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Stanley Cup Finals preview: Coaching changes boosted Sharks, Penguins
By Alan Robinson, The Sports Xchange

PITTSBURGH -- The stars weren't producing, the on-ice chemistry wasn't there and the organization felt the coach needed to go. The San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins reached similar conclusions only months apart.
On Monday night, two successful franchises -- one with three NHL championships on its resume, the other seeking its first -- will play Game 1 of a Stanley Cup finals that neither team realistically expected to reach not that long ago.
The Penguins, barely above .500 and skating on thin ice with the unproven Mike Johnston as coach, made a move in mid-December and brought in their top minor league coach, Mike Sullivan, as head coach. They are 45-22-5 since then.
Now they are trying now to replicate what they did in 2009, when they fired Michel Therrien as coach at midseason and promoted minor league coach Dan Bylsma. Four months later, they won the Stanley Cup.
"This probably wasn't the scenario I envisioned, to get (to the finals) this quickly," Sullivan said Sunday. "We've been determined to make every day count (since he was hired)."
And to make every player count.
The Penguins, going against their long-standing tradition of leaning heavily on stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin at every critical juncture of a season or a game, cut their playing time -- especially Malkin's at times -- as Sullivan rolled four lines with the kind of depth they lacked since reaching back-to-back Cup finals in 2008 and 2009.
"You see it every day -- he brings a lot of energy, a lot of passion," said right wing Bryan Rust, who played part of the season for Sullivan at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL). Rust scored both Penguins goals in a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday.
For the Sharks, their turnaround began at the end of last season, when the franchise's leader in career coaching wins, Todd McLellan, was fired after going 40-33-9. New coach Peter DeBoer, who formerly coached the Florida Panthers and New Jersey Devils, brought in a system that emphasized pressuring the opponent and giving the team's stars the time and space to make plays.
The Sharks went on to go 46-30-6 as new players made significant contributions -- new goalie Martin Jones won 37 games -- and longtime franchise icon Joe Thornton went from producing 65 points and being a minus-4 to getting 82 points and being a plus-25 this season. Linemate Joe Pavelski leads the NHL with 13 playoff goals.
"We just get out of (Thornton's way) and see a spot on the ice and go to it, and he finds us and we score goals," linemate Tomas Hertl said of how Thornton creates plays for him and Pavelski.
The Sharks know they must slow the Pittsburgh speed that improved significantly this season with the infusion of a half-dozen players from the minors and longtime Maple Leafs forward Phil Kessel (nine playoff goals). That high-grade speed helped the Penguins eliminate their perennial playoff nemesis Rangers, the NHL regular-season leading Washington Capitals and the defending Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning.
"You have to make a group effort to be conscious with the puck ... you can't be trying to make (unwise) plays to the middle where it can feed that speed," Pavelski said. "We need to lay pucks in, get pucks out, simple things we have control over."
The Sharks also will lean on shutdown defensemen Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Justin Brown to slow Crosby, who has one goal in 10 career games against them. But the Penguins' depth is superior to that of any Western Conference team San Jose met in the playoffs. Pittsburgh's No. 3 line of Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino and Kessel is its most productive.
As Sharks defenseman Paul Martin pointed out, the Penguins have only four forwards remaining from the teams he played on the previous five seasons.
The goaltender matchup is one of the most intriguing in NHL history -- the 26-year-old Jones, a former Los Angeles Kings backup who never was a full-time starter until this season with San Jose, against 22-year-old Matt Murray, who is 11-4 while appearing in more NHL playoff games (15) than regular-season games (13).
The teams met twice in 10 days during the regular season, with the Sharks winning 3-1 in Pittsburgh on Nov. 21, but the Penguins winning 5-1 in San Jose on Dec. 1. They have faced each other only 35 times in the last 25 regular seasons.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Stanley Cup Series Odds

Home Team listed first - Best of 7 Games (2-2-1-1-1)
(Opening Odds in parentheses)

Stanley Cup Finals

Pittsburgh vs. San Jose
Penguins (-145)
Sharks (+125)


Exact Game Props - Prior to Series (5/27/16)

Penguins vs. Sharks
7 Games Penguins Win 13/4
6 Games Penguins Win 7/2
6 Games Sharks Win 7/2
5 Games Penguins Win 4/1
7 Games Sharks Win 9/2
5 Games Sharks Win 15/2
4 Games Penguins Win 9/1
4 Games Sharks Win 12/1

Odds Subject to Change

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Stanley Cup Final
By Alex Smith

Pittsburgh Penguins vs San Jose Sharks

2015-16 Regular Season Head-to-Head Meetings
December 1st, 2015: Penguins 5 at Sharks 1 (-125) (Over 5)
November 21st, 2015: Sharks 3 at Penguins 1 (-120) (Under 5)

Pittsburgh Penguins
-- First SCF since 2009 (Beat Detroit in 7)
-- 12-6 SU, 9-5-4 O/U, 9-9 ATS
-- Home Record: 7-3
-- Road Record: 5-3

Power Play: 23.4% (15 for 64)
Penalty Kill: 83.6% (46 for 55)

Starting Goalie:

Matt Murray: 11-4, 2.21 G.A.A; .924 Sv% with 1 Shutout
19-8 SU in 27 GS (Season & Playoffs combined)
Lifetime Record vs SJ: First-Ever Meeting

Pittsburgh Recent Trends
-- 18-7 SU Last 25 Games Overall
-- 10-3 SU Last 13 Home Games
-- 10-4 SU Last 14 Games as a Favorite
-- 9-5-4 O/U Last 18 Games Overall

