The NBA online Vegas betting sites are now getting a little consensus and a feel for Thursday night. In this article, we have our early NBA Thursday Top Picks for Game 5 of the Western Conference Final. Can Golden State finish off the Dallas Mavericks and advance to the final round?
The Golden State Warriors are a more solid favorite over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5. Yes, the scene shifts back again to California and the Chase Center. The Warriors showed dominance over Dallas in Games 1 and 2 of the Conference Final. More importantly, they came out in Game 2 and showed Game 1 was not a fluke. Even in their Game 4 loss to Dallas, the Mavericks did not feel safe in the fourth quarter.
Now, that is because the Warriors cut a 25+ point deficit down to single digits with a few minutes left in regulation. Did Golden State feel the need to push further? Apparently not. It honestly felt like the Warriors were almost toying with the Dallas Mavericks. Golden State possesses the look of a team that can finish off Dallas any time they want and that time appears to be Thursday night at home.
So, Golden State allowed 119 points to Dallas on Tuesday night. That was unexpected. Furthermore, there seems to be a sort of pattern where the Warriors adjust in odd-numbered games. In games 1 and 3, they allowed a mere 87 and 100 points respectively. Games 2 and 4 saw Dallas rake in 117 and 119 points. In those games, Dallas generated more pace, particularly in the first halves. Then, Golden State mounted a fourth-quarter charge.
Therefore, NBA Thursday Top Picks focuses on this fundamental question. Does Golden State win and finish off the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5?
No one should be in disbelief that the Golden State Moneyline has less value again on Thursday night. One never truly can gauge Golden State except for Golden State. All anyone knows is that few teams can turn on the heat quite like the Warriors. A chance to close out the Dallas Mavericks at home and get some extra rest should be all the motivation needed on Thursday night.
Now, can Golden State mine that defensive intensity with consistent pace and offense. Again, the Warriors do not have to outscore opponents to win games. That 39-point fourth quarter was their game-high but was just a clinic as the Warriors turned in a mercurial clinic on defense during the final stanza and scared the Mavericks at least a little bit. Basically, Golden State, with their bench and depth, was able to take Dallas up and down the court and score at will.
This series expects to end with a Golden State win tonight. Dallas and Jason Kidd will have a tougher time getting opportunities for Doncic and company being on the road. After all, Steve Kerr started to tweak the Warrior’s 3-2 zone in the fourth quarter with much success. Once the starters buy into this and make a few additions, that could spell curtains for the Mavericks.
Golden State keeps Dallas swinging on the gallows’ pole. If Dallas does not improve their paint presence in Golden State, they will have issues. Dallas hit 20 three-pointers in Game 4 and shot 46% from the distance. Expect that percentage to drop some on Friday. Honestly, the home song likely continues from a win and loss standpoint as the Golden State moneyline remains one of the safer NBA Thursday Top Picks despite a slight drop (-260 to -310).
The NBA Thursday Top Picks for this Western Conference Final does not have that feeling of a long series heading to six or seven games. It feels more like a series where Golden State can finish them off at any time. Golden State feeds off their crowd, particularly their starters including Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and company. It can be something to watch and something that leaves the opposition almost mesmerized.
Again, Game 4 was a weird sort of game where Jordan Poole got in foul trouble often. Golden State missed a ton of shots in the first and third quarters in particular. Simply, it took a lot of things to go wrong for the Warriors to end up in a 29-point hole. The fact they dug out of it and instilled a seed of doubt in Dallas just illustrates the point that Dallas is not long for this series.
Dallas could shoot very well from the field as they did in Game 2 but when Golden State makes their inevitable run on Thursday. That run will be followed by a knockout punch of sorts. Stephen Curry will score more than 20 points in this contest and will take more than 16 shots from the field. Curry can put the team on his back and let the rest feed off his example. The feeling is Luka Doncic does not have the same depth to lean on when the onslaught hits.
For the NBA Thursday Top Picks’ best bet, our pick is to take the Golden State Warriors and the easy to digest 7-point spread. After all, that offers a much better number at -110.
MyBookie expects the Golden State-Dallas Game 5 to reach a final crescendo. Now, the over/under here is still 52 points for the final quarter. That is reasonable.
Naturally, expect a huge Golden State fourth-quarter push. Once more, our pick is the Over at 52 points as another Thursday Night Top Pick.
Do not forget about some good NHL Playoff odds where you can wager a bit more money.
