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Euro 2016 betting cheat sheet and odds: France Getting Defensive

Teams will begin to play their final matches of group play Sunday with most nations still battling for position, or just to qualify for the knockout rounds of Euro 2016. We break it all down in our Euro 2016 betting cheat sheet.

France Getting Defensive

With a spot in the Round of 16 already secure, the host French side will be looking to carry a spotless record into the elimination round as it concludes Group A action Sunday against Switzerland at Stade Pierre-Mauroy. France (Even) has been buoyed by sensational work from its back end, having recorded back-to-back clean sheets over Romania and Albania. The Swiss (+365) are comfortable with a win and a draw through two games, but will be looking to make a statement - and beating Les Bleus would do just that.

Controlling Their Fate

England (-140) has its destiny in its own hands Monday as it squares off against Slovakia (+475) in the final Group B match for both sides. The English looked to be in serious trouble after falling behind early against Wales, but stormed back on goals from Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge to pull off the pivotal 2-1 victory and improve to four points in two games. Slovakia finds itself in a must-win situation, having dropped a 2-1 decision to Wales in its opener before stunning a disappointing Russian side in its next game.

Will Irish Eyes Be Smiling?

Northern Ireland (+950) would prefer not to sneak into the Round of 16, and can earn its way in outright with a solid result Tuesday against the heavily favored Germans (-305) in Paris. Getting even a single point would be a monumental task, but Northern Ireland has plenty of momentum after cruising past Ukraine 2-0 after dropping its opener 1-0 to Poland. The Germans also had little trouble with the eliminated Ukrainians, but settled for a tie with the Polish side and needs a win to have a chance at claiming Group C honors.

News and Notes

* England may be going with a different look in its starting XI for its Group B finale against Slovakia. Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling could wind up on the bench in favor of Vardy and Sturridge, who scored as substitutes in the stunning win over Wales.

* Complaints are growing about the pitch conditions at select Euro 2016 venues. UEFA tournament director Martin Kallen is the latest to voice his concerns, suggesting the pitches “should be better” and that “we have problems."

Injury Updates

* Welsh midfielder Joe Ledley allayed fears of a serious injury, saying he’ll be good to go in his side’s Group B finale against Russia. Ledley, who nearly missed the tournament with a serious leg injury, left in the 67th minute against England following a Sturridge tackle.

* Romania could be without midfield stalwart Mihai Pintilii and left back Razvan Rat, both of whom left Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with the Swiss. Both are considered questionable for Sunday, while Steliano Filip and Bogdan Stancu are also banged up.

Weather Watch

Sunday’s matches should be clear of any weather concerns. Switzerland-France will see some cloud cover with temperatures in the mid-60s, while Romania-Albania will be played under clear skies with the mercury in the low-60s.

Monday’s Russia-Wales encounter will see an occasional cloud with temperatures climbing into the low-70s. Slovakia-England will be overcast, but rain is not expected. Temperatures for that one will dip into the low-60s.

Ukraine-Poland and Northern Ireland-Germany will both be contested under sunny skies Monday, with temperatures in the low-70s for both games.

Props of the Day

* France/Switzerland, France to Record a Shutout Win: Yes (+180): The way France has rolled through its first two games, it’s not that improbable to expect a third clean sheet against the Swiss. The price is certainly right.

* Russia/Wales, Winning Margin: Wales by 1 Goal (+340): The Russian side comes into this one completely demoralized following a late equalizer by England and a stunning loss to Slovakia. Look for Wales to grab an early lead - and this time, protect it.

Key Stats/Trends

* France has dropped just one of its previous seven meetings with Switzerland, capped by a decisive 5-2 trouncing at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

* Romania is unbeaten in its last 13 encounters with Albania, earning 10 wins and three draws over that stretch. Albania’s last win in the series came in 1948.

* Russia is winless in its last five international matches dating back to late March, surrendering 10 goals over that span.

How to make the line for Game 7 of the NBA Finals
By PATRICK EVERSON

Figuring out where to set the line throughout this NBA Finals has been a bit tricky, to be sure. Although the best-of-7 series is tied at 3, the two teams have been anything but even heading into a massive Game 7 on Sunday night in Oakland, Calif.

The previous six games have all been decided by double digits, with Cleveland continuing its climb out of a 3-1 hole with a stout 115-101 home victory as a 2-point home chalk in Game 6 Thursday night.

So how did sportsbook directors in Las Vegas arrive at the opening number? Tony Nevill, director of race and sports for Treasure Island on the Vegas Strip, sought out the advice of the employees he’s entrusted to assist with such matters.

“I sat with my supervisors today, trying to take in what they saw throughout the series, and especially yesterday (in Game 6), and what they think is going to take place in Game 7,” Nevill said on Friday morning. “Then I threw in my own ideas. It’s been difficult because all the games have been blowouts.

“My whole question is the health of Golden State,” he added, alluding to the loss of Andrew Bogut (knee), Andre Iguodala’s back issues and even some question about MVP Stephen Curry. “And I don’t know if Cleveland can mirror Thursday’s game. I kind of came to the conclusion that if Golden State can play decent on defense, Warriors -5 seems reasonable.”

That’s what seemed reasonable at many books in Vegas and offshore. Chris Andrews, director of the South Point sportsbook in Vegas, said he tried not to give Game 6 too much weight.

