Golden State at San Antonio
Time: 2:30 PM CT (ABC/ESPN)
Spread: GSW -7
Total: 203.5
Odds c/o 5dimes
The Golden State Warriors have been without two-time MVP Stephen Curry, but as most knew it would not, it has failed to impede the Dubs in its quest for another title. The Warriors lead the best of seven 3-0 and will look to close it out on the road Sunday afternoon in San Antonio.
NBA Oddsmakers favor the Warriors by 7-points, which ultimately still seems soft given that the Warriors have had few, if any problems, with the Spurs over the course of 48-minute games. The Spurs have been able to hold its own in stretches, but ultimately there is too much offensive firepower on Golden State’s roster for the “slow it down” approach to proving effective for much more than a half, or so.
The Warriors have won every game in this series by double-digits and have an average margin of victory of 16 points through the first three games. Expect nothing to change. Kevin Durant and Shaun Livingston are both hobbling on sprained ankles, but both will be playing in Game 4 as the Warriors look ahead to its upcoming series against the New Orleans Pelicans, who completed its sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers. The Dubs might not have needed Curry’s services to take care of a Kawhi Leonard-less Spurs team, but it will absolutely need a fully healthy roster to battle against a red-hot Pelicans team.
But that is getting ahead of ourselves, if only slightly. San Antonio is still coached by one of the greats in Gregg Popovich, and we did expect one game from this series to go to the Spurs simply because of his mastermind tactics. That might not be the case, but if Tony Parker can play significant minutes and slow the pace down, the Spurs might be able to milk enough out of LaMarcus Aldridge and Pau Gasol to steal one game on its home court.
If not, this series will be the sweep many called. It just seemed that Pop was good for a game, but with the way the Warriors are clicking, it has hardly mattered, and the Spurs lack sufficient offensive firepower without Leonard’s 25 to 30 points per game. While the Spurs really are not commenting much on Leonard’s future, one would figure this roster is on the verge of implosion as the Spurs hit the first true rebuild it has had in the past 20 years. It sounds strange to even consider, really.
ATS TRENDS
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| San Antonio | |
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