Defending Champion Warriors Given +375 Odds To Win NBA Title Now Down 3-1
By Robert Duff in NBA Basketball
Updated: April 1, 2020 at 9:12 am EDTPublished:
- The Golden State Warriors are down 3-1 to the Toronto Raptors in the NBA Finals
- The two-time defending champion Warriors are at odds of +375 to win the title
- The only team to ever blow a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals was the 2016 Warriors
During their dominance of the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, in many ways the Toronto Raptors have emulated the once-mighty Warriors.
Now, it’s come down to this for the Warriors. If they want to win a third successive NBA championship, their only hope is that the Raptors opt to emulate them once more.
Just one team has ever blown a 3-1 lead in NBA Finals history. That team? Golden State in 2016. The Warriors squandered a 3-1 advantage and lost in seven games to the Cleveland Cavaliers
2019 NBA Finals Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Golden State Warriors | +375 |
| Toronto Raptors | -550 |
*Odds taken 06/08/19
Golden State opened the series as the -300 chalk. Toronto was +250 to win it all. Let’s hope you got your wagers down on the Raptors back then.
Raptormania Is Warranted
An entire nation has embraced the Raptors. So many Jurassic Park viewing parties have popped up across Canada that it’s a wonder Steven Spielberg hasn’t sued someone for copyright infringement.
The Raptors first quarter: pic.twitter.com/XPCBWX3FIF
— The Ringer (@ringer) June 8, 2019
Game 4 opened like it was going to be Kawhi and nobody for the Raptors. Toronto star Kawhi Leonard scored 14 first-quarter points on 5-for-9 from the field. The rest of the Raptors shot 1-for-13 and scored three points.
Golden State led 23-17 after one period. Then Toronto awoke. It was 88-69 Raptors the rest of the way. Leonard finished with 36 points.
Especially crushing was a dominating third quarter in which the Raptors finished with a 37-21 advantage.
A Golden State Sunset
Prior to this series, Golden State had won six straight NBA Finals games at Oracle Arena. But those Warriors aren’t these Warriors.
This group is a broken bunch – physically, emotionally, and on the scoreboard. DeMarcus Cousins is ailing. Klay Thompson is playing on one leg. Kevon Looney is out there with a broken collarbone. And if you’re waiting for Kevin Durant (calf) to ride to the rescue, that ship has sailed.
It would be pretty poetic if the Warriors overcame a 3-1 deficit to win their 3rd straight title… buuuuuuuuut that's being overly optimistic against a great Raptors team.
— Grant Liffmann (@GrantLiffmann) June 8, 2019
It’s become Steph Curry vs the Raptors and that’s proven to be a clear mismatch. Toronto has fashioned three wins by an average margin of 12 points per game.
It’s Prehistoric And Historic
This isn’t the first time that a Raptors-Warriors matchup has gone down with the Warriors being squashed.
In fact, if you go back to the regular season, it’s been a mismatch all season long. Toronto is 5-1 against Golden State.
Successful business trip to the Bay Area. #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/sliFFMJJCF
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) June 8, 2019
Leonard is averaging 31 points per game in this set. When the Raptors extinguish Golden State in Game 5, he’ll pick up the NBA Finals MVP.
3 down, 1 to go. Bring it home, @Raptors. #WeTheNorth
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) June 8, 2019
At -550, it’s hardly worth an outright wager on Toronto at this point. But play the Raptors at -155 to win Game 5 and give the 3.5 points.
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.