“I really kind of thought before the game, if the Cavs win, it would be about 5 for Game 7,” said Andrews, whose line dropped a tick to 4.5 Friday afternoon. “I try not to get too affected by the last game. Bettors fall into the trap of allowing that to happen too much.”

Up at the north end of the Strip, at Wynn Las Vegas, Johnny Avello also tried not to overthink Game 7.

“It’s basically home court, and that’s it. There’s nothing else to give the Warriors,” said Avello, executive director of race and sports for the Wynn. “We had the Warriors -5 without Draymond Green in Game 5, and now -5 with him. That shows their level of play has declined a little, and the Cavs’ level of play has upgraded.

“The line is easy to do. Whether we win or not on the game is another story.”

Friday afternoon, the line dropped to 4.5 at the Wynn, while the number held steady at -5 at Treasure Island. Nevill said anywhere in the 4-5-6 range would be a good number to get two-way action, which is all the books are really looking for. But the number will come more into play for Golden State bettors.

“The majority of people betting Cleveland will be on the moneyline,” Nevill said, noting the Cavs are +175, with the Warriors -205 on the buyback. “The majority of folks betting Golden State will lay the points.”

Added Andrews: “I think the public will bet the Cavs, and the moneyline will be with the Cavs, too. So far, they’re doing both.”

Andrews is just hopeful that the game lands somewhere around the number, rather than another double-digit runaway. Maybe that will be the case, as Andrews pointed out that for all the blowout wins, the two teams have combined for the exact same number of total points – 610.

“That’s incredible. That makes Game 7 even more compelling, in a way,” he said. “I don’t have that much of a feel for it. I’d hope we get a game with some great drama to it. I hope it comes down to the wire.”

Why Warriors fans are nervous to bet on Game 7
By JOE FORTENBAUGH

Not only am I one of the biggest NBA conspiracy theorists on the planet, but I also happen to live right smack in the heart of the Bay Area, no more than a well-struck 5-iron from AT&T Park.

I believe that Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings was one of the most highly suspect American sporting events to take place in this millennium. In that matchup, with the Kings holding a 3-2 lead in the series, Los Angeles attempted 40 free throws to Sacramento’s 25. In the fourth quarter alone, the Lakers went 21/27 from the line while the Kings converted just seven of nine attempts.

The Lakers went on to win that game by a final score of 106-102 before closing out the series two nights later in Sacramento.

I also believe that the fix was in during the 1985 NBA Draft Lottery when the New York Knicks landed Georgetown’s Patrick Ewing thanks to any combination of the “Frozen Envelope” or “Bent Corner” theories. See for yourself how one envelope is treated differently then all the rest when being placed into the circular container. Would it shock you to learn that the envelope in question just so happened to contain a placard inside adorned with a New York Knicks emblem?

Yet, despite both my unwavering support for the Golden State Warriors coupled with my occasional distrust of the National Basketball Association, I don’t believe there is any reason to question the officiating that took place Thursday night in Cleveland when the Cavaliers won Game 6 115-101 and extended the series to a do-or-die Game 7 scheduled for Sunday night in Oakland. I understand that referee Scott Foster’s presence on the court that night is worthy of some eyebrow-raising when you consider the fact that Golden State is now 26-8 (.812) in playoff games over the last two year’s without Foster calling the game and just 5-5 (.500) with Foster on the floor. I also realize that it is without question in the best interest of the NBA for this series to go the distance when you factor in both ratings and revenue.

But the bottom line is that Golden State came up short in Cleveland on Thursday for a variety of reasons unrelated to the officiating, which assessed exactly 25 fouls on both the Warriors and Cavaliers, with that distribution taking place as follows:

First quarter: Warriors with 6 fouls, Cavaliers with 4
Second quarter: Warriors with 8 fouls, Cavaliers with 9
Third quarter: Warriors with 4 fouls, Cavaliers with 4
Fourth quarter: Warriors with 7 fouls, Cavaliers with 8

But as a sports talk radio host in the Bay Area, Friday morning presented an opportunity to hear from the Golden State fan base about all of the issues that could possibly prevent this club from winning its second championship in as many years. Despite being listed as a 5-point favorite for Game 7 along with the fact that this team has gone 98-8 at home in the regular season and playoffs combined over the last two seasons, Warriors fans are nervous.

Here’s why:

1. The disastrous play of Harrison Barnes: The 24-year-old from Ames, Iowa turned down a 4-year, $64 million contract extension last offseason because he felt an even bigger deal was waiting on the open market. Perhaps that’s true, but Barnes has failed to live up to expectations this season and has been absolutely dreadful over the last two games of this series. In Games 5 and 6 combined, Barnes is 2/22 from the floor (0/2 from the line) and has missed each of his last 15 shots. In addition, Barnes is shooting just 30.4 percent (7/23) during the playoffs on three-point shots in which he has 10+ feet of room to operate. If the North Carolina product comes up woefully short once again in Game 7, the Warriors could find their backs against the wall come the fourth quarter.

2. The loss of Andrew Bogut: Entering Game 6, Bogut had notched 20 or more minutes of action just five times in 22 playoff contests. But the big man’s minutes were instrumental in regards to both rim protection and Golden State’s high pick-and-roll game, where Bogut played an integral role in helping to free up sharpshooters Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. Without Bogut on the floor, LeBron James has been relentless in his attacking of the rim and Tristan Thompson has had a field day on the glass. Backups Festus Ezeli and Anderson Varejao have played sub-par basketball at best, leaving many to wonder what adjustments, if any, head coach Steve Kerr will make for Game 7.