San Jose Sharks
-- First Ever SCF Appearance
-- 12-6 SU, 9-5-4 O/U, 11-7 ATS
-- Home Record: 7-2
-- Road Record: 5-4

Power Play: 27% (17 for 63)
Penalty Kill: 80.4% (41 for 51)

Starting Goalie:

Martin Jones: 12-6, 2.12 G.A.A; .919 Sv% with 3 Shutouts
Lifetime Record vs PIT: 2-2, 2.37 G.A.A; .923 Sv% in 5 GP

San Jose Recent Trends
-- On a 12-6 SU Run Last 18 Games Overall
-- Over is 7-3-3 Last 13 Games Overall
-- 6-1 ATS Last 7 Games on the Puck-Line
-- 8-2 SU Last 10 Home Games
-- 12-5 SU Last 17 Road Games

STANLEY CUP FINALS BETTING TRENDS

-- Home Favorites in Game 1 are 6-1 SU, 1-6 PL, 2-4-1 O/U
-- 5 of the Last 7 Stanley Cup Winners clinched on Road
-- Home Teams are 31-11 SU Last 6 SCF's -- Puck-Line Underdogs are 17-6 PL
-- Game 1 Winners have won the Stanley Cup in 4 of the last 7 SCF
-- Favorites are 8-3 SU Last 11 OT Games

STANLEY CUP FINALS NOTES (2009-2015)

2015 - Chicago vs Tampa Bay (Blackhawks win in 6)
2-4 Favorites, 4-2 Home, 1-5 PL Favorites, 1-5 O/U
No OT Games (First Series since 2009)
Series ends with Home Favorite win
1st Game: Road Underdog wins, Total UNDER 5

2014 - LA Kings vs NY Rangers (Kings win in 5)
4-1 Favorites, 4-1 Home, 1-4 PL Favorites, 1-2-2 O/U
3 Games in OT. Series ends in OT with Home Win
1st Game: Home Favorite Wins, Total Pushes 5

2013 - Chicago vs Boston (Blackhawks win in 6)
3-3 Favorites, 3-3 Home, 2-4 PL Favorites, 3-3 O/U
3 Games in OT, Series ends with Road Dog Win
1st Game: Home Favorite Wins, Total OVER 5

2012 - LA Kings vs NJ Devils (Kings win in 6)
4-2 Favorites, 3-3 Home, 2-4 PL Favorites, 1-5 O/U
2 Games in OT, Series ends with Road Favorite Win
1st Game: Home Favorite Wins, Total UNDER 5

2011 - Vancouver vs Boston (Bruins win in 7)
6-1 Favorites, 6-1 Home, 3-4 PL Favorites, 2-4-1 O/U
One OT Game, Series ends with Road Underdog Win
1st Game: Home Favorite Wins, Total UNDER 5.5

NOTE: 2011 Game 1 is the Last SCF game to have a 5.5 total
(23 game streak with 5 - Record: 7-13-3 O/U)

2010 - Chicago vs Philadelphia (Blackhawks win in 6)
6-0 Favorites, 5-1 Home, 2-4 PL Favorites, 5-1 O/U
2 OT Games, Series ends with Road Favorite Win
1st Game: Home Favorite Wins, Total OVER 5.5

2009 - Detroit vs Pittsburgh (Penguins win in 7)
6-1 Favorites, 6-1 Home, 5-2 PL Favorites, 2-5 O/U
No OT Games*, Series ends with Road Underdog Win
1st Game: Home Favorite Wins, Total UNDER 6

Series Price
Sharks +105
Penguins -125

Exact Games - Series winner
4 Games Penguins Win 17/2
4 Games Sharks Win 14/1
5 Games Penguins Win 7/2
5 Games Sharks Win 15/2
6 Games Penguins Win 4/1
6 Games Sharks Win 4/1
7 Games Penguins Win 7/2
7 Games Sharks Win 5/1

Exact Games
4 Games 5/1
5 Games 9/4
6 Games 7/4
7 Games 9/5

Odds Subject to Change

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Do teams making their Stanley Cup debut win it all?
By ANDREW CALEY

Breath easy San Jose Sharks fans. No one can ever say you couldn't make it to the Stanley Cup Finals anymore.

Following Wednesday's 5-2 win over the St. Louis Blues in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals, the Sharks advanced to the Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history, becoming the first team to make their Stanley Cup debut since the 2006-07 Ottawa Senators.

So with that monkey off their back, the Sharks' focus shifts to the final task. The Stanley Cup.

But will the Sharks' inexperience, when it comes to the final round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, bite them (no pun intended) in the butt?

The Sharks are the eighth team since 1995-96 to make their Stanley Cup debut and in the previous seven occasions, a Stanley Cup rookie has hoisted the iconic trophy just twice. And one of those times it was only because two first-timers squared off for the Cup, when the Colorado Avalanche faced off against the Florida Panthers in 1995-96.

The last Stanley Cup rookie to win the Cup was the 2003-04 Tampa Bay Lightning, who defeated the Calgary Flames in seven games.

The most concerning thing for bettors about the Sharks' first time visit to the final round of the NHL playoffs, is just how few total games Stanley Cup rookies have won.

Since 1995-96 teams making their Stanley Cup debut are a combined 13-23 (36.1 percent) in the final round and have won Game 1 of the series just twice. Meaning when it comes to totals, these teams making their first Stanley Cup appearance have been a decent under bet, going 20-13-3 (60.6 percent) in those series.

