Atlanta’s playoff campaign is off to a rousing start after beating the Brooklyn Nets, 99-92, in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference First Round clash on Sunday. The top-seeded Hawks will look to pile even more pressure on the Nets when they lock horns this coming Wednesday in Game 2 of the series.
Game 1 — April 19, 3:00 PM ET, Brooklyn Nets 92 at Atlanta Hawks 99
Game 2 — April 22, 7:00 PM ET, Brooklyn Nets (+10) at Atlanta Hawks (-10); total: 202.5 – view all NBA lines
Game 3 — April 25, 7:00 PM ET, Cleveland Cavaliers at Brooklyn Nets
Game 4 — April 27, 1:00 PM ET, Cleveland Cavaliers at Brooklyn Nets
Game 5* — April 29, Time TBD, Brooklyn Nets at Atlanta Hawks
Game 6* — May 1, Time TBD, Cleveland Cavaliers at Brooklyn Nets
Game 7* — May 3, Time TBD, Brooklyn Nets at Atlanta Hawks
* if necessary
Betting on the Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets may have lost for the fifth consecutive time this season to the Atlanta Hawks but make no mistake about it, this series is not over by any means. The Nets easily could have folded when the Hawks made a blistering start in the early going, but Brooklyn just stuck around right until the very end, never looking overmatched against a team that swept them in the regular season.
[sc:NBA240banner ]Starting the game as 10-point underdogs, the Nets were able to cover the spread, the second time they have done so in three meetings with the Hawks at Philips Arena this season. The Nets’ rebounding helped keep the game close for Brooklyn on Sunday as they dominated the boards against the Hawks.
They outrebounded Atlanta, 47-39, in Game 1. The Nets also had a 12-6 advantage in the offensive boards. That enabled the Nets to control the shaded area, outscoring the Hawks, 54-42, inside the paint. That has been the bread and butter of the Nets this season, with Brooklyn averaging 45.1 points inside the paint, fourth-highest in the NBA.
For the Nets to grab the equalizer in Game 2, though, they will need to improve on their three-point shooting. With the Hawks collapsing on the Brooklyn bigs, the Nets had countless opportunities to bury the Hawks from the outside. They failed to do that in Game 1, with the Nets shooting just 5-of-20 (25%) from beyond the arc.
The onus is on Joe Johnson to pick up his play in Game 2. Although he scored 17 points on Sunday, he shot just 6-of-17 from the field, including going 0-for-6 from the three-point area. He needs to get his perimeter game going to open up the inside for Brook Lopez. The towering big man had another double-double in Game 1, scoring 17 points and grabbing 14 boards.
The Nets are 5-5 SU and ATS in their last 10 road games.
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Betting on the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta’s quest for a second NBA championship is off to a solid start after dispatching the Brooklyn Nets in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference clash on Sunday. Five players scored in double-figures for the Hawks who won their opening playoff game for the fourth time in the past five years.
Leading the way for Atlanta was Kyle Korver who scored 21 points, including five three-pointers. Jeff Teague and DeMarre Carroll followed closely behind in the scoring stakes, netting 17 points apiece. The Hawks were in complete control of the match, leading for almost the entire game. They pushed the margin to as high as 16 points before settling for a seven-point win.
Key to Atlanta’s victory was that it was able to dictate the tempo of the game. With a well-rested players, the Hawks were able to push the pace in the early going and that enabled Atlanta to storm to a double-digit lead in no time. The Hawks finished the game with 15 fast break points, way above their season average of 13.3 fast break points per game.
A worrying concern for head coach Mike Budenholzer, though, was the ineffective performance of big man Paul Millsap. Millsap who missed five of the Hawks’ last six regular season games with a shoulder injury, looked out of sorts in Game 1, scoring just six points on a horrid 2-of-11 shooting from the field.
It’s crucial for the Hawks moving forward that Millsap rediscover his old form. Millsap has been a vital cog to the Hawks’ success this season, leading the team in points (16.7 PPG), rebounds (7.8 RPG) and steals (1.6 SPG).
The Hawks are 8-2 SU and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Atlanta (-10) wins, 107-96, to go 2-0 up in the series.