3. LeBron James: In Games 5 and 6 combined, the two-time champ has scored 82 points (56.1 percent from the floor) with 24 rebounds, 18 assists, 7 steals and 6 blocks with just three turnovers committed in 85 of a possible 96 minutes. Yeah, I’ve got no reservations about venturing out onto that precipitous ledge and stating that LeBron James is a concern.

4. The cautious play of Draymond Green: He was suspended for Game 5 thanks to yet another altercation involving an opposing player’s groin region and played quiet, timid and ineffective basketball in Game 6 for fear of getting himself suspended for a possible Game 7. This was predictable because the exact same thing happened in the Oklahoma City series after Green’s altercation with Steven Adams. But there are no more games to be played after Sunday night, meaning the Warriors are free to let Green off the leash to once again resume his role as the team’s most valuable defensive player. This is perhaps the least of the fan base’s concerns heading into Game 7.

5. The officiating: For all the reasons listed at the beginning of this story coupled with the fact that Steph Curry’s wife, Ayesha, didn’t do the team any favors when she tweeted a scathing takedown of the league that included the word “rigged” in regards to how Game 6 played out. The good news is that Scott Foster won’t be on the floor to officiate Game 7. The bad news is that his buddies will be working the game and they may not take too kindly to such an accusation.

Despite all of the reasons listed above, I still like the Golden State Warriors to emerge victorious in Game 7 while simultaneously putting the cherry on top of this remarkable and historic 73-win season ice cream sundae.

However, if you ask me whether or not I’m willing to lay the 5-points to back up my opinion, I’d politely tell you “no thanks,” but would suggest the over (206.5) looks mighty appealing.

NBA Playoffs - Game 7 Facts

Game 7 Quick Facts

-- The NBA has had 125 Game 7’s in playoff history

-- The home team is 101-24 (81%) in those games

-- There have been 18 Game 7's played in the NBA Finals, this meeting will be the 19th

-- The home team has gone 15-3 (83%) in those contests.

-- The last visitors to win a Game 7 of the NBA Finals was the Washington Bullets, who defeated the Seattle Supersonics 105-99 in 1978.

-- Since 1994, there have been four Game 7's played in the NBA Finals (listed below).

NBA Finals Recent Game 7 Betting History

Year Matchup Score Favorite-Underdog Over-Under

1994 New York at Houston (-4.5) 90-84 Favorite Under (176)
2005 Detroit at San Antonio (-4) 81-74 Favorite Under (174)
2010 Boston at L.A. Lakers (-6.5) 83-79 Underdog Under (186.5)
2013 San Antonio at Miami (-5.5) 95-88 Favorite Under (197.5)


-- The favorite has gone 4-0 straight up and 3-1 against the spread during that span.

-- All four games were decided by single digits, the largest margin being seven points.

-- The 'under' has produced a 4-0 record with none of the teams scoring more than 100 points.

-- The 2016 NBA playoffs have had four Game 7's played and the home team has won all four games (3-1 ATS), two of the victories coming by double digits.

Eastern Conference First Round - Miami 106 vs. Charlotte 73
Eastern Conference First Round - Toronto 89 vs. Indiana 84
Eastern Conference Semifinals - Toronto 116 vs. Miami 89
Western Conference Finals - Golden State 96 Oklahoma City 88

-- The 2015 postseason featured two Game 7's. The home team went 2-0 with the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets capturing victories.

-- The 2014 postseason featured five Game 7's. The home team went 4-1 in those games and the lone visitor to win was Brooklyn, who defeated Toronto 104-103 in overtime.

Cleveland Game 7 Recent History
2006 Eastern Conference Finals
Cleveland 61 at Detroit 79

2009 Eastern Conference Semifinals
Cleveland 92 at Boston 97

LeBron James Game 7 Recent History
2012 Eastern Conference Finals
Miami 101 vs. Boston 88

2013 Eastern Conference Finals
Miami 99 vs. Indiana 76

2013 NBA Finals
Miami 95 vs. San Antonio 88

Golden State Game 7 Recent History
2016 Western Conference Finals
Golden State 96 vs. Oklahoma City 88

2014 Western Conference First Round
Golden State 121 at L.A. Clippers 126

All-Time Game 7 Road Winners

Year Road Team Home Team Round

2014 Brooklyn 104 Toronto 103 First round
2013 Chicago 99 Brooklyn 93 First round
2012 L.A. Clippers 82 Memphis 72 First round
2009 Orlando 101 Boston 82 Conference semifinals
2007 San Antonio 91 New Orleans 82 Conference semifinals
2007 Utah 103 Houston 99 First round
2006 *Dallas 119 San Antonio 111 Conference semifinals
2005 Detroit 88 Miami 82 Conference finals
2005 Indiana 97 Boston 70 First round
2002 *L.A. Lakers 112 Sacramento 106 Conference finals
2000 New York 83 Miami 82 Conference semifinals
1995 Indiana 97 New York 95 Conference semifinals
1995 Houston 115 Phoenix 114 Conference semifinals
1982 Philadelphia 120 Boston 106 Conference finals
1981 Kansas City 95 Phoenix 88 Conference semifinals
1981 Houston 105 San Antonio 100 Conference semifinals
1978 Washington 105 Seattle 99 NBA Finals
1976 Phoenix 94 Golden State 86 Conference finals
1974 Boston 102 Milwaukee 87 NBA Finals
1973 New York 94 Boston 78 Conference finals
1971 Baltimore 93 New York 91 Conference finals
1969 Boston 108 L.A. Lakers 106 NBA Finals
1968 Boston 100 Philadelphia 96 Division finals
1948 Philadelphia 85 St Louis 46 Semifinals

(*) Asterisk denotes overtime

Game 7 Props - Best Bets

The NBA Finals concludes Sunday with Game 7 between the Warriors and Cavaliers from Oracle Arena. If you’re hesitant to back the side or total for the final contest in this series, then we suggest you take a closer look at the available player props.