So it's not out of the question that the Sharks can hoist the Cup at the end of this series, but the numbers aren't necessarily in their favor.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Monday's NHL Stanley Cup finals Game 1 betting preview: Sharks at Penguins

San Jose Sharks at Pittsburgh Penguins (A: +135, H: -155, O/U: 5.5)

Series tied 0-0

Although the nickname implies otherwise, superstar Sidney Crosby is no longer a kid as he leads the Pittsburgh Penguins into the Stanley Cup Finals for the third time in his 11-year tenure. While Crosby has a championship on his resume, the San Jose Sharks are in the Cup Finals for the first time beginning with Game 1 of the best-of-7 series Monday in Pittsburgh.

Crosby and fellow center Evgeni Malkin form one of the most lethal 1-2 combinations in the world, but the Penguins have relied on a deep and balanced roster to reach the Finals for the first time since winning the Cup in 2008-09. "We know how tough an opponent this is," Sharks coach Peter DeBoer told reporters. "They've got two of the best players in the world. They're a deep team. It's a great challenge for us." San Jose poses a daunting challenge as well, after scoring at least five goals in six of its 18 postseason games behind an imposing power play and a high-scoring No. 1 line led by captain Joe Pavelski. Both teams rely on speed -- "It's going to be fast hockey," Crosby acknowledged -- and feature head coaches and starting netminders who weren't with their respective clubs last season.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, TVAS

PROBABLE GOALIES:

Sharks - Martin Jones (W/L: 12-6, GAA: 2.12, SAVE %: .918)

Penguins - Matt Murray (W/L: 11-4, GAA: 2.22, SAVE %: .927)

ABOUT THE SHARKS (58-33-9, 51-38 O/U): San Jose brought in DeBoer and made wholesale changes to the roster after failing to make the playoffs for the first time in 11 seasons and the results have been impressive -- all but one of the team's victories in the last two rounds of the postseason have been by a margin of at least three goals. Pavelski has been immense with a playoff-best 13 goals while playing alongside veteran Joe Thornton (15 assists) and Tomas Hertl, as has a power-play unit that has converted on 17-of-63 chances. Defenseman Brent Burns is third in the postseason with 20 points, trailing only Pavelski and Logan Couture, who leads all players with 24 points and 16 assists. Offseason acquisition Martin Jones has registered three shutouts in the last seven games.

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (60-30-10, 45-37 O/U): While Crosby and Malkin each have 15 points, the team's leader is Phil Kessel, who has scored nine goals among his 18 points and is another reason why DeBoer calls the Penguins the "fastest team in the league." Linemate Nick Bonino, who has a team-high 12 assists, missed practice Sunday after he was hurt in Game 7 versus Tampa Bay, but coach Mike Sullivan insisted he "will be fine" for the series opener. Malkin's production has risen since he was paired with rookie speedster Bryan Rust, who scored both goals to eliminate the Lightning. Sullivan, promoted after Mike Johnston was fired in December, started Marc-Andre Fleury in Game 5 versus Tampa Bay before turning back to rookie netminder Matt Murray, who is 11-4-0 in the playoffs.

TRENDS:

* Sharks are 10-1 in their last 11 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
* Penguins are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. Western Conference.
* Over is 5-1-1 in Sharks last 7 vs. Metropolitan.
* Over is 6-1 in Penguins last 7 vs. Western Conference.
* Under is 5-1-1 in the last 7 meetings in Pittsburgh.

CONSENSUS: At the time of this preview, the Pittsburgh Penguins are grabbing 61 percent of the public picks and Over 5.5 is leading the way in totals wagering at 54 percent.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Sharks (46-30) at Penguins (48-26)

Date: May 30, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

PITTSBURGH (AP) It wasn't supposed to take the San Jose Sharks this long to reach their first Stanley Cup Final. It wasn't supposed to take this long for Sidney Crosby to guide the Pittsburgh Penguins back to a destination many figured they'd become a fixture at after winning it all in 2009.

Not that either side is complaining.

Certainly not the Sharks, whose nearly quarter-century wait to play on the NHL's biggest stage will finally end Monday night when the puck drops for Game 1. Certainly not Crosby, who raised the Cup after beating Detroit seven years ago but has spent a significant portion of the interim dealing with concussions that threatened to derail his career and fending off criticism as the thoughtful captain of a team whose explosiveness during the regular season too often failed to translate into regular mid-June parade through the heart of the city.

Maybe the Penguins should have returned to the Cup Final before now. The fact they didn't makes the bumpy path the franchise and its superstar captain took to get here seem worth it.

"I think I appreciated it prior to going through some of those things," Crosby said. "I think now having gone through those things I definitely appreciate it more. I think I realize how tough it is to get to this point."

It's a sentiment not lost on the Sharks, who became one of the NHL's most consistent winners shortly after coming into the league in 1991. Yet spring after spring, optimism would morph into disappointment. The nadir came in 2014, when a 3-0 lead over Los Angeles in the first round somehow turned into a 4-3 loss. The collapse sent the Sharks into a spiral that took a full year to recover from, one that in some ways sowed the seeds for a breakthrough more than two decades in the making.

General manager Doug Wilson tweaked the roster around fixtures Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton, who remained hopeful San Jose's window for success hadn't shut completely even as the postseason meltdowns piled up.

"I always believed that next year was going to be the year, I really did," Thornton said. "I always thought we were a couple pieces away. Even last year not making the playoffs, I honestly thought we were a couple pieces away, and here we are."

The Penguins, like the Sharks, are a study in near instant alchemy. General manager Jim Rutherford rebuilt the team on the fly after taking over in June, 2014 and with the team sleepwalking last December, fired respected-but-hardly-charismatic Mike Johnston and replaced him with the decidedly harder-edged Mike Sullivan. The results were nearly instantaneous.

