Cleveland Cavaliers occupy third place in the Eastern Conference with 12 games to go until the end of the season, but it has to be noted that Indiana Pacers are breathing down their neck. Cavs have been having their ups and down of late, with the team recording five wins in previous ten league games, but they will have to be at their sharpest in the play-offs if they are to regain the NBA trophy.

As things stand now, Cavs will once again rely on LeBron James, who led Tyronn Lue’s troops to a 124-117 win over Milwaukee Bucks with 40 points earlier in March. “The King James” has been averaging 31 points in previous in March and, no doubt, he has found his best form. Anyhow, his teammates will have to improve their game as well if Cavs are to retain third place in the standings.

Kyrie Irving, who joined Boston Celtics during the summer, has been sorely missed in the 2018 NBA season and seeing that Isaiah Thomas is no longer part of the team, there is every chance Kevin Love will play a very important role in Tyronn Lue’s team in the season finale. You should bear in mind that Kevin Love has 17.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game this term.

The likes of Larry Nance, Rodney Hood, Cedi Osman and Tristan Thompson have been struggling with injuries of late, but the quartet should be fully fit for upcoming games. 

Taking everything into account, Cleveland Cavaliers have been playing below expectations in the regular season, with the team already suffering 29 defeats in the process. Cavs are relying too much on LeBron James, who is once again likely to find himself alone against Cleveland’s rivals. The team’s current goal is to finish the regular season in top four in the Eastern Conference as that will earn them home-court advantage in the play-offs.

Cleveland Cavaliers will face the likes of Toronto Raptors (twice), Phoenix Suns, Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets, New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks (twice) in the remainder of the season. 

But that’s not the main problem. What should really worry the Cavs is that neither Steph, Durant or Klay had a superb game (in their standards). You know who had? Lebron. He was everywhere. Spacing the floor, defending, setting his teammates for open shots (half of Love points can be written on Lebron). He drove to the basket again and again, getting fouled almost every time and not getting the whistles. And in the end, it was enough just to keep the Cavs in the game till the middle of the third quarter. Not more than that.

James got tired and Warriors got away. You could see the look on LeBron’s face. He was exhausted. But it’s not just that. He was frustrated. He felt cheated. He knew he was superb and yet it wasn’t enough. And at some part, he knows it won’t be enough tomorrow or on Friday.

Of course, LeBron will never admit it. To us or to himself. He will keep fighting and playing at the level we have never seen before. And it’s reasonable to believe that Kyrie will generate one of those nights when he just cannot miss. That might be enough to win a game, maybe two. But not more than that.

The Cavs did everything right. They have a superb team, with 3 superstars and solid role players. In 2012-13 Big Three was enough, but now it’s 2017 and GS have The Big Four.

3 pts, 1 – 6 from the field, 2 reb, 0 ast and 3 TO – That’s the combined stats of JR Smith in the first two games. Now replace that with 71 pts, 22 reb, 14 ast, 3 stl, 5 blocks and 3 TO – Kevin Durant’s contribution in the series so far. Do you really think GS could beat that?

But it doesn’t work that way, and LeBron has no one to blame. Maybe himself. He wasn’t the first superstar to gather a Super-team, but he was the first to do so in such a blunt fashion in the peak of his carrier. Apparently, it’s a double-edged sword and now LeBron and the Cavs are on the wrong end of it.

What will happen next? We are not sure. Golden State will win the title, but the main question is not 2017, but 2018, 2019 and maybe more. Will the Warriors manage to resign their star players and build a dynasty? Probably yes.

And if so, is there any player who can become #4 in Cavs Super-team? We’ll have to wait and see.

All the rest, they can prepare for 2019-20.

San Antonio Spurs have been producing scintillating performances in the NBA play-offs, whilst Houston Rockets are regarded as dark horse, speaking of the title race.

Golden State

Golden State Warriors suffered no less than 15 defeats in the regular season, but it is well known that the last season’s runners up were hit by Kevin Durant’s serious injury. KD, though, has recovered in time to face Portland Trail Blazers in the play-offs and he led Warriors to a 109-94 victory over Terry Stotts’ team with 29 points. The former Oklahoma City Thunder ace impressed in Game 2 as well and it is more than obvious that Steve Kerr’s men have more attacking options with him in the starting line-up. Golden State have been in a splendid form of late and it is no surprise they are -160 at Paddy Power to regain the trophy.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland Cavaliers do not seem to be on top of their game at the moment, but they somehow recorded back-to-back wins over Indiana Pacers at the start of their 2017 NBA play-offs campaign. Cavs need to find their best form as soon as possible if they are to defend their NBA title, but given the individual quality of Tyronn Lue’s key players LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, it is no surprise the reigning champions are No. 2 favourites to win the silverware. Over the years Cleveland have turned their Quicken Loans Arena into a real fortress, but it is well known that Golden State Warriors secured home-court advantage for potential NBA final against Cavs. Anyhow, you should bear in mind that Tyronn Lue’s team are +333 at bet365 to defend their title.

San Antonio Spurs

San Antonio Spurs have been in Cleveland’s and Golden State’s shadow in recent years, but the 2017 NBA season could be the turning point for Gregg Popovich’s charges. Tim Duncan is no longer part of the team and Kawhi Leonard is considered the team’s key player nowadays. Spurs rolled over Memphis Grizzlies in first two games in the play-offs and they are with one foot in the next round. There is a mixture of youth and experience in Gregg Popovich’s team and that could prove to be their main quality in upcoming challenges. San Antonio won their last NBA trophy in 2014 and they get between +600 to +750 at all online betting sites.