A trio of NBA experts produced a 5-4 overall record for Game 6 and are a combined 31-18 (62%) in their prop wagers for the series for more than 20-plus units of profit

Chris David: 9-5 (+1275)
Tony Mejia: 12-6 (+1265)
Kevin Rogers: 10-7 (+90)

Based on a five-unit bankroll, their top props are listed for Game 7 below.

Chris David

2 Units – Over Stephen Curry Total Field Goal Attempts 21.5 (-110)

I played this prop in Game 5 and Curry came through albeit it was tight. If the league’s MVP is on the court, he’s going to chuck and that’s not changing in Game 7. The key is 40 minutes and if Steve Kerr leaves him out there, he’ll get the job done. Even if the game gets out of hand one way or another, it’s rare to see the starters pulled until the last minute and I expect Curry to be hoisting all night.

2 Units – Over Richard Jefferson Total Points+Rebounds 9.5 (+100)

This 14-year NBA veteran continues be a key factor in this series and certainly a bit of a surprise. After averaging 16 minutes per game in the conference finals, Jefferson is up to 24 MPG against the Warriors and that time has increased his production. Outside of Game 1 when finished with three points and two boards while playing 12 minutes, RJ has come back with a combined 17, 17, 9, 9 and 9 points & rebounds in the last five games. With Kevin Love still shaky, I expect Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue to press the veteran in the finale which should give him a great chance to eclipse this number (9.5).

1 Unit – Over Draymond Green Total Rebounds+Assists (+100)

Even though we saw Green score 28 in Game 2 of this series, he’s a better job as a facilitator and the coaching staff should stress that role on Sunday. I don’t expect him to take as many shots in Game 7 and he’ll likely do whatever is needed to get the shooters involved. In the 15 playoff wins for the Warriors, Green is averaging 10.7 rebounds and 6.1 assists. If Golden State comes through, this prop should connect accordingly.

Kevin Rogers

2 Units - Kevin Love Under 11.5 Points (-120)

Not to state the obvious, but Love has been non-existent since suffering a concussion in the Game 2 loss at Golden State. He played only 12 minutes in the Game 6 victory at home, scoring seven points, while putting up a total of 20 points in the past three games. It's hard to think he'll bust out with the Cavaliers likely leaning on James and Irving in Game 7.

2 Units - J.R. Smith Under 2.5 Total Made Three-Point Field Goals (Even)

Smith has not shot the ball well at Oracle Arena in this series, hitting one three-pointer in each of the three games played in Oakland. He had just two attempts from downtown in the Game 5 victory, while making an average of 2.3 treys a game during this series. He hasn't had many attempts at Oracle Arena, so 'under' is the way to go.

1 Unit - Draymond Green What will he do first - Made Free Throw (-300)

Yes, this is some heavy wood to lay, but Green has made his last eight free throw attempts at Oracle Arena since going 5-of-9 from the line in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. Green got the kinks out in Game 6 following his short suspension, as he should be able to knock out this prop easily.

Tony Mejia

2 Units - LeBron James Over 49.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-115)

He's been operating at an elite level over the past couple of games, scoring 41 points in back-to-back contests. While it's unlikely he tops 40 again, look for him to put together another strong effort.

1.5 Units - Stephen Curry Over 11.5 Rebounds + Assists (-115)

The Warriors are counting on his energy, which means he'll have to make plays and stay active even if his shots aren't falling. He's helped the Warriors all series with his rebounding, sticking his nose in there with the big boys.

1.5 Units - Draymond Green Over 1.5 Made 3-pointers (+120)

Opportunities will be there for Green, who is most comfortable shooting it at Oracle. Look for him to come up with a couple of long-range bombs.

NBA Finals Game 7 betting preview and odds: Cavaliers at Warriors

Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors (-5, 207)

Series tied 3-3

The Cleveland Cavaliers are one victory away from ending the city's 52-year sports championship drought when they visit the defending champion Golden State Warriors in Sunday's Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Cleveland is also looking to become the first team in NBA Finals history to recover from a 3-1 series deficit while Golden State strives to bounce back from two disappointing closeout failures, including an embarrassing performance in Game 6 in which two-time MVP Stephen Curry was ejected after throwing his mouthpiece and hitting a fan.