Freed to play to its strengths instead of guarding against its weaknesses, Pittsburgh rocketed through the second half of the season and showed the resilience it has sometimes lacked during Crosby's tenure by rallying from a 3-2 deficit against Tampa Bay in the Eastern Conference finals, dominating Games 6 and 7 to finally earn a shot at bookending the Cup that was supposed to give birth to a dynasty but instead led to years of frustration.

True catharsis for one side is four wins away. Some things to look for over the next two weeks of what promises to be an entertaining final.

FRESH FACES: When the season began, Matt Murray was in the minor leagues. Now the 22-year-old who was supposed to be Pittsburgh's goalie of the future is now very much the goalie of the present. Pressed into action when veteran Marc-Andre Fleury suffered a concussion on March 31, Murray held onto the job even after Fleury returned by playing with the steady hand of a guy in his 10th postseason, not his first. San Jose counterpart Martin Jones served as Jonathan Quick's backup when the Kings won it all in 2014 and has thrived while playing behind a defense that sometimes doesn't give him much to do. Jones has faced over 30 shots just four times during the playoffs.

"HBK" IS H-O-T: Pittsburgh's best line during the playoffs isn't the one centered by Crosby or Malkin but Nick Bonino, who has teamed with Phil Kessel and Carl Hagelin to produce 17 goals and 28 assists in 18 games. Put together when Malkin missed six weeks with an elbow injury, the trio has given the Penguins the balance they desperately needed after years of being too reliant on their stars for production.

POWERFUL SHARKS: San Jose's brilliant run to the Finals has been spearheaded by a power play that is converting on 27 percent (17 of 63) of its chances during the playoffs. The Sharks are 9-2 when they score with the man advantage and just 3-4 when it does not.

OLD MEN AND THE C(UP): Both teams have relied heavily on players who began their NHL careers in another millennium. Pittsburgh center Matt Cullen, who turns 40 in November, has four goals during the playoffs. Thornton and Marleau, both 36, were taken with the top two picks in the 1997 draft that was held in Pittsburgh while 37-year-old Dainius Zubrus draws stares from younger teammates when he tells them he used to play against Hall of Famer (and current Penguins owner) Mario Lemieux.

"When I say 'Twenty years ago I was playing against Lemieux, they say 'I was 2-years-old,'" Zubrus said.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NHL

San Jose-Pittsburgh
Sharks are in Stanley Cup finals for first time; Penguins are in for first time since winning Cup in 2009, its third Cup title. San Jose won six of last nine games with Pittsburgh; they split last four visits here. Five of last ten series games went OT, four to shootout- three of last four stayed under. Both teams are well-rested; Sharks had five days off, Penguins four. San Jose won its last two games in St Louis after losing three in row on road before that; over is 6-3-1 in their last ten games. Pitt split last four games; two of those four games went OT. Four of last five Penguin games went over total.

Playoffs tally: 1st round-- Home: 23-24, Over: 16-17-14
2nd round-- Home: 16-9, Over: 11-5-9
Conference finals-- Home 6-7, Over 7-5-1

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA notebook: Warriors in position to finish comeback
By The Sports Xchange

The Oklahoma City Thunder will need to regroup quickly after a crushing loss to the Golden State Warriors that forced a Game 7 of the Western Conference finals on Monday night.
Klay Thompson scored a game-high 41 points -- setting the NBA playoff record with 11 3-pointers -- to rally the Warriors to a 108-101 victory on the road at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Saturday night to hold off elimination.
"I should have had at least 13 (threes) because I missed some wide-open looks early," Thompson said after the win that helped the defending champions extend their historic season. Feels good to own a record, but it will feel much better if we close them out on Monday."
The Thunder were 12 minutes from the NBA Finals -- they led by eight after three quarters and by seven with six minutes left.
But there was just too much at the end in Game 6 from Thompson and Stephen Curry.
Thompson went 11 of 18 from beyond the 3-point line, and his record-setting 10th made 3 was a straightaway 28-footer over Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook that pulled the Warriors within four points with 4 minutes, 57 seconds remaining. Thompson's last 3-pointer was a 25-footer in transition from the right wing that gave Golden State the lead for good with 1:23 remaining.
Thompson scored 19 points in the fourth to carry the 73-win Warriors to a comeback from an eight-point deficit to win for the second straight game after digging themselves a 3-1 deficit.
"Obviously, Klay Thompson was ridiculous," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "I mean, the shooting was some of the most incredible shooting you'll ever see."

--The NBA corrected the point total of Warriors guard Stephen Curry in Game 6 from 29 to 31.
His last basket in Saturday's victory over the Thunder was mistakenly credited to Draymond Green, but the error was corrected Sunday.
A two-point change in a player's scoring total may not seem important, but the over/under in Las Vegas for Curry's total in that game was 30.5.
Curry's 31 points made the "over" the winning bet, so bettors who had thought they won actually lost, and betters who thought they had lost actually won.
It is unclear how the sports books handle this kind of scenario.

--The Memphis Grizzlies officially named Miami Heat assistant coach David Fizdale as the Grizzlies' new head coach on Sunday.
The team did not provide details of Fizdale's contract, but the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported that Fizdale signed a three-year contract with a team option for a fourth year.
Fizdale, 41, has never been a head coach before. He replaces Dave Joerger, who was fired after last season and subsequently became coach of the Sacramento Kings.
"I am extremely excited to be in Memphis and really looking forward to building a legacy with this talented group of players," Fizdale said in a statement.
Fizdale has been an assistant for the Heat for the past eight seasons. He also has been an NBA assistant coach with the Warriors and Atlanta Hawks. He served stints as a college assistant coach at the University of San Diego and Fresno State.

