Posted on
4/23/2008 5:43:41 PM
NBA Basketball Betting – Boston Celtics Rockin’, Atlanta Hawks Reelin’
By Eric Williams
After predicting the opening game of this series nearly dead on in the BetUS Locker Room on Sunday, I am back to offer the BetUS NBA Betting Community another solid winning wager on tonight’s Game 2 matchup.
While the Atlanta Hawks, (37-46 SU, 37-45-1 ATS, 42-41 O/U) should definitely be proud of the fact that they reached the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons – and have one of the best young teams in all of basketball, the Hawks, who were routed in Game 1 of their first round playoff series with the Boston Celtics, (67-16 SU, 53-28-2 ATS, 35-46-1 O/U), losing 104-81 on Sunday, are clearly not in the same class as the Celtics who are apparently headed for a date in the NBA Finals.
The Hawks will also face a Celtics team tonight that will likely come with an even better defensive effort after watching power forward Kevin Garnett win the league’s annual NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award on Tuesday.
"They're going to make some adjustments. We make some adjustments," Garnett said. "If anything, this award comes right at the right time to be more defensive than ever."
The young Hawks, who will head home for Games 3 and 4 are counting on stretching the series past the four-game minimum.
"It's a seven-game series, so now you have a chance to redeem yourself," Johnson said. "We've just got to relax."
The Celtics, the league’s best defensive team, held the Hawks to an atrocious 29-for-76 shooting night from the field, (38.2 percent), though blossoming young center Al Horford scored 20 points on 7-for-10 shooting.
The Celtics placed six players, including two reserves, in double figures in scoring.
Here is a look at tonight’s key trends followed by my NBA Wagering Free Picks:
The Hawks are 11-23 ATS in their last 34 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
The Hawks are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
The Celtics are 5-0 ATS in their last five home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
The Celtics are 7-0 ATS in their last seven home games vs. a team with a road winning percentage of less than .400.
The Under is 4-0 in Hawks last four games as an underdog of 11.0 or greater.
The Under is 5-0 in Celtics last five playoff games as a favorite.
The Under is 4-0 in the last four meetings.
The Under is 7-1 in the last eight meetings in Boston.
Analysis: I don’t know how else to say it, but the Hawks are going down again and they are going down hard. Take the Celtics for another 20-point win in another home playoff contest in which their raucous fans will be going ballistic once again.
NBA Free Picks: Celtics -15 Points/Under 189 Total Points
08:00 PM EST NBA Odds
Atlanta Hawks +15 -110
Boston Celtics -15 -110
Over 189 -110
Under 189 -110
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