Cleveland's last sports title was won by the 1964 Browns - before the NFL's Super Bowl era - and forward LeBron James is doing his part to back up his vow to bring a championship to the city with back-to-back 41-point performances. The Warriors opened the door for the Cavaliers in Game 5 when stellar defensive forward Draymond Green served a suspension and the Game 6 meltdown marked a frustrating night for the Curry family as wife Ayesha accused the NBA Finals of being "absolutely rigged for money" before sinking into full retreat mode and deleting her social-media comments. Stephen Curry said Saturday that "if we come up short, we'll all be very, very disappointed," in regards to two opportunities already having been squandered while Cavaliers forward LeBron James is feeling confidence now that his squad has turned the series into a one-game winner-take-all. "You don't put too much more added pressure on it because it's a Game 7," James said at Saturday's press conference. "One thing we all know is it's the last game of the season, so it's not like you're preserving any energy, be out there saying, 'OK, I've got to keep my body ready for the next game.' There's no next game."

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ABC

LINE HISTORY: The Warriors opened as 5-point home favorites for this huge Game 7. They were bet down to -4.5 for a short period of time before being quickly bet back to -5. The total open at 206 and has bet up to 207.

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS: James is averaging 30.2 points, 11.3 rebounds and 8.5 assists in the series and rose his play to even higher levels with Cleveland facing elimination. Point guard Kyrie Irving also has performed well in the series with three 30-point outings - a high of 41 - while averaging 27.3 points, and he is attempting to put the long-discussed Cleveland championship drought out of his mind. "After the game, we can worry about the rest of that stuff," Irving said at Saturday's press conference. "History will be made either way, regardless of both teams, win or lose. But we're just really focused on what we can control, and (Sunday's) game is just living in the moment."

ABOUT THE WARRIORS: Golden State recorded an NBA-best 73-9 record in the regular season but things have been a bit different in the last two playoff series and the Warriors have dropped eight games overall in the postseason. "At the end of the day, we knew this wouldn't be a walk in the park," Green said at Saturday's press conference. "It's hard. It's hard to win a championship. But we've never really been a team to lack confidence. We feel like we can do anything. That's going to always be our mindset." Curry has recovered from a slow start in the series by averaging 31 points over the past three games but Golden State is getting practically nothing from small forward Harrison Barnes, who is averaging 2.5 points on 2-of-22 shooting over the past two games.

TRENDS:

* Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last five games playing on two days rest.
* Warriors are 5-1 ATS in their last six games when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
* Under is 4-0-2 in the last six meetings in Golden State.
* Under is 3-0-1 in Warriors last four home games.
* Under is 4-1-1 in Cavaliers last six games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.

CONSENSUS: It's close, but the public are giving the defending champs a very slight edge in Game 7, with 53 percent of wagers on the Warriors. When it comes to the total, bettors are hammering the Over, with 73 percent of bettors on it.

NBA Finals Game 7 Preview
By Tony Mejia

NBA Finals - Game 7 - Series tied 3-3
Cleveland at Golden State (-5/207), 8:00 p.m. ET - ABC

For the first time since 2013, the NBA Finals are going the distance.

Ray Allen’s heroic 3-pointer late in Game 6 spoiled the Spurs championship plans three years ago, forcing a Game 7 that the Heat captured 95-88 to win a second straight title. LeBron James tied Tommy Heinsohn’s NBA record for most points in a Game 7, pouring in 37 while grabbing 12 rebounds.

It’s going to take a similar effort to beat the Warriors in Oakland as the Cavs look to make history by becoming the first team ever to rally from a 3-1 deficit to win an NBA Finals.

It’s only the fourth time in 22 years that the title will come down to a single game and the first time in 50 years that a team has forced a deciding game after falling behind 3-1.

Golden State is hoping to repeat in order to validate its 73-win season, while the Cavs are looking to deliver Cleveland’s first championship of any kind since 1964.

This will be the 19th Game 7 in Finals history, and home teams have gotten the better of the matchups in 15 of 18, winning the last six times. A road team hasn’t won one of these since 1978, when the Washington Bullets beat the Seattle Supersonics, so yes, odds are certainly against the Cavs. Of course, that hasn’t stopped them from believing yet.

There’s not a lot we don’t know about the Cavs, a team that arrives as an underdog because the Eastern Conference is so much easier to navigate than the West. They’ve survived an in-season coaching change and Kevin Love’s obvious lack of cohesion with the rest of the group. They’re on the cusp of a championship.

In that sense, James has willed them like he said he would. Before last year, no player had ever averaged at least 30 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists in a Finals series. He’s on pace to do it for the second consecutive season. Add in his 2.7 steals and 2.2 blocks during this series, and his Finals 2016 production in these five statistical categories is unprecedented, according to the NBA. James has scored 41 points in each of the last two games. Michael Jordan is the only player with as many as three straight 40-point Finals games (he had four in a row in 1993). The only 40-point performances in a Finals Game 7 are from Jerry West (42 in 1969) and Elgin Baylor (41 in 1962).

In a postseason where it was openly debated whether he’d been surpassed as the face of the league by Steph Curry or in terms of production by the likes of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Kawhi Leonard, James has persevered and quieted all that talk. At 31 years old, he’s still the best player in basketball.

Unlike last year, he’s got the three highest-paid players on his roster, Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson, and yes, Love, healthy and contributing. And yet, even though Irving has opened eyes, it’s still all on James. He’s the driving force. He’s the key to it all. If the Cavs win, he’ll avoid a gross 2-5 record in NBA Finals and re-enter the conversation as the best to have ever done it, getting halfway to Michael Jordan’s haul of six rings.