--The Heat and All-Star forward Chris Bosh reportedly clashed over how to treat his blood clot condition, according to the Miami Herald.
Bosh, 32, didn't play after the All-Star break but was hoping to return during the playoffs. The Heat resisted his intentions to play due to the dangers of competing while taking blood thinners.
Bosh's representatives reportedly pitched a proposal in which Bosh would take the blood-thinning medication early in the day so the medication would be out of his system by game time. They said blood tests revealed the medicine would be out of his system 8 to 12 hours after being taken.
Miami and its team doctors were opposed to the idea due to the possibility of Bosh suffering a hard fall or something occurring that would cause him to bleed internally during a contest.
The Heat said they wouldn't allow Bosh to return until he was 100 percent.
Bosh and the Heat finally agreed on May 4 that he wouldn't play in the postseason. This was the second straight season that Bosh didn't finish due to blood clot issues.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA Playoffs - Game 7 Facts

Game 7 Quick Facts

-- The NBA has had 124 Game 7’s in playoff history

-- The home team is 100-24 (80%) in those games

-- This year's NBA playoffs have had three Game 7's thus far and the home team has won all three games, two of thie 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

-- 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.

Oklahoma City Game 7 Recent History
2011 Western Conference Semifinals
Oklahoma City 105 vs. Memphis 90

2014 Western Conference First Round
Oklahoma City 120 vs. Memphis 109

Golden State Game 7 Recent History
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

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Monday's NBA Conference Finals Game 7 betting preview and odds: Thunder at Warriors

Oklahoma City Thunder at Golden State Warriors (-7, 218)

Series tied 3-3

The Golden State Warriors turned to their stars down the stretch in Game 6, and Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry delivered a Game 7. The Warriors will have the chance to close out the Western Conference finals and advance to the NBA Finals for the second straight year when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 on Monday.

Golden State looked beaten and broken after getting crushed in Games 3 and 4 to fall into a 3-1 hole in the series, but a tough win at home in Game 5 coupled with a transcendent performance from Thompson in Game 6 knotted it back at three wins apiece. “We played for each other,” Thompson told reporters after burying an NBA playoff-record 11 3-pointers in the 108-101 win. “… It was just so much fun to play with the fire and emotion we did for the whole 48 minutes.” The Thunder held a seven-point lead with five minutes left on Sunday but were outscored 19-5 the rest of the way and committed six turnovers in that span. “I felt like we didn’t do a great job coming down the stretch,” Oklahoma City coach Billy Donovan told reporters. “We got a little stagnant coming down the stretch. Defensively, we were a little bit late, but they made some tough shots and made some plays.”

TV: 9 p.m. ET, TNT

LINE HISTORY: The Warriors opened as 7.5-point favorites at most shops immediately following Game 6 on Saturday night, however, after only a couple of hours at that number the line was moved back to -7. The total opened at 219 but the public bet the Under and forced the books to lower the number by by a full point down to 218.

ABOUT THE THUNDER (66-33, 47-51-1 ATS, 47-52 O/U): Oklahoma City already has one win at Golden State under its belt in the series and believes it can overcome the devastation of dropping Game 6 at home. “We know exactly what they do, they know exactly what we do,” Kevin Durant told. “It’s just a matter of who wants it more. Both teams went out there and played extremely hard (in Game 6). They made more shots than we did, especially from the three. That’s the name of the game.” Durant and Russell Westbrook combined for 57 points but went 1-of-13 from 3-point range in the loss and 3-of-14 from the field in the fourth quarter.

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (84-14, 55-41-2 ATS, 52-45-1 O/U): Golden State outscored the Thunder 63-9 from 3-point range led by Thompson, who buried a flat-footed 3-pointer from over 28 feet away at the top of the key and nailed another in transition to provide the go-ahead bucket in the late-game surge. "Obviously, Klay Thompson was ridiculous," Golden State coach Steve Kerr told reporters. "The shooting was some of the most incredible shooting you'll ever see." Curry added 29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists and found his shot late with a pair of 3-pointers and a runner on the right side of the lane that sealed it in the final seconds.

TRENDS:

* Thunder are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight up loss.
* Warriors are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 home games.
* Under is 5-1 in Thunder last 6 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
* Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Golden State.
* Thunder are 1-6 ATS in the last 7 meetings in Golden State.

CONSENSUS: The early returns for the Consensus are showing a 50/50 split on the point spread and 65 percent of wagers on the Over.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Game 7 - Thunder at Warriors

The NBA was granted one of its wishes with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers making the Finals for a second straight season. The second wish came true when the Warriors extended the Western Conference Finals to a pivotal Game 7 against the Thunder, setting up for an epic finale of this series at Oracle Arena.

Oklahoma City seemed in control of the conference finals less than a week ago when Billy Donovan’s squad held a 3-1 advantage over the defending champions. The Warriors pulled away from the Thunder in Game 5 at Oracle Arena, 120-111 to cash as seven-point favorites and improve to 13-1 off a loss this season. Golden State rallied past Oklahoma City in Game 6 at Chesapeake Energy Arena to even up the Western Conference Finals at 3-3 as the Warriors turned to the “Splash Brothers” to save their season.

The Warriors erased a 13-point deficit in Saturday’s 108-101 triumph as three-point road underdogs thanks to outscoring the Thunder, 33-18 in the fourth quarter. Klay Thompson drilled a playoff-record 11 treys and scored 41 points as Golden State extended its streak to 10 consecutive postseason series with at least one road victory. Stephen Curry heated up in the second half to contribute 31 points as the Warriors’ dynamic duo combined to hit 17-of-32 shots from downtown. Golden State connected on 21-of-45 attempts from three-point range, even though only three Warriors scored in double-figures (Draymond Green scored 12 points).