Houston Rockets

Houston Rockets are enjoying a very successful season. Mike D’Antoni’s team were producing splendid displays in the regular season and they continue to impress in the NBA play-offs. James Harden led Rockets to a thrilling 118-87 victory over Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1, but “The Beard” will certainly face an uphill task in matches against title contenders. Anyhow, Houston should not be underestimated as they recorded no less 55 wins in the regular part of the season. Mike D’Antoni’s charges are +1600 at Ladbrokes to go all the way in the NBA play-offs.

Cleveland Cavaliers did remarkably well to shock star-studded Golden State Warriors in the NBA finals last season and they are eager to repeat the success. However, Tyronn Lue’s troops suffered a dip in form in the regular season finale and it remains to be seen if they are capable of getting back on course.

Despite failing to impress in Game 1 against Indiana Pacers, Cleveland eventually recorded a hard-fought 109-108 victory over Paul George and Co. Lebron James led the team to the triumph with 32 points and 13 assists, whilst fellow superstar Kyrie Irving impressed in Game 2, with the 25-year-old point guard scoring 37 points in a 117-111 win over Pacers.

Cavs had 18 turnovers in Monday’s game and they will have to reduce the number of bad passes if they are to go all the way in the 2017 NBA play-offs. As always, three-point shots were Cleveland’s main weapon in the 117-111 victory over Indiana, but it has to be noted that they had no more than seven offensive rebounds in Game 2. No doubt, Tyronn Lue’s charges need to improve in the said category if they are to make life difficult for fellow title contenders in days to come.

Anyhow, coach Tyronn Lue can count on all of his big guns for the NBA play-offs and the title holders are definitely capable of finding their best form. LeBron James has been taking more shots of late and, as a result, he has been averaging 30.8 points in April. “The King James”, though, can’t win the title by himself and his teammates will have to be at their sharpest in the play-offs as well if they are to give fans yet another reason for celebration.

Cleveland Cavaliers won their first ever NBA trophy last season and, taking everything into account, they have a good chance of defending the title. Speaking of Conference titles, you should bear in mind that Cavs are after their fourth trophy and they are seen as main favourites to go all the way in the Eastern Conference play-offs. 

Cavs are on the right track to clinch top position in the Eastern Conference, but Boston Celtics are breathing down their neck. The title holders have recorded only two wins more than Brad Stevens’ men, meaning that they should not afford any complacency in the remainder of the season.

Possible rivals

As things stand now, Cavaliers are likely to face Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference quarter-finals. Bucks are led by Greece international Giannis Antetokounmpo and preventing “The Greek Freak” from averaging more than 20 points in the play-off series should be the key to Cleveland’s success in a possible tie against Milwaukee. Yet another man to watch in Jason Kid’s team is Jabari Parker, who has 20.1 points per game this season, but, taking everything into account, Bucks are unlikely to make life difficult for LeBron James and his teammates.

Chicago Bulls are currently sitting in ninth place in the Eastern Conference and they are definitely capable of booking their place in the play-offs. I believe that Bulls would pose a much bigger threat for Cavs than Bucks as Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg has a number of top-class players to choose from. Jimmy Butler is considered as one of the best shooting guards in NBA, while on Dwyane Wade, who is a household name. The 35-year-old has three NBA trophies and the likes of Nikola Mirotic and Rajon Rondo should not be underestimated as well. Anyhow, Cavs would be considered favourites to beat Bulls in the Eastern Conference play-offs, but avoiding the clash with the United Center outfit seems to be the best option for the defending champions.

Speaking of the Eastern Conference finals, aforementioned Boston Celtics are widely expected to face Cleveland Cavaliers in the conference finals. Isaiah Thomas is enjoying a season to remember and the “little guy” is definitely capable of spoiling Cavs’ party. The 175-cm-tall point guard has been averaging 29.2 points this season and, no doubt, the reigning champions would face an uphill task in the series against the high-flying Celtics.

NBA finals

Golden State Warriors are eager to get their revenge on Cleveland Cavaliers for the loss in the 2016 NBA finals, but they are no longer seen as No. 1 favourites to win the trophy. Key player and top scored Kevin Durant suffered a bone bruise against Chicago Bulls earlier in January and the former Oklahoma City Thunder superstar could be lost for the rest of the regular season. As a result, San Antonio Spurs are widely expected to finish the season in top position in the Western Conference as they will be in position to defend home court in the play-offs. Spurs reinforced the squad in the summer and Gregg Popovich’s men are determined to make amends for the unsuccessful 2016 NBA campaign.

Key to success

The first thing Cavs need to do if they are to defend their NBA trophy is to clinch top position in the Eastern Conference. Coach Tyronn Lue can count on key players LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, whilst Kevin Love is on schedule to return in late March. The bad news for the fans is that latest signing Andrew Bogut broke his leg after spending less than a minute on the court on his Cleveland debut against Miami Heat. It has to be noted that the season is over for the former Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks center. Anyhow, the title holders must avoid serious injuries if they are to repeat the last season’s success. LeBron James will, undisputedly, play the most important role in Tyronn Lue’s team in the NBA play-offs and, no doubt, “The King James” still has an insatiable appetite for winning trophies.

