Bring On LeBron? Oddsmakers, 'DubNation' Confident The Warriors Will Close Out Rockets Wednesday
OAKLAND (CBS SF) - The Warriors will earn a trip to the NBA Finals Wednesday night. At least that's what Las Vegas bookies are betting on.
As of Wednesday morning, the Warriors were seen by most bookmakers as about a 10 point favorite to win Game Five of the Western Conference Finals against the Houston Rockets. If you want to bet on the Warriors to simply win the game, the so-called money line for the matchup is +700 on the gaming website Bovada. That means you have to risk $700 on the Warriors get a $100 payout on the win. The Rockets are +450, meaning a $100 bet pays $450 if Houston can extend the series.
If social media is any indication, members of #DubNation are expecting a knockout blow:
It's a great day to WIN! #dubnation pic.twitter.com/bIb5K3ViUo
— Erika Rae (@ErikaRae74) May 27, 2015
Handle your biz, boys
— Miss Oppo Taco (@LMLMadness) May 27, 2015
See y'all at the finals #DubNation pic.twitter.com/aXgeshV7X2
If the Warriors can secure the Western Conference Title they'll meet LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals, setting up a faceoff between the league's MVP - Stephen Curry - and the game's most recognizable player. LeBron. James, who returned to Cleveland this season after winning a pair of titles in Miami, secured the Eastern Conference Title Tuesday night after sweeping Atlanta. This will be James' 5th consecutive finals appearance.
For now, the Warriors are simply focused on game five.
"We just don't want to come back to Houston," Warriors guard Klay Thompson said. "It's not going to be easy. They are here for a reason. We have to come and play with more intensity and play together and we'll win the game."
Eight months of work almost came crashing down for the Warriors when Curry jumped in the air as Trevor Ariza started to shoot a layup midway through the second quarter Monday night. Ariza saw him and stopped abruptly, causing Curry to tumble over him.
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Curry's head hit the court hard and his arms bent awkwardly. He remained on the floor for several minutes, walked to the locker room looking stunned and returned in the second half after the team said he passed the league-mandated concussion tests.
"It could have been a lot worse," Curry said.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Tuesday, a travel day for both teams, that Curry is doing just fine - other than the bruise on his head - and should be ready to go for Game 5.
Wednesday's game starts at 6:00 p.m.