Obviously Oklahoma City has to feel like this series has slipped through its fingers following the Game 6 meltdown, as the Thunder managed to hit on only 3-of-23 shots from long distance. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combined to go 1-of-13 from three-point range, but the two Thunder stars put up 57 of Oklahoma City’s 101 points. Durant missed 21 shots from the floor following his 40-point effort in Game 5, while attempting 31 shots in each of the last two games (22-of-62). The Thunder didn’t get much help from its bench in Game 6, receiving 11 points as the only player to log more than 10 minutes was Dion Waiters, who scored just three points in 36 minutes.

Nine teams in NBA postseason history have erased a 3-1 series deficit to capture a series victory with the Rockets being the last to do so in the 2015 conference semifinals against the Clippers. The last time a team squandered a 3-1 series advantage but ended up winning Game 7 was the Bulls over the Nets in the 2013 opening round, as Chicago won outright as 7 ½-point road underdogs, 99-93.

Home clubs have fared well in the history of Game 7, owning a 100-24 record (80%) since 1948. In the past four postseasons, home teams have compiled an 11-2 SU and 8-5 ATS mark in Game 7’s, including a 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS mark in the 2016 playoffs. Steve Kerr hasn’t coached in a Game 7 of the playoffs in his short career as head coach of the Warriors, as the last Game 7 that Golden State played in came in the 2014 opening round. The Warriors fell to the Clippers, 126-121, but covered as seven-point underdogs.

NBA expert Chris David provides his thoughts for Monday’s decisive contest, “If you’re handicapping this matchup based on Game 7 history and seasonal trends, it’s hard to go against Golden State. Including the playoffs, Oklahoma City has been a road underdog 16 times this season and it’s gone 4-12 in those games. They did manage to play competitive in three of the losses, which helped them go 7-9 against the spread. Golden State rarely lays less than a touchdown (-7) at home and when it does, it wins. The Warriors have gone 8-1 (89%) in these spots with the lone loss coming to the Thunder in Game 1 of this series. Golden State has covered five of those victories, three coming by double digits.”

Will the public jump off the OKC bandwagon following Saturday’s meltdown? “Those angles could easily have you leaning to the Warriors but if you bet on a regular basis, it’s never that easy and we saw what happened on Saturday with many so-called pundits penciling the Thunder into the NBA Finals already. While I don’t like to back teams off bad losses and it was ugly, I believe the value is with Oklahoma City in this spot and the line is inflated by a couple points. The Thunder have gone 5-3 on the road in the playoffs and Billy Donovan’s team has played well when facing adversity. During the regular season, the team went 7-1 off back-to-back losses and the lone three-game losing streak occurred back in early November,” David says.

After seeing totals range between 219 ½ and 225 in the first six games of this series, oddsmakers sent out an opener of 219 for Game 7 and some savvy bettors knocked it down to 218. “I agree with the early move and history tells us that it’s rare to see both teams eclipse 100-plus points in decisive matchups. While both clubs certainly have the ability to light up the scoreboard, I don’t see the pace being fast and expect possessions to be played at a premium. In Oklahoma City’s four wins as road underdogs this season, it allowed 102, 91, 97 and 89 points. The ‘under’ cashed easily in all four of those wins and went 11-5 overall when the Thunder were catching points on the road. Since I’m buying Oklahoma City with the points, I’ll also lean to the team total ‘under’ for Golden State (112 ½) and buy the game ‘under’ (218) as well,” David notes.

For the first time in the conference finals, we’ve seen home teams lose consecutive games following a 9-1 start by the four squads that played in this round. Cleveland knocked out Toronto in Game 6 on Friday night at Air Canada Center, followed by Golden State’s comeback victory over Oklahoma City on Saturday. Five of the last six close-out wins for the Warriors in the playoffs have come by nine points or more with the lowest margin of victory being four points in the second round against Portland.

In Saturday’s Game 6 preview written by David, he noted how impressive the home team has been in this series in the first quarter and first half. Those angles continued on Saturday as Oklahoma City led after the first 12 and 24 minutes.

Game 1 - 58-50 (27-21)
Game 2 - 72-53 (27-20)
Game 3 - 72-47 (34-28)
Game 4 - 57-49 (30-26)
Game 5 - 60-47 (25-21)
Game 6 – 53-48 (23-20)

Golden State is favored by 2 ½ points in the first quarter, while the Warriors are laying 4 ½ points in the first half. For the game, the Warriors are seven-point ‘chalk,’ as the total is sitting at 218. The contest tips off at 9:00 p.m. EST from Oracle Arena and can be seen on TNT.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Thunder (55-27) at Warriors (73-9)

Date: May 30, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) After a record 73 wins and a memorable Game 6 comeback on the road, the Golden State Warriors' goal of getting back to the NBA Finals and defending their title comes down to Game 7 at home against the powerful Oklahoma City Thunder.

All along, the Warriors have said the numerous team milestones and personal accomplishments they set during this special season won't matter a bit unless they repeat as champions.

They need one more victory to become the 10th team to rally from a 3-1 postseason deficit.

'I've learned that our players are tough, they're mentally tough,' Coach of the Year Steve Kerr said Sunday, when his team took a day off from film and practice. 'I don't know if I really learned that. I already knew that. But they've firmly confirmed that. It's been a great comeback. Now we still have to play. We still have another game.'

Kerr just wanted his Warriors to grab back some momentum from Kevin Durant and the Thunder. Now, they have it, all right, heading into the decisive game of the Western Conference finals Monday night after winning two straight.

