FIRST TAKE | Stephen A. Smith predicts to Game 7 Warriors vs Rockets: Steph Curry bounceback series?

FIRST TAKE | Stephen A. Smith predicts to Game 7 Warriors vs Rockets: Steph Curry bounceback series?

Speaking of game seven, the Rockets looking to complete a comeback from 3-1 down against Warriors in game seven tonight in Houston. So, let’s go by the numbers. Fred Van Vuit has been lights up from behind the arc, shooting 67% on three-pointers over the past three games. He’s made 18 three-pointers, the most in a three game span in Rockets postseason history. and Steph Curry over the same span not cooking averaging just under 20 uh shooting below 40% from the field including 1 for seven in the fourth of game six. But the chef has stepped up in game sevens in his career. Curry dropping 50 in his last game seven against the Kings in 2023, becoming the first player in NBA history to score 50 points in a seventh game. 13-year NBA vet Quinton Richardson and Anscape senior writer David Dennis Jr. back with us. David, we got a young and hungry team here playing at home against some vets who have been there, done that. So, what’s going to be the key to win this win or win or go home game? It’s about the two best players about Batman and Robin for the Warriors, about Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler. As you just mentioned, the Rockets haveounded Steph for the last three games or so. But we need that 50point Steph Curry that we got in that King series a few years ago. And we need that same Jimmy Butler that went into Boston and won a game seven and almost won another game seven the year prior to that because really the Warriors are running out of players. Pods, Buddy Heel, Gary Payton the second have been negatives in these last couple of games. They’re running out of options and people to make open threes. It’s got to be Stephan Jimmy Butler taking over offensively and Jimmy Butler taking over offensively and defensively for the Warriors to have a shot in this game seven. Yeah, I I can’t argue with that. On the flip side, David, man, that the Rockets, they they need they need Jaylen Green. They need that 38 point game player that that he was in um I think game two. And listen, Changon has been consistent. He’s been the guy. He’s been delivering for them and doing what he’s supposed to do. But Van Vleet these last three games, he’s been the difference maker. He he he’s been averaging upward of like 27 30 points and he’s been the guy that’s been pushing and driving force for them because Jaylen Green hasn’t been able to. But if they want to win this game seven, they going to need a big game out of Jaylen Green and they got to have the consistency they’ve been getting from Shane and Van Ble. All right, so the moment of truth over here. We we got to pick this game. So David, who wins? Man, there’s a very fine line between experience and old. I’m gonna lead with experience and the Warriors and hope that that carries them and they don’t go out there looking old in game seven. I think with Jimmy, Steph, Draymond, they find a way to pull this thing out. Yeah, I’m with double D. I got to go with the Warriors here. I got to go with the experience. And there’s no way I’m going to bet against that little light-skinned dude number 30 right now in the game seven. I I feel that, man. The Rockets are attempting to win their third series when trailing 3-1. The game tips off at 8:30 p.m. Eastern. go for a game seven to a game one. Pacers Cavaliers begin their series today. Q, how can the Cavs make their first conference finals appearance since 2018? Spider Mitchell. Spider Mitchell got to be big time. I think he’s a first team allNBA this year. He’s led this team this far and they they they’ve had one of the best records in the NBA. He’s shown that he has the ability to turn it on and take over when they needed to. Now they in the big dance, man. This is this is this is what they’ve been playing for the whole season to get to these playoffs to get to the promised land and to prove who they are and what they can do. This is the biggest stage. I feel like they got all of the pieces. They got a deep team and he’s at the head of the snake. I think they have a big series from him and he he leads the way. Absolutely with you with the Donovan Mitchell, but it’s the overall offense of that Cavs. I think led by Mitchell as you mentioned Q going out there and being as executing that halfcourt offense. that one of the best half court offense that we’ve seen in NBA history. What we know is that Pacers team is going to try to run you off the three-point line, but that leaves them kind of vulnerable in the paint. You have to attack that defense, get some shots, and make the Pacers pull the ball out of the hoop and get into their own half court offense because you don’t want that Pacers team flying up and down the court. And one of the ways they do that is make you miss uh make you miss shots, get rebounds, and get in transition. Get in that halfcourt offense and execute. And the Cavs should be able to win this series. Yeah, and to your point, double D, the Pacers are three and one versus the Cavs this season, and they have seen that side of of them, the Cavs. The game tips at 6 p.m. Eastern. Thanks, guys. This Young Rockets team showing some real poise on the road in a game that could end their season. Curry turns it over. Green down the other end, throws it down. The person who wants the ball more will get it. And right now, seems as if they want it more. Butler throws it right to Shangon. Back to Van Bleet. Puts up a three. That’s good. Van Bleet’s not hot. He’s scalding right now. This is shocking. Rockets dominating here with the fourth. A disappointing night for Steph Curry. Now, out of all times, this winter go home. So, it’s on us to make sure we get it done. Man, stage is set. Experience versus youth. Game seven tonight in Houston. Rockets 2 and 1/2 point favorites over the Warriors. Got the Eastern Conference. The Cavs host the Pacers in their second round series. Cleveland favored by 7 and a half. Game one uh is a minus 500 of course to win the series. So with that we bring in ESPN bet Aaron Dolan to dole us out some winners here. Let’s start with the Rockets uh the Warriors game seven. What do you like for playing in that? I’m going to go under 205 and a half and really buying into the game seven narrative of unders typically cashing. Now, that didn’t happen yesterday in Clippers Denver, but the unders in game sevens have cashed nearly over 60% of the time in the last two decades. Also going 14 and6 straight up since, of course, that happened since 2019. Now, in this series, we’ve seen the adjustment really come down from game one. It was 213 and 1/2 all the way down to now 205 and 1/2. I do believe this will be a slower pace game, so I’m going to go under 205 and a half. Also looking at Steph Curry to go over his par prop, which has come up from 37 1/2 to 38 and 1/2. He’s averaging 33 point. six rebounds and seven assists in five game sevens in his career. His par prop for the series is seen as low as 34 and a half and now of course in this game as high as 38 and a half because people are obviously relying on the experience of Steph Curry and I’m buying into that as well. So I’ll take him over his par prop and under for the game. Okay, so then we go from a game seven to a game one. What’s the play you like in that Pacers cab? So looking at Cavs in the first half minus four and a half. So, these teams played four times during the regular season. And if you look at the Cleveland Cavaliers, they were up by an average of eight points at the half. This Cavs team’s also 3-1 ATS in the first half versus Miami. So, they’ve been starting out quick. And this is also something they did in the regular season and one of my favorite bets for the Cleveland Cavaliers. So, considering this is game one at home. They’ve played one less game. I’ll go with the Cavs in the first half minus four and a half. Also looking at Tyrese Hallebertton to go under 17 and a half points. He only hit over this mark twice against Milwaukee. And I do think if Cleveland’s going to do anything, they’re going to try to slow down. You’re looking at this game thinking, “Okay, well, two of the best offenses, two teams that play in a quick pace. So, you’re going to look at points props and think to go over, but I’m going to go a different angle and think they will limit him in game one, so I’ll go under 17 and a half.” Okay, there you have it. Aaron Dolan were her best bet. Thank you. There you go. Speech. Speech. [Music] Speech. Foreign speech. Foreign speech. Foreign speech. Oh my gosh. Good. Oh no. [Music] Hello. Take it away. mech. I’m sorry. Foreign speech. Foreign speech. Foreign speech.

FIRST TAKE | Stephen A. Smith predicts to Game 7 Warriors vs Rockets: Steph Curry bounceback series?