Atlanta Hawks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Odds + Playoff Schedule
#4 Atlanta Hawks (47-35, 4-3.) vs. #1 Cleveland Cavaliers (66-16, 4-0)
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Key to series: LeBron James. Who else? The man is starting to get a Michael Jordan feel to him. Establish himself in the league for a few years, improve his outside shot, dominate defensively and then, when he gets a few players around him, takes aim at the championship trophy.
Season series: Cleveland 2-1
Hawks vs. Cavs Odds: Hawks +1350 / Cavs -2300
Head-to-head:
(at) Cleveland 102, Atlanta 96
(at) Atlanta 97, Cleveland 92
(at) Cleveland 110, Atlanta 96
Playoff schedule:
Tuesday, May 5 at Cleveland
Thursday, May 7 at Cleveland
Saturday, May 9 at Atlanta
Monday, May 11 at Atlanta
Wednesday, May 13 at Cleveland, if necessary
Friday, May 15 at Atlanta, if necessary
Monday, May 18 at Cleveland, if necessary
Playoff Gambling Trends: Is there anything working against the Cavaliers? They catch over-the-hill Detroit in the first series, then get to rest up and wait for Atlanta, which had to empty its gun just to get past Miami. One problem for the Hawks – every game in the Heat series was a blowout, so they have no experience with tight games in the playoffs.
How Cleveland wins: Are you kidding? They can’t lose. If this thing gets uncomfortable, David Stern and TNT executives figure out a way for the Cavaliers to keep from getting eliminated. Nothing will stop the league from presenting a LeBron-Kobe matchup in the finals.
How Atlanta wins: The Cavs did beat Cleveland during the regular season, so anything is possible. First off, the Hawks need to slam the door at home, where they were 31-10 this season. Joe Johnson needs to be a consistent go-to scorer to blunt what is likely to be a full-bore James assault. And the Cavs have to underachieve and lose concentration as they look ahead to either Boston or Orlando in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Key matchup: Varejao going up against Josh Smith. You’d be hard pressed to find someone in the league who gets under your skin more than Varejao, can Smith keep his emotions in check? — Doubt it when you’re getting killed in a series! Throw in Williams vs. Bibby as well, and this could get pretty fun to watch.
Prediction: Cleveland in 5.
Do you agree with my pick? Disagree??? I want to hear from you. Comment Below Please!
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Lawrence Paul is a regular contributor to the Cappers Picks Blog, and is a free-lance gambling and travel writer from Massachusetts.
7 replies on “2009 NBA Playoff Betting: Hawks vs. Cavs Predictions”
Cleveland is well rested and ready to go and Atlanta just finished up a tough seven game series against Miami. The Hawks might take one at home, but I do not see this series going past 5 games.
Plus they’ve got the NBA MVP smiling big today too!
I agree with in 5 i think one game when we play in atlanta we gonna lose but that ok cuz we still gonna win
If last night is any indication this series could be over in 4.
Atlanta dose not have a chance to get one game, Cleveland is just too strong and their bench is too deep for Atlanta to put up a fight. Even in the next round, who ever the Cavs play I would be surprised if they get a game. Even with Garnett the Cavs would walk all over Boston in four. Lebron and the Cavs are just to good this year. I say good luck winning another championship there Kobe.
It’s hard to argue with you Wade, thanks for the post.
It’s not easy to beat the cavalier with lebron james, and three referee