Free NBA Pick: Trail Blazers vs Hawks NBA Odds
Looking for Portland Trail Blazers vs. Atlanta Hawks free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Blazers taking on the Hawks on Saturday, March 18, 2017 at Phillips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions.
(30-37) Portland Trail Blazers vs. Atlanta Hawks (37-31)
Date: Saturday, March 18
Time: 7:30PM EST
Venue: Phillips Arena – Atlanta, Georgia
NBA Moneyline Odds: OFF
NBA Betting Odds: ATL -3
NBA Betting Total: 214
Live NBA Odds
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Saturday NBA sees the Portland Trail Blazers and Atlanta Hawks face off in their second of two matchups this season. Round 1 went to Atlanta in dramatic fashion.
The Trail Blazers went into the final possession of regular up two points, but Paul Millsap worked his magic, hit a last-second game-tying shot to send the contest to overtime.
Atlanta walked away victorious, but there was one major difference in the Blazers team it faced then and the team it faced now.
Portland had just traded starting Mason Plumlee and hadn’t yet brought on Jusuf Nurkic in return.
Portland Trail Blazers
With Nurkic officially on board (and thriving), Atlanta is bound to see a different Portland squad this time around than it did the first time.
Nurkic gives this team something it didn’t have before the trade deadline on both ends of the floor. On offense, he gives Portland a legitimate third option — and one who can do his damage in the post, nonetheless.
On defense, Nurkic gives the Blazers a legitimate rim protector and a 7-foot, 280-pound body. That’s something Atlanta didn’t have to deal with last time that it must be ready for come Saturday.
One thing Portland did have last time and will again is the scoring presence of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. The two guards make up one of the league’s most dangerous backcourts, meaning the Hawks had better be ready for the two to be the focal point of Portland’s offense.
Here’s the catch, though, for the Blazers: Defense is going to be (as it has been all season) a problem from these two.
Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta will look to take full advantage of the Blazers’ atrocious backcourt defense. Back on Feb. 13 when these two teams faced off, Dennis Schroeder went for 22 points, four rebounds and four assists. The problem was that he shot just 1-of-4 from the three-point line.
That, however, would be countered nicely by the performance of the team’s starting 2-guard, Tim Hardaway Jr.
Hardaway Jr. may not have “skills” the same way his NBA dad did, but he’s a baller in his own right. With McCollum defending him, that was never more apparent.
On the night, Hardaway went for 25 points, seven rebounds and four assists while knocking down four of his nine three-point attempts.
NBA Betting Trends:
- Trail Blazers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Trail Blazers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 2 days rest.
- Trail Blazers are 9-23 ATS in their last 32 games following a straight up win
- Hawks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Saturday games.
- Hawks are 19-7 ATS in their last 26 games following a double-digit loss at home
Free Portland Trail Blazers vs. Atlanta Hawks NBA Prediction:
Portland has an advantage that it didn’t have last time around with Jusuf on the roster, but the truth is that when engaged, Dwight Howard can still counter his presence.
Nurkic will make plays for others, but his numbers on the box score might not be what Portland fans have come to expect.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Hawks -3
Don’t expect this to be a blowout all the way through, but the Hawks should walk away with a comfortable win when it’s all said and done.
NBA Free Score Prediction: Atlanta Hawks 111 – Portland Trail Blazers 101
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