leagues. It is an advantage if you have Rizzo on your fantasy team, lets you have an extra 1B in your lineup.

12) Denver Broncos have a brutal 3-week stretch in mid-season; in Week 7 they go to Carson, CA to play the Chargers, then have a Monday night game in Kansas City in Week 8, before a Week 9 game in Philly six days later. NFL teams historically have done poorly in their third consecutive road game- this one is on short rest.

11) Baseball is difficult: two weeks ago, Jose Abreu was AL Player of the Week. Last week, he was 2-23. Even the best hitters go thru slumps.

10) From Chris Fallica on Twitter: Six of the last nine Belmont Stakes favorites ran completely out of the money. American Pharaoh is the only favorite in the last 11 years to win.

9) Clippers/Rockets will play two preseason games in Hawai’i in October; doesn’t sound like training camp will be too grueling for those two teams.

8) Nashville’s Frederick Gaudreau is the first NHL player since 1944 whose first three career goals came in the Stanley Cup Finals.

7) Speaking of the Stanley Cup Finals, other than Nashville/Pittsburgh, the finals are getting their best TV ratings in this country in Buffalo.

6) Arkansas sophomore pitcher Kacey Murphy threw 74 pitches in an NCAA tournament game on Sunday; he started Monday’s game.

5) College baseball has an interesting dynamic; with the national tournament going on at the same time as the major league draft next week— the older players keep one eye on who their next team will be, and one eye on trying to win with their college team.

4) A guy on American Pickers on the History Channel had a collection of license plates on his wall; every style of license plate ever issued in Pennsylvania. Pretty cool. Some of the stuff people collect is fascinating.

3) Graduate transfer Cameron Johnson wants to transfer from Pitt to North Carolina, but the Panthers want to block him from going to another ACC team.

This could get dicey; when he was at Vanderbilt, Kevin Stallings blocked Sheldon Jeter from transferring to Pitt— Jones went to a JC for a year before winding up at Pitt, and then two years later, Stallings showed up as the Panthers’ head coach- awkward.

2) Interesting debate: Who is the best quarterback in Packers’ history? Bart Starr? Brett Favre? Aaron Rodgers? You can make a case for all three.

1) Forbes Magazine now says the Golden State Warriors are worth $2.6B, 3rd-most in NBA behind the Lakers/Knicks. In 2011, the Warriors’ worth was below the NBA average- they’ve got a new arena in San Francisco on the way, and all this winning sure helps, too.

[StarDust Bum]

Warriors seem capable of anything - except another collapse
June 6, 2017

CLEVELAND (AP) The possibilities seem endless for the Golden State Warriors when they are rolling.

A 150-point game isn't even out of reach.

''I mean, we could have gotten at least 140 the other night if we only had about 10 to 15 turnovers,'' All-Star guard Klay Thompson said.

Dominating like no team ever has in the postseason, the Warriors look capable of anything - except another NBA Finals collapse.

They take a 2-0 lead over Cleveland into Wednesday's Game 3, just as they did last year. The Warriors actually had a higher victory margin through two games in the 2016 Finals, but they didn't have Kevin Durant or a fully healthy Stephen Curry then.

They do now and are playing much better basketball than this time last year.

''As a team, I think so,'' Thompson said. ''I think we're moving the ball great, we're shooting the ball at a high clip and our defense has been unbelievable.''

Somehow, the Cavaliers have to change all that.

They did last year, coming home after losing the first two by a combined 48 points and beginning the turnaround with a 120-90 rout in Game 3. The opponent and the situation are the same, yet things feel different.

''That's last year and I don't even know the feeling anymore,'' LeBron James said. ''So I'm just mentally strengthening my mind and getting my mind ready and focused on what tomorrow's going to bring, and so I look forward to it.''

The Warriors committed 20 turnovers in Game 2 but simply shook that off with an NBA Finals-record 18 3-pointers in a 132-113 romp. It was the second time in the postseason they committed at least 20 turnovers, and yet they scored at least 120 points in both games.

They are averaging nearly 119 points and winning by a record 16.9 per game in the postseason, and they've really picked it up lately. Golden State has scored 126 per game on nearly 52 percent shooting over the last five games.