Kevin Durant’ injury definitely strengthened Cavaliers’ title odds and it seems that the race for the NBA trophy has never been more interesting. San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors are among the favourites to go all the way in the 2017 NBA play-offs, but I believe that Cavs have the best chance of winning the major championship.

Cleveland Cavaliers have been producing fine displays in the NBA so far this season. Cavs are a real force to be reckoned with at home and they put the icing on the cake with a win over Warriors. LeBron James impressed in the 109-108 victory over Steve Kerr’s team and despite the fact that Kevin Love is enjoying probably the best season of his career (21.8 points per game), no doubt, “King James” is still considered the number one performer on the team sheet. LeBron James has been averaging 8.6 assists this season and if we take a gander at the last season’s stats, he has made a lot of progress (6.8) in passing.

Kevin Love is taking more shots than before, he is playing like a superstar again and the former Minnesota Timberwolves power forward has improved defensively as well. Last season he surrendered 1.0 points per possession when defending the pick and roll and he has been giving up no more than 0.69 points per possession this term.

Tristan Thompson is still doing the dirty work and it has to be noted that the center has improved his rebounding. Thompson has been averaging 10.2 rebounds this term and you should bear in mind that he had nine rebounds per game in the 2015/2016 NBA season. It is well known that Tristan is not considered a great shooter and that is the main reason why Cavs score no more than 37.7 points per game in the paint (28^th in the league).

Kyrie Irving is yet another superstar in Tyronn Lue’s team and it is more than obvious that he is helping the team improve offensively. Kyrie had 19.6 points per game last season, but he has been producing much better performances in the NBA this term (23.9). “The Uncle Drew” is forcing a quicker tempo when he takes the ball and that is the main reason why the title holders have been averaging 110.8 points this season.

J.R. Smith has been playing below expectations in the 2016/2017 season. The former Knicks man was averaging 12.4 points last season and he has 8.6 points per game this term, but power forward Channing Frye is making progress week in week out.

Richard Jefferson is nearing the end of his playing days, but he is still regarded as one of the team’s best defenders. The 36-year-old small forward is making wise defensive plays and he helped Cavs beat Warriors in December by preventing Kevin Durant from scoring the winner in the dying seconds of the match.

Anyhow, Cleveland Cavaliers are certainly capable of improving defensively as they have been conceding 12.1 fast break points per game this season. On the other hand, Cavs have been scoring 12.7 fast break points per game in the 2016/2017 NBA campaign, but the team’s main offensive weapon are three point shots. Tyronn Lue’s charges score 39.9 points per game from three-pointers and they are second best in the league in said category.

Coach Tyronn Lue is likely to use games against bottom-table sides to rest his key players as the season is quite long, which could give them extra edge over their title rivals. Cleveland Cavaliers are eager to defend their NBA title, but the reigning champions need to keep on raising their form if they are to give fans yet another reason for celebration.

Last season win came as a surprise to many, for sure considering Warriors 73:9 season, but LeBron James proved his worth in the decider and of course Kyrie stepped up and Cavs are now on a quest to defend their trophy. The likes of Chris Andersen (center), Chu Chu Maduabum (forward), Kay Felder (guard) and DeAndre Liggins joined the club in the summer, while LeBron James extended his contract with Tyronn Lue’s troops. It has to be noted that Cavs are +350 @BetVictor to defend their title.

However, it’s impossible to find any online betting site that doesn’t list last season’s runners-up Golden State Warriors are naturally regarded as main favourites to win the 2016/2017 NBA trophy after recruiting Oklahoma City Thunder ace Kevin Durant. The likes of Damian Jones and Zaza Pachulia moved to Golden State as well and seeing that Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are still part of the team, many people expect that Warriors are going to regain the trophy. Warriors are -125 @bet365 to go all the way.

San Antonio Spurs failed to impress last season and the club chiefs desperately need to make some changes to the team if they are to bring glory days back to Texas. Spurs ace Tim Duncan decided to retire after 19 seasons at San Antonio and Serbian giant Boban Marjanovic will play for Detroit Pistons in the 2016/2017 NBA season. Forwards David Bertans, Livio Jean-Charles, David Lee and Patricio Garino, guards Dejounte Murray, Bryn Forbes, Ryan Arcidiacono and Spanish center Pau Gasol joined the club in order to compensate for the absence of Tim Duncan. Fellow center Dewayne Dedmon joined their ranks as well. You should have in mind that Spurs are +750 @Skybet to lift the NBA trophy.

Los Angeles Clippers are yet another candidates to win the NBA title. Clippers signed Marreese Speights, Brice Johnson, Raymond Felton, Brandon Bass, Alan Anderson and Diamond Stone, but the likes of Branden Dawson and Devyn Marble are no longer part of the team. Key players Chris Paul and Blake Griffin will be the men to watch in Doc Rivers’ team next season and it has to be noted that Clippers are +2,200 @bet365 to win their first ever NBA title.

Oklahoma City Thunder were on the verge of beating Golden State Warriors in the 2015/2016 play-offs, but they eventually failed to eliminate the reigning champions. Kevin Durant was obviously disappointed with the fact that Thunder failed to win the NBA trophy and, as a result, he decided to leave the club. K.D. is hungry for trophies and many people believe that he made a good decision when he signed a contract with star-studded Golden State Warriors. Fellow superstar Russel Westbrook signed a new contract with Oklahoma, while the likes of Domantas Sabonis, Ronnie Price and Alex Abrines joined the team. Thunder are priced at +4,000 @Ladbrokes to produce a major shock and lift the coveted title.