LeBron has scored 41 points in consecutive games. Does he have enough in the tank to pull off the unexpected? To become the first team to rally from a 3-1 deficit to win The Finals, Cleveland will have to hand Golden State a third consecutive loss – a streak the Warriors have never suffered in coach Steve Kerr’s two seasons.

The Warriors’ last three-game losing streak was Nov. 20-23, 2013, during the 2013-14 regular season. Golden State went through the entire 2015-16 regular season without losing back-to-back games before dropping Games 3 and 4 of the Western Conference Finals to the Thunder and Games 5 and 6 of The Finals to the Cavaliers. The Warriors are an all-time team. They’ve lost four games out of 53 at home. This next win, if they get it on Sunday, will be their 50th at Oracle Arena this season.

That’s why you can’t throw everything we’ve seen in the regular season out the window. Although we’ve seen throughout these Finals that the Cavs have been able to physically impose their will and ultimately knock a team that won 73 games down a few pegs, consistency is the key. It’s time to find out who is most strong-willed.

With that in mind, take a look at what Marreese Speights, who should play a role in Game 7 since Andrew Bogut is out, said about his MVP teammate.

“On Thursday night in Cleveland, during Game 6 of the NBA Finals, I saw something I’ve never seen before: Steph Curry … furious,” Speights wrote in the Players Tribune. “I mean, I’ve seen him get mad before. But when he got called for that sixth foul, that was, by far, the angriest I’ve ever seen him.

“You know what, though? I’m going to give you all some inside info. After the game, Steph wasn’t upset. He might have said one or two words, but then he got on his phone — he talks with his kids after the game, or his wife — and he moved on.

“And it was the same for the rest of us Steph’s gonna go off on Sunday. I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes out and scores 50. With all the things the media has been saying about him, and everything on Twitter, I know he’s going to respond. I know it. And then all the other guys are going to fall into place. That’s how it works for us. Anytime anything happens with Steph — be it emotionally, or him getting hurt in the Houston series, or him getting ejected on Thursday night — that motivates us to take it to another level. So look out on Sunday.”

The Warriors will be facing immense pressure, but have been in must-win games all season due to their run at 73, which could pay dividends here. Keep in mind, the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award will be presented after Game 7. The award’s namesake is the king of winner-take-all games in championship series: Russell went 5-0 in Finals Game 7s, averaging 20.4 points and 32.0 rebounds. Can Curry, in his own way, be that great?

There’s no question Golden State will need him to be at his best. The reigning two-time MVP has neglected blame so far, but Game 7 revolves around his ability to impose his will on the game and promote a faster pace.

Total bettors watched the ‘over’ connect in Game 6 of the finals on Thursday and that outcome was helped with the pair combining for 65 points in the fourth quarter.

For the finale, oddsmakers sent out an opener of 207 and most betting shops have dropped the number to 206 ½ as of Saturday.

NBA totals expert Chris David believes you can handicap Game 7 with two different approaches.

“If you’re leaning to trends both this season and historically, the ‘under’ is an easy look on Sunday. The last four Game 7’s of the NBA Finals have all leaned to the low side and all of the outcomes were extremely tight with teams putting an extra emphasis on possessions. The argument to that angles is this series hasn’t seen a competitive game and that has created a looser style of play which has produced a few ‘over’ tickets,” explained David.

Depending where and when you’ve placed your wagers on the first six games, you could have differing results but most bettors have seen the ‘over/under’ go 3-3 in this series.

Another trend that could have you leaning to the ‘under’ is based on the Warriors’ total tendencies at Oracle Arena. The last two years, Golden State has seen the ‘under’ go 16-5-3 (76%) in the playoffs which includes an 8-4-1 (67%) record this postseason.

“Using angles and systems that have been documented are a part of my handicapping by I’m fully aware that trends aren’t always your friends,” said David. “Current form is a key factor and nobody can ignore what Cleveland has done recently. The Cavaliers have scored 120, 112 and 115 points in their three wins against a club that is known for its great team defense. Including those results, Cleveland is now 15-0 in the playoffs when they score over a 100 points. With Bogut out and Andre Iguodala not playing at 100 percent, the Warriors certainly aren’t the same team defensively.”

“I believe Cleveland will be able to carry over its offensive momentum to the Bay Area and even though Golden State shot poorly (36%, 40%) in the last two games, it still put up 97 and 101 points in those losses. If the Warriors shoot in the forties on Sunday, they’ll easily eclipse 100-plus points and I expect them to do so. In this particular matchup, I’m going to shy away from the Game 7 angles and lean to the ‘over’ (206 ½) in the final.

Iguodala’s back issue is worrisome, but the Warriors anticipate him being effective enough to rely upon for his normal of minutes. How well he feels and plays should be Game 7’s chief x-factor.

Preview: Cavaliers (57-25) at Warriors (73-9)

Date: June 19, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

The Cleveland Cavaliers go for a third win in a row while the Golden State Warriors get one last chance to repeat in Sunday night's seventh and deciding game of the 2016 NBA Finals.

Cleveland fans are hoping a Cavaliers championship can finally bring relief to a city, ending 52 years of sporting misery.

Up 3-1 in the NBA Finals, the Warriors were on the brink of another championship. Now they could become the first team to squander a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals.

Put another way, the Cavs could become the first team to ever win an NBA title after being down 3-1.

Game 7 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., is another classic matchup between Stephen Curry's Warriors versus LeBron James' Cavaliers in a winner-take-all night.