When his team won Game 5 on Thursday night, MVP Stephen Curry hollered 'We ain't going home!' - and Golden State wants no part of the Thunder having the last say in the Warriors' summer plans.

'We got a big one last night to stay alive, and now we've got some momentum. But it can work in reverse,' Kerr said. 'One game changes everything, and we've got to come out and play our game and play well to finish the series out.'

Golden State hardly considers this a gimmee just because the team is playing at deafening Oracle Arena, where the Warriors have lost just three times this season. They have had their problems against Durant, Russell Westbrook and the towering Thunder.

Oklahoma City is fueled by trying to reach its first NBA Finals since losing to LeBron James and the Miami Heat in 2012. James and Cleveland are waiting on Monday's winner.

'It's going to be a hard game. If we thought tonight was hard, Game 7's going to be even tougher,' Curry said. 'Everybody on both sides of the ball is going to leave it all out on the floor. It's win or go home. So we can't expect just because we're at home that we can just show up and win.'

As has been the case all playoffs with Curry ailing, Golden State got a huge performance from Klay Thompson. He made a playoff-record 11 3-pointers and scored 41 points in a 108-101 win at Oklahoma City on Saturday night, and will need an encore Monday.

'Lot of people probably counted us out,' Thompson said.

Kerr said last week that his group might be different than the all the other teams that have tried to come back from 3-1 down: because the Warriors won it all last year.

The Thunder certainly would have preferred to close out the series at home over traveling back across the country to the Bay Area for the deciding game.

Yet they never expected it to be easy against the 2015 champs.

'This is what you dream about, getting this opportunity. We've got to take advantage of it,' Durant said Sunday. 'Go up into their building, and it's going to be great atmosphere. ... No matter where you play, you've still got to play. That's how we look at it.'

That's partly because first-year Thunder coach Billy Donovan has talked to his team about the mentality it takes to win in a hostile venue like raucous, sold-out Oracle Arena, and Oklahoma City came in and did it in Game 1.

'We lost Game 6, and it was a tough, hard-fought game,' Donovan said. 'We're disappointed about not having a different outcome. But we haven't lost the series, and we have an opportunity again. I think just being around these guys, they're a resilient group.'

Curry and the Warriors expect another entertaining, great game.

From an ankle injury that sidelined him in the first round against Houston to a sprained right knee and puffy elbow, Curry has dealt with his share of pain this postseason. He has to push that aside for what he hopes is one more game this series and then a second straight trip to the Finals and another championship.

'I actually kind of like it, because you understand the moment of the playoffs and just kind of gets you going,' he said. 'I'll be ready to go and give it everything I've got for Game 7.'

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

'Western Conference Finals'

Oklahoma City Thunder at Golden State Warriors May 30, 9:00 EST

Golden State Warriors behind Klay Thompson's playoff record 11 three-pointers scoring 41 points with Stephen Curry chipping in 29 points forced a seventh game in the Western Conference Final with 108-101 victory in Oklahoma City Saturday night.

Home-court is certainly something the defending Champions can tap into. Warriors were 39-2 (22-19 ATS) at home in regular season netting 116.3 points/game and enter this decisive game-seven 8-1 (7-2 ATS) on home court in second season dropping 114.0 per/contest.

Warriors thriving at the betting window during these playoffs as 7 to 9.5 point home chalk posting a profitable 6-1 record, 6-1 ATS last seven running the hardwood with Thunder in Oakland have opened -7 point favorites with the total set at 218.0.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

NBA

Oklahoma City-Golden State (3-3)
Thunder led this series 3-1, now need road win to advance; they won/covered once in last five visits to Oakland. Warriors scored 108+ pts (115.3 ppg) in its three wins. 105 or less (100.3 ppg) in its three series losses. Four of six games in series stayed under total. Warriors are 11-5 in playoffs after going 73-9 during year. Oklahoma City had 8-point lead in 4th quarter in Game 6, couldn't close out the defending champs. Westbrook/Durant were combined 20-58 (1-13 on arc) last game, who steps up if they are struggling?

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

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by Chatsworth Consortium at Scioto Downs

Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.


Race 3 - Post: 2:40 - 1 mile. PACE - Class Rating: 74 - Purse:$40000 - OHIO SIRES STAKES 3 YEAR OLD FILLIES JY.SMITH LISTED 3-4


CONSORTIUM CHOICES


Chatsworth Consortium

# 1 QUEEN ANN M 2/1


# 6 IT'S YOUR FANTASY 5/2


# 2 NPR NINE 6/1


Really keen on the chance of QUEEN ANN M taking down the winner's share today. The handicapping team gives this race horse a very good chance to take this race, class ratings are tops in the group of horses. IT'S YOUR FANTASY - Huge dividends over time for this driver/trainer combination. This standardbred is an obvious choice. Cannot put a finger on it, but strongly consider this filly for a wager. NPR NINE - Been running with some tougher customers of late, has a distinct class advantage. (Average Rating 67). With a good 74 speed rating last time out, will unquestionably be a factor in this race.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by Chatsworth Consortium at Saratoga Harness

Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.