Basketball is among the most popular sports in the world – but seriously underrepresented in the world of games. Aside from EA’s NFL series, there are just a few of them that are worth mentioning. This is why the release of Basketball Star last December was a welcome addition to the world of casual games. The game is a tribute paid to the world of basketball that you can play at All Jackpots in Canada.

About the game

Basketball Star is the latest addition to the Sports Star, a series of online slot machines inspired by, and paying tribute to, some of the most popular sports in the world. The first game in the series, Football Star, was released at the All Jackpots in 2014, in the wake of the FIFA World Cup. The next two games hit the All Jackpots in 2015, with the occasion of the Rugby World Championship (Rugby Star), and the Cricket World Cup (Cricket Star). Finally, Basketball Star was released in December 2015 to complete the series, for it to cover some of the most popular ball sports of the world.

Basketball Star can be played free, or for real money, at the All Jackpots Casino. The All Jackpots is a long-standing gaming establishment, with a good reputation and a considerable history. It offers its players not only some of the best sports-themed slot machines out there, but hundreds of other games, great bonuses, and amazing specials, 24 hours a day.

A compelling mechanic

Speaking of a “mechanic” in the case of a video slot machine might seem a bit far-fetched, but this doesn’t make Basketball Star any less entertaining. Usually it functions just like any other video slot machine: players press “Spin”, and wait for the reels to stop. But in this case, winning is not the end, but the beginning: the symbols involved in the winning combination disappear from the screen, allowing others to fall into their place – much like in the case of a reactor-style casual game. This often triggers a cascade of successive wins, especially profitable during the game’s Free Spins feature.

Look and feel

Basketball Star – if it wasn’t obvious from its title – is a game inspired by, and paying tribute to basketball. As such, it has its whole look and feel inspired by the sport. The reels are filled with symbols related to it: players, sneakers, balls, and the entire playfield. The ball is one of the most important symbols on the reels, as it triggers the game’s Free Spins feature. But Free Spins is not the only generous feature of the game – up to two reels can randomly turn Wild during the game, resulting in a guaranteed win.

Statistics and Probabilities

Bookmakers have vast databases at hand, that contain all the stats of all players and teams, and people (+ algorithms) that know exactly what to do with all the data they have. They calculate the probability of each outcome you can bet on – based not on opinions or feelings, but based on statistics and other factors of influence.

Bookmakers take everything into account, even the unexpected. A team that plays away from home is more likely to lose – that’s an obvious one, but what about the time of the game, the gap since the last game and more. The referee can also influence the outcome, and so can unexpected injuries, penalties, accidents, and even the number of fans cheering at the game. These are all taken into account when calculating the odds the bookie can offer. And they take into account the fact that more punters are likely to bet on the favorite as well. Plus their own profit, since bookmakers are not charities, right?

That’s why the odds you will see on bookmaker comparison site, such as Grizzly sports betting hub,  will be more or less similar.

But, it doesn’t end there….

Why the Odds Change before the Game Starts?

I am sure you’ve noticed that the odds keep on changing all the time, even before the event starts and without any significant news. Obviously, certain facts can and should change the lines, such as Draymond Green suspension in Game #5 of the Finals. But, when there are no news, why they still change?

The answer is simple: they change according to your bets. Not only yours of course, but all the bettors combined. The bookies do not want to “take side” on any bet. Meaning they do not want to bet against you, but just server as a market place where people practically bet against each other through them. So when a significant of bets on a certain outcome are much higher than the opposite, the odds change accordingly to equalize things.

For example: let’s say that the odds on Cavs – Warriors winning Game #7 were +190 vs. -230. Then, the bookmaker (and his algorithms) noticed that there are more bets coming on Cavs win. Few minutes later, you will see the odds on Cavs win getting lower and on the Warriors going in the opposite direction:  +160/-180 or something like that.

These adjustments happen all the time, every second. That way the bets on each side will become more and more equal.

Can we use it to our advantage? We might, a bit. By betting early, when the lines published, you might take advantage of certain “miscalculation” of the odds, before other notice it as well and the odds get adjusted. The downside here is that you leave plenty of time for things to change – player get injured for example, which can turn the whole thing upside down.

What about Tipsters?

If you have enough data, you can predict the most probable outcome of a match more or less precisely. And there are people who have turned this possibility into a quite profitable business, selling their own predictions for the upcoming events. Some of them give out their betting tips free of charge, over the internet. Others – professional tipsters, as they are called – will either charge for their tips on a specific game or offer predictions regularly, for a subscription.

If you are curious about how this works, watch “Two for the Money“. The movie tells the story of Brandon Lang (Matthew McConaughey), a former football player who was forced out of the game by an injury and uses his prediction skills in the world of sports betting. He partners with Walter (Al Pacino), and enters the world of high profile sports betting. Everything’s great until… but I’ll let you discover the rest.

Sports are Predictable

Even if the average sports fan doesn’t have enough information at hand to predict the outcome of a game with the same result as tipsters or bookies, those really into the game can do so with enough precision to become successful punters.

