Hawks vs Heat NBA Handicapping
It’s time for the Atlanta Hawks to start to take stock in this season and figure out just who they are and how they want to finish the year.
Atlanta Hawks (34-28) at Miami Heat (47-14)
Tuesday, March 13
American Airlines Arena, Miami
7:30 p.m. EST
Spread – Heat -10 at GTBets.eu
Total – 196.5
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Quite simply, these guys seem content to get into the playoffs, take a beating in the first or second round, and head for the beach. Whatever they’re doing, it isn’t working, and it might be time to head in another direction as management and ownership evaluate things heading into the post-season.
The Hawks head into Miami tonight with 5 losses in their last 6 games. In the last 47 days the Hawks have dug deep enough to defeat only one decent team (Memphis). They have survived by picking on the soft underbelly of the NBA and resting up against what passes for the iron these days.
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So it’ll be interesting to see if Atlanta turtles against the Heat, who have beaten the Hawks three times already this season and will probably make it four tonight, in the process extending their winning streak to 18 games. Strange things would have to happen to alter the outcome.
In fairness to the Hawks, there have been some injuries. The season-ending January injury to Lou Williams thinned out the rotation, and reserve big Zaza Pachulia is out indefinitely. [ad-6571516]
But opponents don’t spend even a spare minute sympathizing about your injuries, and the Hawks’ slide has moved them into a tie for sixth place in the overall Eastern Conference standings, only 1.5 games up on the 8th-place Bucks, who have a basketful of home games on the schedule over the next three weeks.
All 8th place gets you in the East is an almost-certain loss to the Heat in the first round of the playoffs – it would mark the sixth straight season that the Hawks would have been bounced out of the post-season in either the first or second round.
If all that’s not enough, management will soon have to decide if it wants to give a max contract to inconsistent forward Josh Smith or see him walk away in free agency.
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As bettors pound the Heat, lines have risen. Miami gave 13 to Philly, 15.5 to Orlando and 15 to Sacramento, and didn’t cover the number in any of them. In fact, the Heat are just 3-5 ATS in their last 8 as they apparently try to expend just enough energy to win but not enough to blow out teams.
They are, however, coming off a solid “Think you’re good, do you?” win at home over the Pacers three days ago and should be well-rested.
Thinking that this game will be in the 90s, with a play on the under getting it done.