"Anybody that's ever played the game of basketball or done anything at any level -- to be able to have an opportunity to have one game for it all?" James said at Saturday's press conference. "I mean, you take it."

Shots have not been falling for the defending champion Warriors in the playoffs at the same rate they were in the regular season when they set the NBA's record with 73 victories.

Curry, the two-time MVP, is aware that has to change because he feels it will be a lost season if the Warriors don't repeat as champs.

"Yeah, pretty much because that was our goal from the beginning," Curry said Saturday. "We're here on Game 7 with a chance to do it. We've had two chances already and haven't gotten it done, 48 minutes to do it. So if we come up short, we'll all be very, very disappointed. No two ways around that."

Curry scored 30 points in Game 6 while James poured in 41 on Thursday night for the second straight game to save the Cavaliers' season.

James joined Jerry West, Shaquille O'Neal, Rick Barry and Michael Jordan as the only players in Finals history to score 40 or more points in consecutive games.

"He's playing great," Curry said when asked about James' scoring in games 5 and 6. "He's doing things that are game-changing and helping his team win. He's been more aggressive, I think, shooting the ball. We've had some breakdowns, but he's played well. There's no two ways about it. So, tip your hat to him and come out Sunday with aggression."

James has returned the compliments when asked about Curry but does not see it as competition between the league's two biggest stars.

"I don't really get involved in that," James said. "I try to be the best player I can be for this team every night. But at the end of the day, my whole mindset is how I can put myself in position to help these guys be successful and I could be successful, as well. I don't really get caught up in what everybody else talks about. I think you should know me by now. I see what you're trying to do, though."

Curry and Warriors coach Steve Kerr were each fined $25,000 for their outbursts Thursday night in the 115-101 loss to the Cavaliers in Game 6.

Curry was fined for throwing his mouthpiece into the stands after picking up his sixth foul going for a steal against James in the backcourt. The incident, which resulted in a technical foul and subsequent ejection for Curry, occurred with 4:22 remaining in the fourth quarter at Quicken Loans Arena.

Kerr was fined for his criticism of the officiating when asked by reporters during his postgame press conference about the calls against Curry.

Two days later, Kerr was more calm in his assessment of things. He said his team has to just focus on playing basketball.

"Well, we're human, so when you go from up 3-1 to 3-3, it's disappointing," Kerr said at Saturday's press conference. "But you get a couple of days, you kind of take stock. You think about where we are. We like our positioning. We like our chances. And we're at home with a chance to win the championship. You can't ask for much more than that."

Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue downplayed that there's any extra pressure on his team due to the long Cleveland sports' championship drought. The city's last major sports title was won the NFL's Cleveland Browns in 1964.

"Just my short time being in Cleveland, just understanding and getting the history of being in Cleveland these last two years means a lot," Lue said Saturday. "They're really into their sports. They're really into their teams. This will be very important and very big for the city of Cleveland and for the state of Ohio to bring this home.

"I know it's going to be going crazy in Cleveland, so hopefully we can stay the course and bring them a championship home."

A Cleveland win would mean a highly disappointing conclusion to Golden State's record season.

Klay Thompson, the Warriors' other Splash Brother, left no doubt when asked whether the season will be a failure without a title.

"One hundred percent," Thompson said. "I thought it was a trick question at first. We expected to win the NBA championship coming into the season. It's either win the whole thing or bust for us. I mean, it's no fun getting second place.

"We all realize if you told us at the beginning of the season it would be one game to win the championship in Oakland, we'll take that any day of the week. We've just got to come Sunday with the mindset of leave it all out there, every man on this team. No hero ball, just do it as a team like we've been doing it all year."

'NBA Finals'

NBA Finals June 19, 8:00 EST

Cleveland Cavaiers dominated Golden State Warriors 115-101 Thursday at Quicken Loans Arena forcing a decisive game-7 in Oakland Sunday evening. Warriors may be rattled, but history is very much on Golden State's side. The defending Champions are 11-2 (10-3 ATS) on home court these playoffs, 5-2 SU/ATS following a defeat and have won six of eight (5-3 ATS) vs Cavaliers in Oakland since LeBron returned to Cleveland. Additionally, the last twenty-five Game 7's the home team has compiled a solid 21-4 straight-up record, 17-8 mark against the betting line.

So, will Warriors have an epic failure and became the first team to cough up a 3-1 series lead in the Finals while Cleveland notches it's first NBA title ???

NBA

Cleveland-Golden State (3-3)
Last road team to win Game 7 on road in Finals was 1978 (Bullets @ Seattle). All six games in NBA Finals were decided by 11+, with home side winning four of the six. Cleveland scored 115-112-120 in its Finals wins, 89-77-97 in its losses- over is 3-0 in its wins, 0-3 in Warrior wins. How healthy are Curry/Iguodala? Golden State is 10-3 at home in playoffs, but only 4-3 in last seven home games. Cavaliers lost four of last six on the road.

In the playoffs this spring, under is 50-33-1

Playoff tally: Favorites vs spread: 26-18, Over: 13-31
Second round: Favorites: 13-8, over: 12-9
Conference final: Favorites: 7-6, over: 5-7-1
Final: Favorites: 4-2, Over: 3-3

Preview: Stars (2-8) at Sun (2-10)

Date: June 19, 2016 1:00 PM EDT

The Connecticut Sun hosts the San Antonio Stars on Sunday in a battle of two teams looking to turnaround tough starts to the WNBA season.

