NBA Predictions: Cavs vs Hawks Picks
NBA betting action sees the Cleveland Cavaliers taking on the Atlanta Hawks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday, May 20th at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Cappers Picks provides free NBA handicapping tips all season long.
The Eastern Conference held to form and now the number 1 and number 2 seeds meet up to start a 7 game series on Wednesday night.
NBA Basketball Odds
Cleveland Cavaliers (61-31) vs. Atlanta Hawks (68-26)
Wednesday, May 20th
8:30 PM ET
TNT
Philips Arena (Atlanta, Georgia)
NBA Betting Lines: Atlanta -1
NBA O/U: 197
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Cleveland, carried by Lebron James and Kyrie Irving will head into Atlanta as the 2 seed and actually be favorites to win the series. Atlanta, led by Jeff Teague and Al Horford, will come in as the 1 seed and look to hold home court advantage and set the tone for the series in Game 1.
(2) Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland used the days off to get some key players healthy as they get set to do battle in the Eastern Conference Finals.
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Aside from losing home court advantage for a brief moment in their 2nd round series, the only real adversity Cleveland has faced has been the dealing of injuries. They saw Kevin Love go down in the 1st round and have watched Lebron James and Kyrie Irving battle through injuries.
Kyrie Irving announced at shoot around on Monday that he will be playing in Game 1 100%. Irving enjoyed the 6 days off as he continues to battle tendinitis in his leg, along with a sprained foot. Irving will look to repeat both Game 1s he endured as he went for 30 points against both the Celtics and Bulls.
As for James, he is as close to 100% as he’s been all post season. He’s been battling a back injury himself, but has shown no signs of slowing down in the playoffs.
Also for the Cavs, Tristan Thompson and Iman Shumpert are dealing with lingering injuries. Shumpert injured his groin in Game 6 against the Bulls and did not return. Thompson continues to deal with a bruised shoulder.
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Thompson has been a big part of the Cavs as he’s been a fein on the offensive glass.
(1) Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks adversity this post season has been just escaping both their 1st and 2nd round series’. Atlanta snuck by the Nets and avoided some buzzer beating shots against the Wizards to get to where they are now.
The whole series could come down to DeMarre Carroll. Deemed as the “Junkyard Dog,” Carroll will have the honors of guarding Lebron James this series. Carroll has caused havoc in the first two series’ on both the defensive and offensive ends. He has led the Hawks in scoring as he’s averaged 17.1 points a game.
Al Horford and Paul Millsap will be matched up with Tristan Thompson and Timofey Mozgov. The Hawks big men will endure their toughest test of the post season on both ends of the floor. Horford has been the most consistent for Atlanta’s big men as he put up three straight double-doubles in Games 3 through 5 against the Wizards.
The Hawks won 3 of the 4 meeting between the 2 in the regular season.
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In the final meeting, the Hawks defense, especially Carroll, caused Lebron James many problems as he turned the ball over 9 times.
NBA Handicapping Trends:
- Cavaliers are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 Wednesday games.
- Cavaliers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
- Hawks are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a S.U. win.
- Hawks are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
Free 4* NBA Pick: Atlanta -1
Nobody is really giving the Hawks a chance against the surging Cavaliers.
Atlanta 101, Cleveland 96
Atlanta is finding ways to win and they set the tone in Game 1 in front of their home fans.
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