NBA Handicapping Predictions – Clippers vs Hawks
This is a battle of two teams who are battling for playoff positioning.
NBA Basketball Matchup: Los Angeles Clippers vs. Atlanta Hawks
7:30 PM EST
NBA Gambling Odds from Bookmaker
NBA Betting Favorite: Hawks -1.5
Over/Under: 192.5
Both of these teams are in the playoffs, but home court is still at risk. Los Angeles and Atlanta would both have home court if the playoffs started today, but they are in a very tenuous position.
The crowd will be rocking and I expect a playoff atmosphere for this one. Which team will help its playoff seeding?
The Clippers went through a rough patch in the middle of the season. All the talk was that Vinny Del Negro was going to be fired, but the team pulled it together and they are playing very good basketball again. They have won eight of their last ten games, including two wins over Oklahoma City.
Chris Paul is playing his best basketball of the season. Paul has scored 19 points or more in seven of the team’s last nine games. Blake Griffin is averaging a double-double.[soliloquy id=”82219″]
Caron Butler and Nick Young are both questionable for this one due to an illness. Mo Williams is back and giving this team solid minutes off the bench.
Atlanta lost a tough one Sunday against the New York Knicks. The Hawks had a chance to seal up home court advantage in that game, but they struggled down the stretch.
Zaza Pachulia is out for an indefinite period and his absence has hurt the team on the boards and on the defensive end. Al Horford would like to try to come back during the playoffs if he can, but that is still an unknown. Joe Johnson is healthy right now, and he has been leading the team in scoring of late.
Jeff Teague and Marvin Williams are two guys who will need to step up if the Hawks are going to be a factor in the playoffs.
Atlanta has been very inconsistent of late, while the Clippers have played solid basketball in just about every game. I think the Clippers pick up a big road win behind a big effort from Chris Paul.
Prediction: Los Angeles 97 Atlanta 94