That’s natural that all the focus goes to LeBron. After leaving to Miami, he came back to bring the trophy to his city. He gave everything he had, he “poured his heart, his blood, his sweat and his tears”.

And yet, he wasn’t the difference between the Cavs that lost 4:2 in last year’s final to the team that executed one of the most heroic comebacks in sports history. He was definitely the MVP of this final, but he was also by far the best player in 2015 Finals as well. Despite not getting the award.

It wasn’t also the new supporting players, Jefferson or Mo Williams. It wasn’t the coach. Except the last few games, Tyronn Lue Cavs weren’t better than David Blatt’s team. Not Steph’s poor shape and probably not even Draymond’s suspension from Game 5.

The difference was one man: 6.3 tall, weighs 193lb and goes by the name of Kyrie Irving. In the last 5 games he averaged 30.8 pt. per game, with unbelievable penetrations. Hitting tough 3 pointers every time the team needed, including the one that eventually brought the title to Cleveland.

https://vine.co/v/5Buatxa1W3w

In the past 2 years, many referred to Kyrie as one of the most overrated players in the league. That he is not a leader. That he doesn’t share the ball enough and that he is worthless in defence.

Well, he is a leader that steps up when his team needs him and he was rock solid on the other end of the court as well. It’s true, running the offence is not his best quality and he will never be Steve Nash or CP3, but when it comes to bringing points to his team when it really matters – Kyrie is the guy you wish to have.

LeBron is the King, but even Kings can’t do everything themselves and Kyrie was exactly what James needed to finally bring the trophy home.

See you next year.

One is pretty obvious: we lost last year so let do the opposite. Second: arrogance, led by half of NBA legends: running is fast, everybody can do that. Second, LeBron is not exactly happy with all that Warriors carnival and would like to show that he can do that as well. None of the reasons holds the test of logic, but ok.

On the other hand, there are handful of reasons not to and the main one is that that that’s the way Warriors want to play.

1. That’s the way they’ve been playing the past two years, while the Cavs been trying to adopt it only in the past few months. Quite unsuccessfully to be honest until the playoffs.
2. Decision making: Cavs have two players in their starting lineup that can move the ball forward: LeBron and Kyrie. Warriors they have 4 or 5, depends if they start with Bogut or Iguodala.
3. Last, running the ball 5, 6, 7 games in a row with NBA Finals intensity takes a lot of effort. Golden State are the deepest and most equalized team in the NBA. In Game 2 their biggest run came when Curry wasn’t even on the court. And we are talking about the reigning MVP here. Cavs second unit can defend, but they cannot match that level of execution on the other side of the court.

Game #2 showed clearly we are talking about, but did Game #3 proved the opposite?  Definitely not.

Cavs won not because of running, but because of the intensity they showed on both ends of the pitch (someone said trade on Love is coming?). And, thanks to superb games by three key players: Kyrie, J. R and one of the best games in LeBron’s carrier.

And now to the real question. Can the Cavs do it again in two days and put the pressure on Golden State? Will see. Anything but a win in Game #4 and we can forget winning the first title since 1964.

Eastern Conference

There is one question to be asked here: can someone challenge Cavaliers and LeBron making a return to the Finals? In November-December, the answer would be a simple no. However, the Cavs are doing pretty good job in challenging themselves. LeBron with his tweets, trips and future plans talks keeps the whole organization on its tows, making the team focus on everything except the game itself.

And yet, the Cavs are still the favourites to reach LeBron’s 7th consecutive NBA finals. The East made a huge jump forward this year: Miami are in shape, Celtics are growing up, Toronto will fight to death to avoid a repetition of last season fiasco. Some of them can beat the Cavs 1,2,3 times, but it’s hard to imagine one of them making it 4 out of 7.

We don’t say that Cavs way to the Final will be as smooth as it was last year. Pistons, Pacers or god forbid the Bulls, will fight and bite. In the semis, the one team that Cavs hope to avoid are the Heat. They are tough, experienced and have a great match up against Cavaliers. It’s not surprising that LeBron stands 0:4 in American Airlines Arena since his return to Ohio. If this happens, it’s going to be the best series to watch, except Warriors vs. Spurs of course.

Bottom line: Cavaliers will make another trip to NBA finals, but it’s not going to be an easy ride. Bookmakers will give you $1.40 for every $1 bet if they make it, but the way the Cavs look in recent weeks, we are not sure it’s worth the risk.

Western Conference

Here the situation is quite simple. There are only two teams which can win the conference, Warriors and Spurs. That’s it.

First, the teams that will occupy 4-8 spots just don’t have a chance to beat one of them. Grizzlies, Trailblazers and 2 out of Mavericks/Rockets/Jazz simply don’t have what it takes to compete with two of the best teams in history.

What about OKC and Clippers? Both are extremely talented and tough. They might, just might be able to overcome one of the top duo. The problem is that in order to reach the final, they will have to beat the Warriors and the Spurs in two consecutive series. That’s just not going to happen.

You can look at it from a different angle. At this point, Golden State and San Antonio have a combined record of 124 W vs. 18 L, including 69:0 at home!!! Do you really think that some team will be able to beat them 8 times in 14 games? No freakin’ way.

That’s why most bookmakers will give you 1:1 on those two to win the West. Bovada will give you even less. If you are not from US, you should check William Hill, which offers better odds. If you place two single bets there on Warriors and Spurs, you will get 104% return, which is really not bad considering the risk.

