Warriors Open as -440 Favorites Over Trail Blazers in 2019 Western Conference Finals
By Robert Duff in NBA Basketball
Updated: March 30, 2020 at 3:18 pm EDTPublished:
- Oddsmakers list the Golden State Warriors as odds-on -440 favorites to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA Western Conference final
- The Warriors have won four straight conference finals
- Portland is in the Western Conference final for the first time since 2000
In terms of the NBA Western Conference final, the Golden State Warriors have been there and done that. The Portland Trail Blazers haven’t done it in a long time.
Western Conference Finals bound for the first time in 19 years!
MOOD pic.twitter.com/e7JgQZ5t0b
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) May 12, 2019
The Warriors will be seeking their fifth conference title in a row and oddsmakers certainly like their chances. They have established Golden State as the -440 chalk to advance to the NBA Finals for the fifth straight spring.
Portland Trail Blazers vs Golden State Warriors Western Conference Final Odds
| Team | Odds to Win Series |
|---|---|
| Portland Trail Blazers | +370 |
| Golden State Warriors | -440 |
*Odds taken May 12
Portland last played in the Western Conference final in 1999-2000, losing in seven games to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Trail Blazers haven’t reached the NBA finals since 1991-92, when they lost to the Chicago Bulls.
KD Said What?
The Warriors anticipate that forward Kevin Durant will be back for the conference final. Durant missed the final two games of their six-game second-round win over the Houston Rockets due to a right calf strain.
This conversation between Cj McCollum and Kevin Durant back in July really needs to be heard. Love how things played out that these two teams now will meet in the Western Conference Finals. pic.twitter.com/kY2ZGS77zA
— Kory Waldron (@Just_KWal) May 12, 2019
What the Warriors can also anticipate coming back are Durant’s words from the summer. Appearing on the podcast of Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum, Durant scoffed at the notion that Portland was a legitimate NBA contender.
Durant and Golden State can only hope that his words don’t come back to haunt him.
Does CJ Stand For Clutch Jumper?
Prior to their second-round series against the Nuggets, Portland had won twice in eight games at Denver. During the series, the Trail Blazers won twice there in four games.
The big reason they took a 100-96 decision in Game 7 at the Pepsi Center was McCollum. He poured in a game-high 37 points, and was money with the mid-range jumper.
The backcourt of McCollum and Damian Lillard have carried Portland all season long and will need to shoot the lights out to give the Trail Blazers any chance against the Warriors.
How The Western Conference Will Be Won
Portland has won four of the last six regular-season games from Golden State. The teams split four games this season, each winning once at the other’s arena.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KV_ilXhPkrY
The Trail Blazers haven’t been so fortunate in playoff series. This will be their third postseason meeting since 2016. Not only did the Warriors win both previous series, they won eight of nine games played. Portland has never won a playoff game at Golden State.
Golden State simply has too many weapons. The Warriors are deeper in starting five and off the bench. As the Warriors displayed against the Rockets, you can take away a key component in Durant, and they just keep on rolling.
The Portland Trailblazers are playing a dynasty in this year’s Western Conference Finals in the Golden State Warriors. The last they played in WCF in 2000, the Scottie Pippen/Rasheed Wallace led Blazers faced a birth of a dynasty in Shaq-Kobe Lakers in a Game 7 thriller pic.twitter.com/aDfUMqyoTv
— 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐞 (@exavierpope) May 12, 2019
Portland is a no. 3 seed. The last seven Western Conference champions were all one or two seeds.
Portland won’t be blazing a trail to the NBA Finals. Bet the Warriors.
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
