EDITORIAL BY GRAYDON FOX

PRIZES:

1st Place: $50 Amazon gift card

2^nd Place: $20 Amazon gift card

3^rd-5^th Place: $10 Amazon gift card

If there are ties, a random drawing will determine the winner.

Top 5 Winners:

1. Will Deacon (350 points)
2. Shayler Levine (350 points)
3. Kenny Stinnett (300 points)
4. Robert Moore (300 points)
5. Robert F Yocum (300 points)

Overview:

On Friday, June 8^th, the Golden State Warriors will be on the road to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in game four of the NBA Finals.

The Warriors have a (3-0) series advantage.

The Crowd:  

“The Crowd” is projecting a final score of Warriors 106.7 – Cavaliers 104.3 with an over/under of 211.0.

Statistical Breakdown (2017-18 Playoffs):

Point differential: Warriors +9.4 > Cavaliers -0.7

Points per game: Warriors 110.6 > Cavaliers 101.9

Points allowed per game: Warriors 101.2 > Cavaliers 102.6

Field Goal Percentage Offense: Warriors 48.1% > Cavaliers 45.6%

Three Point Percentage: Warriors 35.6% > Cavaliers 33.3%

Field Goal Percentage Defense: Warriors 42.7% > Cavaliers 46.8%

Turnovers committed per game: Cavaliers 12.8 > Warriors 13.0

Turnovers forced per game: Warriors 13.7 > Cavaliers 11.9

Rebounds per game: Warriors 45.1 > Cavaliers 41.2

Assists per game: Warriors 26.1 > Cavaliers 19.1

Summary:

The Warriors take a commanding (3-0) series advantage after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 110-102 in game three.  Golden State shot 52% from the field and only turned the ball over 11 times.  Kevin Durant was incredible scoring 43 points on a very efficient 15 of 23 shooting while grabbing 13 rebounds and dishing out 7 assists.  It was an off night for Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson who combined for only 21 points on 7-27 shooting.  Draymond Green scored 10 points and had a team high 9 assists.  Andre Iguodala returned from injury scoring 8 points and the Warriors were (+14) with him on the floor.  Shaun Livington added 8 points of his own off the bench and finally missed a shot (4-5).  In the playoffs, the Warriors are averaging 110.6 points per game and allowing 101.2.

The Cavaliers played well once again but they are now down (0-3) as the talent gap is just too much to overcome.  The Cavaliers were held to 44% shooting and turned the ball over 13 times.  Cleveland actually outrebounded the Warriors by 15 but their poor shooting did them in on this night.  Lebron James scored 33 points but was an inefficient 13-28 from the field.  James also grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out 11 assists but was slowed by an ankle tweak.  Kevin Love had a double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds but he was largely a no show in the second half.  Rodney Hood, who hasn’t played meaningful minutes all series, scored 15 points off the bench and shot 7-11.  Jordan Clarkson was finally benched after his pitiful performance in the playoffs thus far and many have to wonder why it took Ty Lue so long to give Hood a shot.  This postseason, the Cavaliers are averaging 101.9 points per game and allowing 102.6.

Bottom Line:

Kevin Durant stepped up and put the team on his back on a night when the rest Warriors shot the ball poorly.  I expect a much better performance from Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry in game four and that spells trouble for the Cavaliers.  Lebron James basically has to score 40+ for Cleveland to even have a chance and that ankle tweak won’t help the cause.  The spirit of the Cavaliers has to be broken after tough losses in games one and three.  I expect the Warriors to complete the sweep and become back to back NBA Champions.

Contest Rules:

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