JEFF ALLEN’S WARRIORS/CAVS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
The Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers square off in the feature game of the holiday quadruple header. The teams have split the last two NBA championships with the Cavs becoming the first team ever in league history to come back from a 3-1 deficit. Both teams are in excellent form at the moment with both teams currently leading their respective conferences. The 27-4 Warriors have won seven straight and lead the West by 2 1/2 games over the Spurs. The 22-6 Cavs are a game and a half better than Toronto on top of the Eastern Conference.
The line at this writing is Golden State -2.5 with the total down from the 224 1/2 opener down to 222.
Despite winning the West the last two years, the Warriors were not content to sit back and rest on their laurels. The
organization went out and got the most highly sought after free agent of the summer in signing Kevin Durant. The Durantula has not disappointed with a (25.9, 8.9, 4.6) stat line. The Splash brothers (Curry 24.4 and Klay Thompson 21.3) are still the best perimeter shooting backcourt in the game and Draymond Green (10.4, 8.9, 7.4) is still there to do the dirty work. Chemistry to this point has not been an issue.
It’s taken three year but the Cavs big three is playing better than ever as Cleveland routinely blows people out. Lebron still averages a very healthy (25.3, 7.7, 8.7) and has been a brilliant facilitator. Kyrie Irving (23.8, 4.4, 5.4) is making his case for being one of the elite all-around point guards in the league. Kevin Love (21.9, 10.7, 1.7) who has been the perceived villain of past Cav disharmony has fit in seamlessly and has shot the lights out from outside much like his did as T-Wolve. Tristan Thompson is the big man in the paints and averages double-digit rebounds with much of it coming off the offensive glass. Cleveland took a hit this week when their firts man off the bench, J.R.. Smith was lost for 3-4 months with thumb surgery.
Golden State is 3-2 in it’s last five trips to The Quick but has covered just one of it;s last six as a road favorite. The Warriors are 5-1 under in their six. The Cavs have won six straight at home and nine of ten overall. The over is 3-1 in Cleveland’s last four. Jeff Allen has a play on this game and you can find it on his home site of www.vegas scoresandodds.com.