Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites for Monday 5/14/18
Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets (-1.5, 224)
Series tied 0-0.
The Houston Rockets have had the look all season of a team ready to dethrone the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference. They now get their chance to try to turn that vision into a reality when the star-studded squads tangle in the best-of-seven conference finals, beginning with Game 1 on Monday night in Houston.
The Rockets won the West by seven games over the second-place Warriors and took two of three regular-season meetings while averaging 117.3 points, and they've cruised to their second conference finals in four seasons - the last in 2015 resulting in a lopsided series loss at the hands of Golden State - with back-to-back 4-1 series wins over Minnesota and Utah. The defending NBA champion Warriors also needed just five games to get by each of their first two opponents and are seeking their fourth consecutive trip to the NBA Finals. "We know they are a great team," Golden State coach Steve Kerr recently told the media of the Rockets. "We know they are ready, and we'll be ready for them." The teams last met in the playoffs in 2016, when the Warriors rolled in five games in a first-round matchup.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, TNT
Note: Not every online sportsbook is the same. Thinking of placing a bet? Check which top rated sports betting sites have been reviewed first.
LINE HISTORY: The Rockets opened the betting for Game 1 as 2-point home favorites and that numbers has been pushed down slightly to 1.5 as of Sunday night. The total hit betting boards at 225 and has been dropped to 225. Check out the complete line history here.
WHAT SHARPS SAY: "The two best teams in the NBA face off in the Western Conference finals and the winner will be a substantial favorite to win the NBA Finals. Look-ahead odds give the Warriors a 86% chance to defeat the Cavaliers and 91% chance to defeat the Celtics. Meanwhile, the Rockets will have a 78% chance to defeat the Cavaliers and an 88% chance to defeat the Celtics in the NBA Finals." - Covers Expert Steve Merril.
INJURY REPORT:
Warriors - SG P. McCaw (Early June, Back), SF C. Boucher (Out Indefinitely, Ankle).
Rockets - No injuries to report.
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (66-26 SU, 39-52-1 ATS, 43-48-1 O/U): Golden State returned to full power when Stephen Curry came back from a knee injury in Game 2 of the semifinal series against New Orleans, and the two-time MVP showed little rust as he averaged 24.5 points while making 44.1 percent of his 3-pointers during the series. His presence makes the defending champs a complete team that is supremely confident, even as a rare underdog. "No, I like where we are," Kerr told the media. "Our guys have rings. That's a good position to be in. To me, the hardest championship is the first one, as an individual player and as a team, because you don't know - you don't quite know - if you can do it."
ABOUT THE ROCKETS (73-19 SU, 47-44-1 ATS, 38-53-1 O/U): The big difference between past Houston teams that have faltered against Golden State is the notable addition of point guard Chris Paul, who averaged 21.8 points through the first two rounds. "We've got eight more wins to get," he told reporters when asked if he celebrated his first trip to the conference finals in his 13-year career. "I don't know what it's supposed to feel like, but we've still got a lot of work to do." Backcourt mate James Harden continues to stuff the stat sheet and has joined Michael Jordan (1988-89 and 1990-91) as the second player in NBA history to average at least 28 points, seven assists, five boards and two steals while playing more than five games in a postseason.
TRENDS:
* Warriors are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 Conference Finals games.
* Rockets are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
* Over is 4-0 in Warriors' last 4 Conference Finals games.
* Under is 10-1 in Rockets' last 11 vs. NBA Pacific.
* Under is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
Preview: Warriors at Rockets
Gracenote
May 13, 2018
The Houston Rockets have had the look all season of a team ready to dethrone the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference. They now get their chance to try to turn that vision into a reality when the star-studded squads tangle in the best-of-seven conference finals, beginning with Game 1 on Monday night in Houston.
The Rockets won the West by seven games over the second-place Warriors and took two of three regular-season meetings while averaging 117.3 points, and they've cruised to their second conference finals in four seasons - the last in 2015 resulting in a lopsided series loss at the hands of Golden State - with back-to-back 4-1 series wins over Minnesota and Utah. The defending NBA champion Warriors also needed just five games to get by each of their first two opponents and are seeking their fourth consecutive trip to the NBA Finals. "We know they are a great team," Golden State coach Steve Kerr recently told the media of the Rockets. "We know they are ready, and we'll be ready for them." The teams last met in the playoffs in 2016, when the Warriors rolled in five games in a first-round matchup.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, TNT
ABOUT THE WARRIORS: Golden State returned to full power when Stephen Curry came back from a knee injury in Game 2 of the semifinal series against New Orleans, and the two-time MVP showed little rust as he averaged 24.5 points while making 44.1 percent of his 3-pointers during the series. His presence makes the defending champs a complete team that is supremely confident, even as a rare underdog. "No, I like where we are," Kerr told the media. "Our guys have rings. That's a good position to be in. To me, the hardest championship is the first one, as an individual player and as a team, because you don't know - you don't quite know - if you can do it."