''We played against good teams, and we came to the Finals undefeated, and here we are up 2-0, so we're playing amazing basketball right now. The best we probably played throughout the year,'' center Zaza Pachulia said.

With a loaded lineup and enough hot hands to fill an octopus, the Warriors don't need to rely on any one player to take a lot of shots. If somebody is struggling, they can just find someone else with their precision ball movement.

The Cavaliers don't have that luxury. They need big nights from James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love - and even then a roster of struggling role players has to pick it up.

''We just need our supporting group to be themselves as much as possible,'' Irving said. ''Understand that they have a unique opportunity to make us that much better, and for a majority of this season it's been on myself, Bron and K-Love's shoulders. And we have done a great job of getting everyone involved and making sure that everyone feels comfortable, but now we need everything and everybody.''

The Cavaliers said they won't change their lineup or their schemes, insisting they want to play fast even though that's exactly the way the Warriors like it. Golden State has been punishing Cleveland in transition, and the way the Warriors have blown open the first two games by scoring in bunches hasn't just taken a physical toll.

Both Durant and Thompson said they noticed the mental effect their lightning-quick scoring bursts have on opponents.

''Teams have great nights in this league, and it's the NBA, so that can happen a lot,'' Durant said. ''But when you're the one making the run, you could definitely feel the other team looking for answers and being deflated as the game goes on.''

A year after winning 73 games to set the NBA's regular-season record, the Warriors can make more history if they sweep the Cavs to complete the league's first undefeated postseason.

They embraced the chase last year but said Tuesday that they're not thinking at all about 16-0.

''Game 3 has been rough for us historically, and especially in this building,'' Curry said. ''So to give ourselves a chance at even coming close to thinking about that. We need to really, really just lock in and give every effort we have on tomorrow and how hard this 48 minutes is going to be to really seize control of this series.''

[StarDust Bum]

Wednesday's NBA Finals Game 3 Betting Preview: Warriors at Cavaliers

"As much as the comparison wants to be drawn from last year to this year, this is a totally different team. There is no comparison even though we're down 0-2 going back home."

Golden State Warriors at Cleveland Cavaliers (+3.5, 226)

Warriors lead series 2-0

The Cleveland Cavaliers didn't put up much of a fight while losing the first two games of the NBA Finals and aim to start a turnaround when they host the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday. Cleveland fell into a hole last season as well before winning the final three games to beat the Warriors and claim the title.

Golden State coach Steve Kerr knows his team won the first two games by an average of 20.5 points but he hasn't forgotten what occurred last season. "Well, it's been a great run but none of that matters unless we can finish the job with this series," Kerr told reporters. "Trust me, we know. It was 2-0 last year, we lost." The Cavaliers aren't willing to count on a comeback and know it might be even harder work to get back in the series this time around. "As much as the comparison wants to be drawn from last year to this year, this is a totally different team," Cleveland point guard Kyrie Irving said after Game 2. "There is no comparison even though we're down 0-2 going back home."

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ABC

LINE HISTORY: The Warriors opened as two-point road favorites following Sunday's convincing win in Game 2 and the public continues to bet them which has pushed the point spread up to 3.5. The total hit the betting board at 225.5 and has been bumped up slightly to 226. Check out the complete line history here.

WHAT SHARPS SAY: "It will be interesting to see if history repeats itself in the NBA Finals this year. Just like last season, the Warriors have gone 2-0 SU/ATS at home in the first two games. Golden State came out flat in Game 3 last year and lost by 30 points at Cleveland. The situation is similar, but also different this year. While the Warriors once again have a 2-0 series lead, they also have the memory of blowing a 3-1 series lead last year and losing the championship. Golden State now has Kevin Durant on the team and the Cavaliers have been unable to stop him. Durant was been the leading scorer in both Games 1 & 2 with 38 and 33 points. The oddsmakers have made a substantial line adjustment based on the recent results. The initial look-ahead line for Game 3 was Cleveland -2 when this series began last week, and now the Cavaliers are a +3/+3.5 point home underdog." - Steve Merril.

INJURY REPORT:

Warriors - SF K. Looney (Out Indefinitely, hip).

Cavaliers - C E. Tavares (Out For Season, hand), SG I. Shumpert (Probable, conditioning), PG K. Irving (Probable, knee).

