PREMIUM
Stephen Nover's East Conference GOM Plus NFL Draft Props
(NBA) Atlanta vs. Boston,
Money Line: -126.00 Atlanta (Away)
Result: Win
Money Line: -126.00 Atlanta (Away)
Result: Win
Boston has a strong home-court. Granted. But the Hawks are the better - and healthier - team. That matters the most here.
Atlanta has built up a lead as high as 15 points in four of the five games in this series. The Hawks are coming off a confident-building, 110-83, burial of the Celtics this past Tuesday at home.
The Hawks have accomplished their 3-2 series lead with All-Star Al Horford, perhaps their best player, struggling missing 21 of 29 shots from the floor in the last three games. Horford is averaging 6.3 points, half his season average. It's a plus if Horford can get back to his normal performance.
Unlike Atlanta, Boston isn't healthy. Avery Bradley, the Celtics' No. 2 leading scorer and perhaps top defender, is out. Kelly Olynyk is bothered by a bad shoulder. Jae Crowder hasn't shaken the rust off since returning from a knee injury. Jared Sullinger is outclassed by Paul Millsap. But the biggest negative for the Celtics is Isaiah Thomas being hampered by a sprained ankle that he re-aggravated in the last game.
The Celtics have been too dependent on Thomas. The Hawks have been the best defensive team in the Eastern Conference since the All-Star break and they clamped down on Thomas in their Game 5 victory double and triple-teaming him knowing the Celtics lack any other effective outside shooters. It's a big stretch to expect Marcus Smart and Terry Rozier to step up.
Brad Stevens is an outstanding coach. He's gotten as much out of the Celtics as possible. But he doesn't have the cards here especially with Thomas limited. The Hawks need to take care of business with the Cavaliers rested and waiting for this series to end. It's not too much to ask the Hawks to beat a crippled Celtics team, who are minus Bradley and have Thomas at less than 100 percent.
Atlanta has built up a lead as high as 15 points in four of the five games in this series. The Hawks are coming off a confident-building, 110-83, burial of the Celtics this past Tuesday at home.
The Hawks have accomplished their 3-2 series lead with All-Star Al Horford, perhaps their best player, struggling missing 21 of 29 shots from the floor in the last three games. Horford is averaging 6.3 points, half his season average. It's a plus if Horford can get back to his normal performance.
Unlike Atlanta, Boston isn't healthy. Avery Bradley, the Celtics' No. 2 leading scorer and perhaps top defender, is out. Kelly Olynyk is bothered by a bad shoulder. Jae Crowder hasn't shaken the rust off since returning from a knee injury. Jared Sullinger is outclassed by Paul Millsap. But the biggest negative for the Celtics is Isaiah Thomas being hampered by a sprained ankle that he re-aggravated in the last game.
The Celtics have been too dependent on Thomas. The Hawks have been the best defensive team in the Eastern Conference since the All-Star break and they clamped down on Thomas in their Game 5 victory double and triple-teaming him knowing the Celtics lack any other effective outside shooters. It's a big stretch to expect Marcus Smart and Terry Rozier to step up.
Brad Stevens is an outstanding coach. He's gotten as much out of the Celtics as possible. But he doesn't have the cards here especially with Thomas limited. The Hawks need to take care of business with the Cavaliers rested and waiting for this series to end. It's not too much to ask the Hawks to beat a crippled Celtics team, who are minus Bradley and have Thomas at less than 100 percent.
