NBA Betting – Friday Picks – Boston Celtics vs Atlanta Hawks
Before nba betting fans turn their attention to more basketball betting events this week, we have some more good Tuesday Night NBA matchups on tap, and our man Lawrence weighs in with his picks for tonight. It’s time for our weekly hoops picks for NBA gambling action.
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CELTICS vs. HAWKS
Time: Friday 8 p.m. EST
Venue: Philips Arena, Atlanta
Spread: Hawks +1.5
Over/Under: 179
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Hitching you wagon to the Atlanta Hawks can be a dangerous proposition.
At the best, the Hawks are an almost team. Almost good enough to make things uncomfortable for the best teams in the Eastern Conference. Almost fun to watch. Almost likeable. These almost Hawks were on full display a few years ago when the scared the devil out of the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs. They took it to seven games before having the grace and dignity to go down in the finale, allowing Boston to move on and eventually claim championship No. 17.
Turns out that series might have been Atlanta’s high-water mark. The Hawks have taken a half-step back since nearly pulling off what would have been one of the NBA’s greatest playoff upsets, and right now it’s hard to figure out just what they bring to the table as playoffs get set to roll this season. One thing is certain, though – these Hawks never put out too much when they don’t have to, and with seven games left they are just about locked into the No. 5 seed and facing a second consecutive playoff series against the 4-seed Orlando Magic.
Atlanta can dig in when its starters are motivated. They somehow managed to hold the Magic to 82 points in a victory on Wednesday night, and that’s the fewest points they had allowed in a game since beating Chicago 83-80 in early March. They’re capable, when the mood hits them. The Hawks will coast through the final games of a season before starting a post-season that is starting to look a lot similar to last year’s.
NBA Trends:
Under is 9-1 in BOS last 10 vs. Eastern Conference.
Under is 10-2 in BOS last 12 overall.
Under is 7-2 in BOS last 9 road games.
ATL are 5-17 ATS in their last 22 Fri. games.
BOS are 2-6 ATS in the last 8 meetings in Atlanta.
Home team is 12-5 ATS in the last 17 meetings.
BEST BET: Second game of back-to-back on the road for the Celtics, who were spanked in Indiana earlier this week under the same circumstances. So much of Boston’s success is determined by the mood and intensity of Rajon Rondo, who was the best player on the court and absolutely torched Tony Parker and the Spurs (22 points, 14 assists) on Thursday night.
Word in Boston is that Rondo – not quite fully matured — is still ticked that the team traded his buddy, Kendrick Perkins.
Coming off that big win in San Antonio, Boston is ripe for a letdown. Hawks +1.5.
Lawrence Paul is a regular contributor to the Cappers Picks Blog, and is a free-lance gambling expert from Massachusetts.