The Sun has won four straight against San Antonio, including a 72-68 road victory on May 19 in the second game of the season. Kelsey Bone had 16 points and 10 rebounds for Connecticut.

The Sun (2-10) fell 80-72 to the New York Liberty on Thursday, dropping its third straight game. The Sun has lost nine of 10 overall and have not found a rhythm on either end of the court.

Connecticut is 11th in points allowed (86.9) and ninth in points per game (79.8).

The Stars (2-8) are coming off of an 84-75 loss to the Indiana Fever on Friday and are in last place in the Western Conference.

San Antonio leading-scorer Kayla McBride had 21 points in defeat, including a 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter that put the Stars up by three.

But San Antonio couldn't withstand a closing run by the Fever.

"If anything, maybe we could have locked in more on defense," San Antonio's Monique Curry said. "But I think perhaps maybe we ran out of gas after working from 13 down and coming back.

"So again, we have to keep ourselves out of holes like that so that we have to extend that extra energy and be able to finish games."

Inconsistent offense has plagued the Stars this season. They rank 12th in points per game (70.7). McBride (17.5 points per game) and Dearica Hamby (10.2 points per game) are the only two Stars averaging in double figures.

Sunday's game kicks off a three-game trip for the young Stars.

"You don't ever want to get too high or too low, especially with such a young team," the Stars' Jayne Appel-Marinelli told reporters after the loss to Indiana.

"You want to be the baseline and be supportive, but also give a little constructive criticism. We're babies. We just got to learn quickly and on the fly. It'll be tough, especially with this road stretch coming up."

Connecticut heads on a three-game trip after Sunday's game.

Preview: Liberty (7-4) at Fever (5-7)

Date: June 19, 2016 2:00 PM EDT

The New York Liberty handed the Indiana Fever their worst loss of the season, a 32-point beat-down on June 3.

Two weeks later, the Eastern Conference contenders meet again on Sunday in Indianapolis.

The Fever (5-7) snapped a three-game slide with an 84-75 victory over San Antonio on Friday, but are still looking to develop some chemistry, after last year's run to the WNBA Finals.

The Fever is 11th in points per game (78.5) and 10th in assists.

Indiana had only 11 assists to the Liberty's 22 in the blowout loss in early June. The Fever shot 32.8 percent from the floor and made only 3-of-20 3-pointers. They scored only nine points in the second quarter and 13 in the fourth.

"Out toughed us, out worked us, out executed us, out efforted us, really kicked our (butt)," Fever coach Stephanie White told reporters after the game. "That's all there is to it. That's all I have to say about that."

White has since announced that this will be her last season with the Fever. She has agreed to become head coach at Vanderbilt after the season.

Indiana veteran Tamika Catchings also has announced that this will be her last season. Catchings is the WNBA's second all-time leading scorer.

The Liberty (7-4) sits in second place in the Eastern Conference, one game behind the Atlanta Dream. They have won three straight games, including an 80-72 victory at Connecticut in their last outing Thursday.

New York leads the WNBA in rebounding, averaging 38.8 boards per game. Veteran forward Tina Charles bolsters the Liberty's front line. She's averaging 21.6 points and 9.4 rebounds, and is among the WNBA leaders in both categories.

Charles had a career-high 32 points in the win over Connecticut, and veteran Swin Cash became the 14th player in WNBA history to reach 5,000 points.

The teams met eight times last season, including in the playoffs. Indiana won six of the eight games.

Preview: Lynx (11-0) at Storm (4-8)

Date: June 19, 2016 7:00 PM EDT

The Minnesota Lynx will try to extend their WNBA record for consecutive victories to start a season when they visit the Seattle Storm on Sunday at Key Arena in Seattle.

Minnesota (11-0) beat Indiana on Tuesday to break its league record with its 11th consecutive win to start the season. The Los Angeles Sparks (11-0) tied that record with a win over Phoenix on Friday night.

"It's just one of those things that is a result of what we've done since training camp," Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said. "We look up 11 games into it and say, 'Things are going pretty well for the first third of the season.' It's nice to have."

Maya Moore scored 16 points to lead five Minnesota players in double figures in the win over Indiana. Seimone Augustus scored 12 points and Sylvia Fowles had 11 points and eight rebounds.

Seattle (4-8) has lost two in a row and four of its last five. The Storm is coming off an 88-79 loss to the Dallas Wings. Breanna Stewart had 29 points, six rebounds and four blocked shots, but it wasn't enough.

Moore is fourth in the WNBA in scoring at 19.8 points per game and fourth in assists, averaging 4.7 assists per game. Fowles is fourth in the league in field-goal percentage, shooting 58.2 percent.

Seattle is led by Jewell Loyd, who is eighth in the WNBA in scoring, averaging 16.8 points per game. Stewart ranks 10th in scoring at 16.3 points and leads the league in rebounding at 9.8 per game.

Minnesota and Seattle have met once this year. The Lynx handed the Storm a 78-71 loss on May 22 in Seattle.

In that game, Moore had 17 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Alysha Clark had 20 points and seven rebounds, and Stewart finished with a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds.

Another win over Seattle would set up a battle of unbeaten teams when Minnesota visits Los Angeles on Tuesday. The Lynx and Sparks will meet again Friday at the Target Center in Minneapolis.