Golden State Warriors As Favorite Betting Trend

The Warriors' struggles as favorites stem from their unique position as a marquee franchise that consistently draws inflated betting lines. When Golden State enters games as chalk, oddsmakers often price in their championship pedigree and star power, creating situations where the spread doesn't accurately reflect game-specific circumstances. The team's reliance on three-point shooting creates inherent volatility - even elite shooters like Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson can experience cold stretches that turn comfortable leads into nail-biters or worse. Golden State's fast-paced, high-scoring style also works against them in favorite situations. Their willingness to engage in shootouts means they rarely blow teams out by massive margins, even when clearly superior. Opponents often stay within striking distance due to the Warriors' tendency to trade baskets rather than grind out possessions defensively. This creates frequent backdoor cover scenarios where underdogs hit late shots to sneak under inflated spreads. The psychological element cannot be ignored - teams consistently bring their best effort against the Warriors, knowing a win over Golden State carries significant weight. This "championship hangover" effect means every opponent treats Warriors games as statement opportunities. This trend matters most when Golden State is laying large spreads at home against motivated divisional opponents or teams fighting for playoff positioning.