ABOUT THE ROCKETS: The big difference between past Houston teams that have faltered against Golden State is the notable addition of point guard Chris Paul, who averaged 21.8 points through the first two rounds. "We've got eight more wins to get," he told reporters when asked if he celebrated his first trip to the conference finals in his 13-year career. "I don't know what it's supposed to feel like, but we've still got a lot of work to do." Backcourt mate James Harden continues to stuff the stat sheet and has joined Michael Jordan (1988-89 and 1990-91) as the second player in NBA history to average at least 28 points, seven assists, five boards and two steals while playing more than five games in a postseason.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Warriors SG Klay Thompson shot 38.4 percent from the field against New Orleans, making just 8-of-34 from 3-point range over the final four games of the series.
2. Rockets SG Eric Gordon averaged 20 points in three regular-season meetings despite going 2-of-24 from beyond the arc.
3. Houston C Clint Capela is averaging 14.4 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.8 blocks this postseason.
PREDICTION: Rockets 112, Warriors 108
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ATS Trends
Golden State
Warriors are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 Conference Finals games.
Warriors are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 Monday games.
Warriors are 7-15 ATS in their last 22 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Warriors are 7-17 ATS in their last 24 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Warriors are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Warriors are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
Warriors are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 vs. Western Conference.
Warriors are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 vs. NBA Southwest.
Warriors are 8-21 ATS in their last 29 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Warriors are 4-12 ATS in their last 16 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Warriors are 3-11 ATS in their last 14 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Warriors are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
Warriors are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Houston
Rockets are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Rockets are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Rockets are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Rockets are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Rockets are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
Rockets are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 vs. Western Conference.
Rockets are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Rockets are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Rockets are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 vs. NBA Pacific.
OU Trends
Golden State
Over is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 Conference Finals games.
Under is 5-1 in Warriors last 6 road games.
Under is 4-1 in Warriors last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 4-1-1 in Warriors last 6 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 4-1 in Warriors last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 4-1 in Warriors last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 21-8-1 in Warriors last 30 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-2 in Warriors last 7 overall.
Over is 5-2-1 in Warriors last 8 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Under is 5-2 in Warriors last 7 vs. Western Conference.
Under is 5-2 in Warriors last 7 vs. NBA Southwest.
Houston
Under is 10-1 in Rockets last 11 vs. NBA Pacific.
Under is 6-1 in Rockets last 7 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 5-1 in Rockets last 6 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Under is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 Monday games.
Under is 8-2 in Rockets last 10 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 Conference Finals games.
Under is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 29-11 in Rockets last 40 vs. Western Conference.
Under is 5-2 in Rockets last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Under is 5-2 in Rockets last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 5-2 in Rockets last 7 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 14-6 in Rockets last 20 home games.
Under is 16-7 in Rockets last 23 games following a straight up win.
Under is 18-8 in Rockets last 26 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 35-17 in Rockets last 52 overall.
Head to Head
Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Houston.
Warriors are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Houston.
Under is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
Warriors are 11-5 ATS in the last 16 meetings.
Road team is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
NBA(731) GOLDEN STATE @ (732) HOUSTON | 05/14/2018 - 9:05 PM
Play ON HOUSTON using the money line in All games when the total is greater than or equal to 220
The record is 24 Wins and 6 Losses this season (+16.95 units)
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NBA(731) GOLDEN STATE @ (732) HOUSTON | 05/14/2018 - 9:05 PM
Play ON HOUSTON using the money line in Home games versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game - 2nd half of the season
The record is 20 Wins and 4 Losses for the last three seasons (+16.30 units)
NBA
Long Sheet
Monday, May 14
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GOLDEN STATE (66 - 26) at HOUSTON (73 - 19) - 5/14/2018, 9:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
GOLDEN STATE is 38-51 ATS (-18.1 Units) in all games this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 19-32 ATS (-16.2 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 9-21 ATS (-14.1 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season this season.
HOUSTON is 23-13 ATS (+8.7 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record - 2nd half of the season this season.
GOLDEN STATE is 63-38 ATS (+21.2 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 106+ points/game - 2nd half of the season since 1996.
HOUSTON is 40-53 ATS (-18.3 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
HOUSTON is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) in home games against Pacific division opponents this season.
HOUSTON is 16-29 ATS (-15.9 Units) in home games after a win by 10 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
GOLDEN STATE is 9-5 against the spread versus HOUSTON over the last 3 seasons
GOLDEN STATE is 11-4 straight up against HOUSTON over the last 3 seasons
9 of 15 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
NBA
Monday, May 14
Trend Report
Golden State Warriors
Golden State is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
Golden State is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Golden State's last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Golden State's last 5 games on the road
Golden State is 20-5 SU in its last 25 games when playing Houston
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Golden State's last 10 games when playing Houston
Golden State is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Houston
Golden State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Houston
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Golden State's last 6 games when playing on the road against Houston
Houston Rockets
Houston is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
Houston is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Houston's last 18 games
Houston is 23-2 SU in its last 25 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 14 of Houston's last 20 games at home
Houston is 5-10-1 ATS in its last 16 games when playing Golden State
Houston is 5-20 SU in its last 25 games when playing Golden State
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Houston's last 10 games when playing Golden State
Houston is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Golden State
Houston is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Golden State
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston's last 6 games when playing at home against Golden State