MANILA, Philippines – LeBron James isn’t sweating the Las Vegas odds which have his Cleveland Cavaliers as significant underdogs heading into the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors.
The Warriors are a -260 betting favorite while the Cavs are a +220 underdog to repeat as NBA champions at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, according to ABC. It’ll be the sixth time in 8 finals appearances that James will be an underdog, per ESPN Stats & Information, but the 3-time champion brushed it aside after practice on Sunday, May 28.
“I only play blackjack in Vegas anyway, so it doesn’t matter,” James told the Associated Press on Sunday, May 28. Asked how he felt heading into the Finals, which kick off Thursday, May 28 (Friday Manila time) at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, James said “I feel good about our chances…very good.”
This will be the third straight season the two teams will meet for the NBA title, with the Warriors winning in 2015, and the Cavs coming back from a 3-1 deficit to win in 2016. This season the Warriors have an added weapon in Kevin Durant, who came over before the season started from the Oklahoma City Thunder, one of the Warriors’ toughest Western Conference rivals in recent seasons. Durant joined an already loaded team that includes Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, and is complimented by a deep bench.
James, whose Cavs include stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, and the added long-range firepower of Kyle Korver, says he is no stranger to battling teams with multiple stars.
“I’ve played against 4 Hall of Famers as well, too, with Manu [Ginobili], Kawhi [Leonard], Tony [Parker] and [Tim Duncan] on the same team,” said James of the San Antonio Spurs, whom he played against in the 2013 and 2014 Finals as part of the Miami Heat, and the 2007 Finals during his first run with the Cavs. “And if you add [coach Gregg Popovich] in there, that’s 5 Hall of Famers. So, it’s going to be very challenging. Those guys are going to challenge me, they’re going to challenge our ball club.”
James also recalled his battles with the Boston Celtics when they boasted Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen.
With the Warriors favored to win, Durant tops odds to be named Finals MVP at 7-5, while Stephen Curry is just behind him at 8-5 at the William Hill sportsbook in Nevada, which is allowing odds to be issued on this particular award for the first time. James follows next at 2-1, Green at 17-2, Irving at 10-1, Love at 15-1 and Thompson at 25-1.
And, in case you’re wondering, JaVale McGee and Zaza Pachulia are listed at 1,000-1. – Rappler.com
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