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (81-15 SU, 50-43-3 ATS, 42-54-0 O/U): Golden State has rolled to 14 consecutive postseason victories and seems even harder to beat with small forward Kevin Durant playing superbly and averaging 35.5 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in the series. "I'm not going to take a step back," Durant told reporters of his team's 2-0 lead. "We know this is far from over. We know how hard it is to be the best team in the league." Point guard Stephen Curry is averaging 30 points 10.5 assists and eight rebounds in the series and shooting guard Klay Thompson displayed signs of breaking out of a postseason slump by scoring 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting in Game 2.

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (63-34 SU, 44-49-4 ATS, 57-39-1 O/U): Cleveland has collapsed in the third quarter of each of the first two games as it wilted under Golden State's offensive firepower. Both coach Tyronn Lue and star forward LeBron James insist the Cavaliers won't try to slow down play and will stick with the style they prefer. "That's not our game. We don't play slowdown basketball," James told reporters. "We play at our pace. We play our game. We got to this point playing our way. We have won a lot of games playing the way we play, so we're not going to change."

TRENDS:

* Warriors are 11-0 ATS in their last 11 road games.
* Cavaliers are 0-6-1 ATS in their last 7 vs. Western Conference.
* Over is 7-1 in Warriors last 8 road games.
* Over is 7-0 in Cavaliers last 7 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
* Home team is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.

CONSENSUS: 56 percent of users are siding with the road favorite Golden State Warriors and 61 percent are on the Over.

[StarDust Bum]

NBA
Dunkel

Wednesday, June 7


Golden State @ Cleveland

Game 705-706
June 7, 2017 @ 9:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Golden State
134.314
Cleveland
137.265
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Cleveland
by 3
218
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Golden State
by 3
226
Dunkel Pick:
Cleveland
(+3); Under




NBA
Long Sheet

Wednesday, June 7

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GOLDEN STATE (81 - 15) at CLEVELAND (63 - 34) - 6/7/2017, 9:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
GOLDEN STATE is 108-88 ATS (+11.2 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
GOLDEN STATE is 31-21 ATS (+7.9 Units) when the total is greater than or equal to 220 this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 101-84 ATS (+8.6 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
GOLDEN STATE is 41-24 ATS (+14.6 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
GOLDEN STATE is 55-33 ATS (+18.7 Units) in all playoff games since 1996.
GOLDEN STATE is 9-1 ATS (+7.9 Units) when leading in a playoff series this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 34-23 ATS (+8.7 Units) after a win by 10 points or more this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 31-22 ATS (+6.8 Units) after 3 or more consecutive wins this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 28-15 ATS (+11.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 19-8 ATS (+10.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 25-13 ATS (+10.7 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 23-11 ATS (+10.9 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game - 2nd half of the season over the last 2 seasons.
CLEVELAND is 11-20 ATS (-11.0 Units) after a non-conference game this season.
CLEVELAND is 11-20 ATS (-11.0 Units) in non-conference games this season.
CLEVELAND is 8-19 ATS (-12.9 Units) after a loss by 10 points or more over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
GOLDEN STATE is 12-9 against the spread versus CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
GOLDEN STATE is 13-8 straight up against CLEVELAND over the last 3 seasons
13 of 19 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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NBA
Armadillo's Write-Up

Tuesday, June 6

Warriors dominated first two Finals games, winning by 22-19 points; Cleveland was even +11 in turnovers in Game 2 and lost by 19, after being -16 in TO’s in Game 1. Golden State is 14-0 in playoffs, 6-0 on road, also covering all six road games— they won their last three games with Cleveland, by 35-22-19 points. Last four series games stayed under the total; under is 7-2-1 in last 10 series tilts. Warriors lost three of last four visits to Cleveland, with lone win in Game 4 of LY’s Finals. Over is 5-1 in Warriors’ last six games. Cavaliers are 5-1 at home in playoffs (2-4 vs spread, all as favorites)- five of those six games went over.

NBA Finals
Cleveland-Golden State
GState 113-91, U225
GState 132-113, O222




NBA

Wednesday, June 7

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Trend Report
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9:00 PM
GOLDEN STATE vs. CLEVELAND
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Golden State's last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Golden State's last 8 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Cleveland's last 5 games when playing Golden State
Cleveland is 5-11 SU in its last 16 games when playing Golden State