Spurs vs. Warriors

That is the only real question. Spurs seems to be gaining ground, while Stephen Curry and the Dubs are not as consistent as they were in the first two thirds of the season. Till their recent encounter, I was sure that the Spurs will go all the way. Now, I am not sure.

Although the Spurs fans were encouraged by the recent win, for me it showed that this year Warriors are just too much to handle. Yes, the Spurs won, but how many times they will be able to hold Curry to 14 points and just 1 from 12 for the three point range. And despite that, they won just by 8. Yes, Curry might have a night off once in a while, but not 4 out of 7.

Bottom Line:  Warriors win 4:2 and then 4:1 in the Final.

• First, are Ty Lue Cavs Better? – No.
• Are they a happier team? – No.
• Do they have higher chances winning the title? – I doubt.
• Did Dan Gilbert make the right decision by firing Blatt? – Definitely.

Now, let’s get into the details.

1. The Cavs where 30-11 under Blatt. With Lue they stand on 14-7. This comparison doesn’t do justice to Blatt. First, he achieved 73% without two of his starters, Kyrie and Shumpert, and let’s not forget the start of the season when Love came from ingury and TT missed the pre season due to his contract issues.

It’s true that Blatt’s Cavs were beaten by their main title contenders, Spurs and Warriors, but these games took place before the team could adjust to Kyrie and Shumps return. The 132-98 loss to Warriors is an exception and probably was the last straw. However, I’m pretty sure that Cavs would keep or improve their winning % if Blatt kept his position.

2. Cavs front office and the media mentioned frequently that the mood in the locker room was the main reason behind Blatt’s dismissal.

During the first month with Lue as the head coach it was the 70s all over again. In every interview we heard how happy and united the team is, committed to the mutual goal. A month later, we get mysterious tweets from LBJ, rumours about Kyrie not happy and more. Just seeing LeBron’s face after the recent loss to Memphis is enough.

It’s ok to know you’ve made a mistake. Cause we all do at times. Just be ready to live with whatever that comes with it and be with…..

— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 1, 2016

3. Blatt might not have NBA experience, but he has 20 years of playoff experience which he proved last playoffs. A “rookie” coach out-coached the Brad Stevens, former NBA Coach of the Year Tom Thibodeau and 2015 Coach of the Year Mike Budenholzer. Yes, there was that stupid timeout fiasco, but I doubt it would happen again.

So if the experience was the problem, or the lack of it – here comes Ty Lue. He was an NBA player and assistant coach, but he has exactly zero experience at the leading roll. On the other hand, maybe with LeBron you don’t need a coach (we are cynical).

4. So after all that, why we say that Dan Gilbert made the right choice? Simple.

Imagine the scenario that the Cavs don’t win the title with David Blatt. All LeBron’s media will point fingers on the owners for wasting 2 years of the best player in NBA with an unqualified coach.

Hiring Lue is Gilbert’s insurance policy. If they win – great. If they loose – he did all a man can do or should we say, did everything LeBron asked him to do.

LeBron has the ball now. If they win – he will be Cleveland’s favorite son. If they loose – there is only one person to blame.

Not only are ticket sales up for the Cavaliers, but so too are food sales, merchandise, and parking revenue, as well. The bars that are located closest to the Cavaliers home, Quicken Loans Arena, and in the surrounding neighborhoods have seen a rapid and distinct rise in business since King James made his triumphant return home after his three year stint in Miami.

Businesses in the Cleveland downtown area have reported anywhere from a 30 percent increase to as big as a 200 percent increase in revenue, directly due to the larger crowds and attention the Cavaliers games have again, now that Lebron is back. Some financial experts have estimated Lebron’s impact on the city’s businesses to be around $500 million. While some still scoff at that number, nobody is doubting the great and direct effect that Lebron’s return has had on the city’s businesses as a whole. One financial and sports betting expert Jon Price who predicts the outcomes of basketball games says the economic impact is much greater. After LBJ signed the lifetime deal with Nike he created history. That history was created when he was signed and playing for the Cavs not the Heat.

The Cavaliers quickly faded back to where they came from when Lebron left for South Beach. Leaving many fans to curse Lebron and even going as far as to burn his jersey. Just 3 years later, after Lebron had won two NBA Championships in Miami, all seems to have been forgiven as he made his return home last year to sold-out crowds and screaming fans. It was like he never left.

From bars to restaurants to hotels to parking lots and everything in between, Lebron has had a hand in revitalizing Cleveland’s economy and businesses. Many bars are now keeping their bartenders staffed through the slow winter months, instead of their usual seasonal hiring habits during the busy summer months. King James has the support of the fanbase that he once turned his back on, and things seem to be on the rise in Cleveland, now the only thing that’s left is for Lebron to bring home is a Championship, like the two that he left Cleveland to win in the first place.

So far, Cleveland managed to pile up enough victories to lead the improving Eastern Conference. Considering the missing players, Mozgov coming back from an injury and Tristan Thompson joining only in the end of October – that’s quite good. However, the easy schedule played a big part in their success.

Now, all that is going to change. Drastically!

Cavs will go on 6 game road trip which includes few tough opponents, such as the Wizards, which is the only team that beat them at Q Arena, Spurs, Mavericks, Spurs and the Rockets. They will come back only on January 19th to play the Warriors, in a repetition of last year final. Then host the Bulls and the Clippers. Finally, will close the month again vs. the Spurs.

