NBA Finals odds jumping wild, too
The Toronto Raptors were an awful underdog a full day before the start of the NBA Finals. There were no takers, although a few adventurers offered to put a bet on Toronto on one condition: the Raptors need win only 3 of the required 4 play-off games to wrap it up.
This was the situation in the Mandaluyong City wet market sports hub earlier. Mandy, the shy big boss at the popular meat stall, has a wide-screen tv set overhead that operates year-round. NBA has been top fare through the years.
Mandy said there were other stray voters for Toronto, but they all asked for a plus-5 or plus-10 ready betting advantage.
After three NBA Finals matches, odds have been thrown in havoc. Choices have shifted wildly.
All they have to do is win one, coach Nick Nurse of Toronto remarked after they lost Game 2 of the NBA Finals at home. He sounded wholly confident.
Coach Nurse surprisingly sounded certain about striking back, following their Game 2 loss that saw the Toronto Raptors suffer a dismal scoring blackout starting the third quarter when they gave up 18 unanswered points.
As expected, the smooth-operating Warriors were favored to spring a home court ambush in Game 3. This would never materialize.
Anyway, coach Steve Kerr of Golden State had readily bared how they tripped the Raptors right in Toronto to put the NBA Finals in a 1-all tie last Monday.
The secret was good defense. Not ordinary defense, Smothering Championship Defense.
Golden State, needless to say, was a solid double-your-money favorite out in the wet market sports hub before Game 3.
Coach Nurse had other quiet plans. He did not say it, but Nurse made sure to put emphasis on power, speed and physicality in Game 3.
Steph Curry had a heroic night, 47 points, but this was nullified by the Raptors who, at the peak, were able to put in 18 points in an 8-possession stretch.
As action heated up, mainly in the third quarter, Kerr plotted a repeat of his Game 2 ploy that caused the Raptors to soften and get scattered.
Try hard as they did, the Warriors could only get close as seven points (down).
The power-playing Raptors stood tall and firm to repulse the Warriors every inch of the way.
Kerr was caught sinking back in his seat, seeking solace from his bench assistants.
Nurse, fired up, was heard crying out orders to “make them miss more shots.”
Toronto proceeded from a solid start and poured it on with sustained speed and power on both ends.
The Raptors succeeded with balanced support from the entire lineup.
Can Golden State find source for emergency power, including extra fresh legs in Game 4?
Coach Kerr has refused to be shaken. But the best Golden State backers could do was pray for news on the general health of the entire bench.
There was no daring big bet on Golden State.