Race 8 - Post: 2:35 - 1 mile. TROT - Class Rating: 73 - Purse:$7450 - WINNERS OF 2 BUT NOT MORE THAN 4


CONSORTIUM CHOICES


Chatsworth Consortium

# 6 CAROLINA CHARM 6/1


# 1 DRIVING ME LINDY 5/1


# 2 I'M CHIPTASTIC 8/1


The consensus in this contest is that CAROLINA CHARM is the one to beat. Hard to put finger on it, but give the nod to her in this contest. Pace stats fit the bias well here at Saratoga Harness, look for this one to get the victory. The consortium has Aldrich on its list of drivers who are blazing hot most recently. Last 30 days win rate is stellar. DRIVING ME LINDY - The 1 hole is on fire here at Saratoga Harness. More wins than you would expect. Hennessey has been winning with a flourish the last 30 days, winning at a very good 20 percent. I'M CHIPTASTIC - Achieved a 75 TrackMaster Speed Rating last out. A duplicate effort here should get the win in this event. This contender has been making trips to the winner's circle on a regular basis, look for her to make another appearance soon.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by The Walker Group at Canterbury Park

Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.


Race 5 - SO - 5.5f on the Dirt. Purse: $14500 Class Rating: 97

FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE STARTED FOR A CLAIMING PRICE OF $5,000 OR LESS IN 2015-2016 OR CLAIMING PRICE $7,500. THREE YEAR OLDS, 119 LBS.; OLDER, 123 LBS. NON-WINNERS OF A RACE SINCE APRIL 30 ALLOWED 2 LBS. A RACE SINCE MARCH 30 ALLOWED 4 LBS. CLAIMING PRICE $7,500. MINNESOTA BRED CLAIMING PRICE $12,500.


RECOMMENDED CHOICES

The Walker Group Picks

# 1 HALF DOME DUDE 2/1


# 3 WORLD FAMOUS SAM T 6/1


# 4 LEROIDESSIOUX 9/2


I've got to go with HALF DOME DUDE. He has earned respectable figs under today's conditions and will most likely fare well versus this group of horses. Ought to be considered in here if only for the formidable speed figure posted in the last contest. He has been running quite well and the speed figures are among the most respectable in this group. WORLD FAMOUS SAM T - His 91 average has this gelding with among the most respectable speed figures in this competition. He looks solid in this slot and I expect will be on the lead or close at the halfway point. LEROIDESSIOUX - Always seems to be close up at the finishing post. Earning some good money in dirt sprint contests.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by The Walker Group at Thistledown

Always check program numbers.
Odds shown are morning line odds.


Race 6 - Allowance - 6.0f on the Dirt. Purse: $30800 Class Rating: 77

FOR REGISTERED OHIO FOALS THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON A RACE OTHER THAN MAIDEN, CLAIMING OR STARTER OR WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES. THREE YEAR OLDS, 119 LBS.; OLDER, 122 LBS. NON-WINNERS OF A RACE SINCE APRIL 30 ALLOWED 2 LBS. A RACE SINCE MARCH 30 ALLOWED 4 LBS.


RECOMMENDED CHOICES

The Walker Group Picks

# 6 HONOR ROLL 7/2


# 1 MAGNUM MILLS 8/1


# 7 SPARK OF THE YEAR 6/1


HONOR ROLL is the top wager in this race. With Rivera in the saddle guiding him, this gelding will almost certainly be able to break out early in here. Should best this group of horses in this race here, showing formidable figs of late. Posted a very good Equibase speed fig last time out. MAGNUM MILLS - Looks very good against this group of horses and should be one of the early speedsters. Look for a sound performance with the class drop. SPARK OF THE YEAR - Is hard not to examine based on Equibase Speed Figures which have been formidable - 63 avg - of late. Strong average Equibase speed figs in dirt sprint races make this horse a solid choice.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Handicapped by The Turf Club Analysts

Bar

Belmont Park - Race #9 - Post: 5:45pm - Stakes - 8.0 furlongs on the Turf. Purse: $125,000 Class Rating: 109 Mount Vernon S.

Rating: Golden DollarGolden DollarGolden Dollar

#7 THE TEA CUPS (ML=8/1)
#2 DISTORTED BEAUTY (ML=4/1)
#9 NECK OF THE MOON (ML=3/1)


THE TEA CUPS - This mare runs very well off of a layoff. You always have to be on the lookout for profit making jockey/trainer duos; we have one right here. This one could be a possible overlay in this event at morning odds of 8/1. Finished eighth in last race at Belmont Park but was close at the finish. This mare gets a weight break of -8 pounds from last race. This certainly could make the difference in today's race. DISTORTED BEAUTY - Has run good races in the first or second starts back off of a layoff. I expect a lot from this race horse. Her speed ratings under similar conditions are tops in this field. Comes out of a last event against 'open' company on November 21st and faces what I believe are easier 'state breds' today. This thoroughbred loves the track here at Belmont Park. NECK OF THE MOON - Mare's last race was against tougher open company. She's in with easier 'state breds' today. Brown is strong in turf routes. This horse should have no allowances if she doesn't win. Dropping 5 pounds from last race. Could be a deciding factor today.

Vulnerable Contenders: #5 MAH JONG MADDNES (ML=5/1), #4 INVADING HUMOR (ML=6/1), #12 OLD HARBOR (ML=8/1),

MAH JONG MADDNES - Just can't invest in this pony. Didn't show me anything in the last race or on November 26th. Finished fifth in her most recent performance with a mediocre speed rating. When I look at today's class figure, it would take an improved performance to prove victorious after that in this field. INVADING HUMOR - This mare didn't race too well last time. OLD HARBOR - It appears like too much early speed is entered in this race. This speedball will almost certainly get roasted up front. Not probable that the speed rating she recorded on November 15th will hold up in this race.



STRAIGHT WAGERS:
#7 THE TEA CUPS to win at post-time odds of 9/2 or better

EXACTA WAGERS:
Box [2,7,9]

TRIFECTA WAGERS:
Box [2,7,9] Total Cost: $6