16 games in 28 days. 10 of them against top opponents.

So what needs to happen for David Blatt to coach the East in the Allstars?

1. Setting the line-ups

With 2 starters back from injuries and the switch between Tristan and Mozgov, Cavs are a new team. So far the Cavs had almost a dozen different starting line-ups and that needs to change. David Blatt needs to find his permanent starters and second unit. Of course things will change according the opposition, but heed needs to have few permanent solutions.

2. Ball Movement

For few quarters this year, Cavs played tremendous basketball. The ball was moving, tough defence enabled many fast break points. However, when things get rough, Cavs go back to slow isolation game play, which is quite hard to watch.

The ball movement is just not in this team’s DNA, yet. It was necessary last year with Love and Kyrie out and it will be used this year.

Of course, letting LeBron and Kyrie go 1 on 1 is not exactly a bad choice, but that should be Plan B. It will be enough to beat most of the teams and probably reach the finals, but definitely won’t work against the Spurs and the Warriors.

3. Making Open Shots

The Cavaliers are 22nd in the league in making uncontested 3pt shots. Team that has JR, Kyrie, James Jones and Kevin Love, just can’t settle with those numbers. I guess the statistics will level with time, spreading the floor for LeBron and Kyrie’s penetrations. Otherwise, it’s going to be tough.

4. Rim Protection

Cavs need Mozgov back. Yes, the league goes towards small ball and Tristan is a solid solution, but Cavs need a real rim protector.

Many underestimate the importance of Mozgov to Cavs last season second half run, but he was crucial. With Tristan the defence is much more versatile and fast to respond, but there is no safety net. You are punished for every minor mistake – proven by Lowry and DeRozan few days ago.

Cavs do not have the ability to give 48 minutes of intense defence. That’s why they need Mozgov top open the game and Tristan to wrap it up.

That’s pretty much it. Great games are ahead of us. The Cavs managed to put themselves in a solid position in the first half of the season, but now it’s time to get to work.

Of course there is still plenty of time and this team will be judged only in June, but January will show if they are on the right track.

Many would point out that the Cavaliers won plenty close games, but if you look closely, it was done against teams from the lower part of the table (Cavs had the 7th easiest schedule so far this season). Definitely not the ones they will have to go through to win the title.

Of course, missing one of the best PG in the league has it price. Without Kyrie, Cleveland miss one of the only two players that can create things for themselves when. However, this is not the issue.

The problem is that when under pressure, Cavs play ugly. It’s hard to watch. The ball is not moving. The players aren’t moving. Just standing on the far side waiting for LeBron to do his thing. Sometime he does, many time he doesn’t.

Cavs played amazing team basketball in many games this season, Memphis and the last game against the Nicks are good examples. Yet, in the fourth quarter everything stops.

It’s hard to point why it happens. Maybe LeBron doesn’t trust his teammates enough. Maybe his teammates trust LeBron too much. In any case – this has to be solved. LeBron, as good as he is, won’t be able to win the title on his own. He will be able to get to NBA finals again, but against the Spurs or the Warriors, it’s just won’t be enough.

However, there is still plenty of time. Cleveland, with all their injuries, comfortably lead the surprisingly strong Eastern Conference. They have the privilege to lose a few games and make experiments. They have to learn to share the ball when it really matters, otherwise they will end up exactly in the same way they ended last year… with compliments.

Last Tuesday, the Cavaliers already beat the Celtics, armed with power players Kyrie Irving, Timothy Mozgov, and LeBron James. Their 99-91 victory, though close, led Cleveland to a 2-0 series lead, attributed by many experts to the skills of some of Cleveland’s best players. Although the Celtics were able to rally in the third quarter, after lagging behind the Cavs by a full 14 points, it still wasn’t enough to lead Boston to a victory.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have a successful postseason run so far, especially with the performances of key players like LeBron James, making the Cavaliers an appealing pick as far as odds for the upcoming playoff games. With LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love at the forefront of the roster, the team is currently in what’s become known as its “Big Three Era.”

Another win, and the Cavaliers are likely to find themselves facing off against the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls recently won a close game against Milwaukee, ultimately prevailing with a final score of 92-81. Jimmy Butler led the way, scoring 31 points. The game was defensive for the Milwaukee Bucks from the outset, but Chicago’s game really picked up in the second quarter. Chicago’s ten point lead was largely the work of Butler, who’s shaping up to be their strongest player this season. The Bulls versus Bucks game really drove home Butler’s considerable skill, making it clear that he can help make the Bulls a force to be reckoned with. This game had a relatively low score, and progressed at a decidedly low pace.

Later on, the Cavs could also potentially find themselves matched up against the Atlanta Hawks. Finishing as #1 seed, the Hawks are widely favored in their match up against the Nets. One of the stronger teams this season, the Hawks have the potential to give the Cavaliers a run for their money. With their college style offense and aggressive defense, the Hawks have the capacity to beat Cleveland. However, with Cleveland’s “Big Three” at the helm, the games will certainly be quite close, making it difficult to predict a clear winner out of this potential Eastern Conference Final match up.

