Can Golden State really roll through the Western Conference to the Finals again? Can they really pull off the three-peat and win another title? They almost saw Denver finish ahead of them atop the Western Conference standings but put together a nice run at the end of the season to take the first seed. Teams such as Houston, Oklahoma City, Portland and Denver would like to end the Warriors’ run, but the trio of Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson can outscore anyone if they put their minds to it. We have sports betting thoughts about each of the four series in the Western Conference quarterfinals.
2019 Western Conference Playoff Matchups Odds, Picks & Betting Prediction
With time, an arena becomes more than an arena. It turns into a home.@OracleArena became home to all of #DubNation
Chapter Two of ‘The Legacy’, presented by @adobe pic.twitter.com/0nYXK9do68 — Golden State Warriors (@warriors) April 12, 2019
Golden State Warriors (1) vs Los Angeles Clippers (8)
Do you really think the Warriors don’t have what it takes to make a deep run — or win it all again? On January 15, Golden State took on Denver — and put up 51 points in the first quarter, an NBA record. So when the Warriors want to turn it on, they can, and the result can be devastating for the opposition. Golden State did lose by more than 20 points at home to such bottom-dwellers as Phoenix and Dallas this year, and their home court point differential this year was just +6.6 per game. Their eight home losses by at least 20 points is two more than any other NBA champion has suffered in a season.
As for the Clippers, what are they even doing in this postseason? They trade away Tobias Harris at the deadline for a collection of reserves, what Bill Simmons used to call the “pu pu platter.” But such players as rookie Landry Shamet have made the most of the opportunity to get extended playing time in the NBA, and the Clippers have won. Players like Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell take the court with nothing to lose, and no team has a better plus-minus in clutch time than the +65 the Clippers have posted this year. But can they hang with the Warriors? No.
Golden State in 4.
Denver Nuggets (2) vs San Antonio Spurs (7)
Nikola Jokic is an All-NBA star, but Denver plays team ball rather than relying on star power. Their combination of defense and ball movement makes them a difficult team to face. How will their youth movement fare under the postseason spotlight? That’s the question. In a game against Portland in January, we probably saw the best the Nuggets have to offer, as Jokic put up 40 points, 10 boards and eight assists in a 116-113 win over Portland.
The Spurs are in the playoffs for a record-tying 22nd consecutive season. However, this is not a team that can coast against lesser teams and deliver wins. Instead, the effort has to be consistent. The defense has become much simpler because of all the new players, and the lack of experience means fewer rest nights for key players. This could mean that they are tougher and ready for battle, but it could mean that they are tired. The Spurs will challenge the Nuggets, but Denver’s talent and youth should win.
Denver in 7.
Portland Trail Blazers (3) vs Oklahoma City Thunder (6)Portland got swept out of the playoffs by New Orleans last year, thanks in large part to the Trail Blazers’ inability to rebound. They responded by leading the NBA in rebounding this year and starting the season on a 10-3 run. Center Jusuf Nurkic is done for the season with a leg fracture, but Portland still did enough to hold on for the three-seed. Without Nurkic, even with home court, Oklahoma City should find room inside.
In the early going, the Thunder looked like a title contender. However, the chemistry on this team is still iffy, particularly when it is time to play defense. Paul George and Russell Westbrook might be the best-scoring duo in the West, and this team plays at 100% when it comes to speed. But can they get stops? If they can, the Thunder should win this.
Oklahoma City in 6.
Houston Rockets (4) vs Utah Jazz (5)
Houston opened the season 11-14 and then went on a 42-15 run to close out the season and get back into the playoffs. They were close to seizing the second seed in the Western Conference until Denver and Portland posted comeback wins in their season finales to send Houston down to fourth. Getting rid of Carmelo Anthony and Michael Carter-Williams while bringing in Iman Shumpert, Austin Rivers and Kenneth Faried gave Houston some depth, which is important given the fragility of Chris Paul’s hamstrings. Can Harden keep scoring at an historic rate without wearing down? Can Paul make it through four series?
Utah also started slowly, posting a 14-17 record through their first 31 games. They went 36-15 the rest of the way to climb into the postseason. Only Milwaukee has a better winning percentage since the calendar turned to 2019. Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors lock down the lane, which will limit the opportunities Houston will have at the rim. Joe Ingles can get white-hot from the outside, and he has buried the Rockets in the past, going 7 for 9 from downtown in Utah’s one win against Houston in the playoffs last year. But can the Jazz take the series? That’s doubtful
Houston in 5.
