Why You Should Bet the Golden State Warriors to Win NBA Finals

There’s very few things better than overreacting to an early playoff game in the NBA, but my one big overreaction doesn’t feel like one at all entering Monday’s Game 2 between the Golden State Warriors and the Denver Nuggets. 

The Warriors, who entered the playoffs at +900 to win the NBA title, have moved all the way down to +600 at WynnBET Sportsbook. As someone who holds a future on the Phoenix Suns, I made the executive decision to bet the Warriors at +650 on Sunday after they dominated Game 1 against Denver.

This may seem like an overreaction, as Golden State could very well lose tonight, but I don’t think it is. The Warriors were dominant on Saturday night, and they even dominated the Nikola Jokic minutes for Denver, outscoring the Nuggets by 19 points when their MVP candidate was on the floor. 

What may have been more important for the Warriors is the fact that Steph Curry looked as healthy as ever in his return to the court, coming off the bench and scoring 16 points in 22 minutes. He was a plus-17 in the game, and he’s been the driving force to Golden State’s success all season long. 

Curry’s return is a big reason why I bet Golden State, but it isn’t the only one. 

The Warriors’ offense has really tailed off after a strong start this season, but a lot of that had to do with injuries to Curry and Draymond Green. 

Golden State finished the regular season with the No. 16 offensive rating in the NBA, but it looked like a well-oiled machine with Curry, Thompson, Green and Jordan Poole all in the lineup. 

Poole was arguably the best player on the floor in Game 1, scoring 30 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field, and he adds a whole new dynamic to this team. Poole gives the Warriors another primary ball handler who can create his own shot and create for others when Curry isn’t in the game. 

I genuinely think he is the best No. 3 option the Warriors have put next to Curry and Thompson that is not named Kevin Durant. 

The Warriors have been solid on the defensive end all season long, and now they have the depth to run teams out of the gym as well, going 10 deep on Saturday without playing lottery picks Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga.

As long as Curry remains healthy, the Warriors are far and away the second best team in the West, and they’ve shown they can hang with and beat the Suns this season. I am not going to count out the Curry-Thompson-Green trio in a playoff series, no matter who they play. 

Yes, the playoffs are a long grind and Golden State played just one game so far, but it gave me a glimpse into what this team can be. 

The “death” lineup of Curry-Klay-Poole-Green-Wiggins makes Golden State one of the hardest teams to match up with in the playoffs, and they still were able to hang defensively with those in, despite the lack of size. 

Golden State, Phoenix and Milwaukee are my three top teams to win the title, and now I’m holding a future ticket for each of them. 

If you haven’t bet Golden State yet, you may want to before the Warriors put on another show in Game 2. 

Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record in the NBA this season here.