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          Despite home-court edge, Celtics listed as underdog vs. Cavaliers

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          Stephen A.: LeBron will be 'too much' for Celts (1:41)

          Stephen A. Smith is impressed by the Celtics' playoff run, especially without Kyrie Irving, but thinks LeBron James will continue to rule the East. (1:41)

          • David Purdum, ESPN Staff WriterMay 10, 2018, 04:55 PM
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            • Joined ESPN in 2014
            • Journalist covering gambling industry since 2008
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          The Cleveland Cavaliers are the favorites in an Eastern Conference finals rematch with the Boston Celtics.

          The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook installed the Cavaliers as a minus-275 favorite over the Celtics, who have home-court advantage in the best-of-seven series.

          The line for Sunday's Game 1 in Boston opened at pick 'em at the Westgate.

          LeBron James has faced the Celtics six times in the playoffs, winning the past four series and six straight postseason road games in Boston. James is averaging 34.3 points per game this postseason, the second-highest scoring mark of his illustrious playoff career.

          The Cavaliers won two of three meetings with the Celtics in the regular season, including a 121-99 rout in Boston on Feb. 11.

          The Celtics were 3-1 underdogs to the Philadelphia 76ers in the conference semifinals. Boston eliminated Philadelphia with a thrilling 114-112 win in Game 5 on Wednesday.

          Now the Celtics get another shot at James and the Cavaliers, who beat them 4-1 in last year's Eastern finals.

          Boston returns only four players from last season's roster and lost its two prized offseason acquisitions, Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, to injuries during the regular season.

          "Obviously guys have been going down all year. It's like you never know who's going to go down, things like that, but we find a way," Celtics point guard Terry Rozier told reporters Wednesday night. "We pull together. I'm not saying we're better or not [than last year's team], but we're definitely going back to the Eastern Conference finals, and that's a blessing."

          The Cavaliers also were an underdog in the second round, but they swept the top-seeded Toronto Raptors to reach the conference finals for a fourth straight season. James is looking to reach the NBA Finals for an eighth straight year.

          The winner of the Eastern Conference is expected to be a significant underdog against the Western Conference champion in the Finals. The Golden State Warriors are the title favorites at 5-8, followed by the Houston Rockets at 12-5. The Cavaliers are 11-2, with the Celtics at 18-1.