Top 10 according to Bovada:

Cleveland Cavaliers 9/4

Golden State Warriors  15/4

Oklahoma City Thunder 7/1

Atlanta Hawks 8/1

Memphis Grizzlies 9/1

San Antonio Spurs 9/1

Chicago Bulls 12/1

Los Angeles Clippers 18/1

Houston Rockets 25/1

Portland Trailblazers 25/1

The Cavs had almost forgotten what it’s like to lose two games in a row. As in the previous losses in a row, a major reason for this is the absence of one or more of the stars of the team. In a week full of important moments and statements, may be the most obvious statement was the decision to give LeBron James to rest against Indiana, despite the fact that Kyrie Irving was also not available. The statement was that with all due respect to maintaining momentum and location struggles, the number one goal is to get Cleveland healthy to playoffs.

Additional factor that contributes to Cavs confidence is the recent developments of their rivals for 2-5 spots. Toronto and Washington increasingly fading, Chicago getting injured (not just Derek Rose, Jimmy Butler will miss several weeks). David Blatt can definitely feel that apart from Atlanta, a team that no one knows what can be expected from them during playoffs, no team in the East is threatening enough to disturb the Cavs at their current form.

If there is one aspect that bothers Blatt and the rest of the coaching team, is the health of the star players. . Kyrie and Kevin Love both prone to injuries during their careers, LeBron is not the Iron Man he was in his 20s and his body is beginning to generate random adversity. Teams during the first year of the construction process usually find it difficult to cope with the absence of one of leading players. This is exactly the case in Cleveland. David Griffin has dedicated this year to build the base for the next 3-4 years. Small adjustments he will perform next season. Untill then, Cleveland will remain more vulnerable to absence of key players than other teams.

Is Griffin could have done more? At some point probably yes. Cleveland was left without a third point guard, making every game without Kyrie extremely complicated. Having a player such as Nate Robinson or Will Bynum would certainly have helped, games vs. Indiana and Houston are a great example, and it was possible to get one of them.

Currently, if Kyrie absent the burden falls on Matthew Dellavedova and Iman Shumpert. Both had to do much more than what they’re used to and what they are supposed to, especially against the Pacers where LeBron did not play as well. The immediate result was a high number of turnovers and bad shots. On top of that, both had hard time to do the things that they usually do well.

With all the affection to the energetic Australian player, I’m sure that Blatt would be happy to have a guard on the bench that has ability to create shots for himself, particularly against Indiana.

But in the end, this debate will probably not be very important later on. Cavs are focused on one thing only, the championship, and if one of the big three will be injured for the playoffs, their chances to win the title are slim, just like any other team.

The most important minutes last week were the first five minutes of the fourth quarter in Houston. The third quarter was a war and at the end Houston came on top. James Harden helped the Rockets get an eight-point advantage and they seemed to be just another small push from closing the game. LeBron was taken out and it was clear that Houston are going to tie the ends. However, Dellavedova, Shumpert, JR Smith, James Jones and Tristan Thompson, without a single representative of the Big Three, brought Cleveland back into the games. Not just a game, but a playoff type, broadcasted coast to coast. When LeBron and Harden returned, it was only a point to Houston.

After the game, LeBron said that his teammates placed him in position to win the game and he did not deliver the goods. I’m sure he was referring to those five minutes, that helped him to come back and continue his battle against Harden. The feeling of LeBron that he has a team that he can go to war with, even against athletic and talented rivals, is much more important than the manner in which he lost this particular battle.

It is worth remembering that Dellavedova, Shumpert and Tristan are all young players with no playoff experience. Their ability to rise in difficult situations, where more than usual is required of them, will be of tremendous value in the future.

During the summer, after LeBron and Love arrival, they were marked as the favorites with 4-1. After a slow 5W-7L start they went to 5-1. Then 6-1 in the end of year after and after the recent 6 in-a-row loosing streak they are standing at 7-1. Surprisingly, they are still rated as #4, however it won’t last, unless they manage to become a team vs. a group of All-Star players.

Luckily, they still have plenty of time to do that. With how the East conference looks this season, they actually have till June. With all the respect to the excellent season the Hawks have, it’s hard to imagine they will be able to perform on that level when it really matters.

The only team which presents a real threat are the Bulls. However, considering the frequent health problems and their instability, 5/1 odds are a bit surprising.

But again, it’s still to early. We will check back again in May to see where the Cavs stand. Meanwhile, here is the full list:

NBA Championship Betting Odds

Chicago Bulls 5/1

Golden State Warriors 5/1

San Antonio Spurs 13/2

Cleveland Cavaliers 7/1

Dallas Mavericks 8/1

Oklahoma City Thunder 17/2

Atlanta Hawks 12/1

Los Angeles Clippers 14/1

Houston Rockets 16/1

Memphis Grizzlies 16/1

Portland Trailblazers 16/1

Toronto Raptors 16/1

Washington Wizards 25/1

Detroit Pistons 50/1

Phoenix Suns 75/1

Miami Heat 100/1

New Orleans Pelicans 100/1

Milwaukee Bucks 150/1

Brooklyn Nets 250/1

Charlotte Hornets 300/1

Indiana Pacers 300/1

Boston Celtics 500/1

Denver Nuggets 500/1

Sacramento Kings 500/1

Los Angeles Lakers 1000/1

Orlando Magic 1000/1

Utah Jazz 1000/1

Minnesota Timberwolves 5000/1

New York Knicks 5000/1

Philadelphia 76ers 5000/1