PREMIUM
Stephen Nover's NBA Game of the Week - 73% NBA Hot Streak!
(NBA) Atlanta vs. Milwaukee,
Point Spread: 8.00 | -104.00 Atlanta (Away)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: 8.00 | -104.00 Atlanta (Away)
Result: Loss
Bookmakers who have futures jeopardy on the Hawks - and there are their share of them - need to be concerned. Atlanta isn't following the standard protocol of paying playoff dues before establishing itself as a title contender. The Hawks are talented enough, have the right coach in Nate McMillan and a hot Trae Young, who is using this postseason to launch himself into superstardom, to jump the gun.
The Hawks have enough to beat a vulnerable Bucks team that is getting way too much respect.
I thought taking eight points with the Hawks in Game 1 was overly generous. I gladly accepted that and I'll gladly accept 7 1/2 points because this is an even series.
So what if the Bucks are home? Atlanta is 6-2 in road playoff games. The Hawks have covered in 13 of their last 16 visits to Milwaukee. Being at home just means more pressure on the Bucks, who have yet to prove anything during the playoffs under Mike Budenholzer.
So what if the Bucks have Giannis Antetokounmpo when the Hawks have their own superstar in Young. I actually believe the Hawks are the more talented team given their big men of John Collins and Clint Capela. The Hawks upset the Bucks, 116-113, in Game 1 in part because they grabbed four offensive rebounds during the final two minutes. Collins and Capela combined to have a plus 20 ratio when they were on the floor. The Bucks had a negative 14 ratio when their big man, Brook Lopez, was on the court.
The Bucks have a number of defensive stoppers such as Jrue Holiday and P.J. Tucker. Yet Budenholzer chose to put washed-up veteran Jeff Teague on Young during the second quarter. Teague only played around six minutes, but Young went crazy during this span just when it looked like the Bucks might have established early momentum.
I don't point this out to nitpick Budenholzer, but to illustrate that his poor playoff history does not warrant any form of trust. Milwaukee blew a seven-point lead with a little more than four minutes left in the fourth quarter.
The Bucks have no business being favored this high again in the series. But I'm not here to argue. I'm just thankful to receive another gift.
The Hawks have enough to beat a vulnerable Bucks team that is getting way too much respect.
I thought taking eight points with the Hawks in Game 1 was overly generous. I gladly accepted that and I'll gladly accept 7 1/2 points because this is an even series.
So what if the Bucks are home? Atlanta is 6-2 in road playoff games. The Hawks have covered in 13 of their last 16 visits to Milwaukee. Being at home just means more pressure on the Bucks, who have yet to prove anything during the playoffs under Mike Budenholzer.
So what if the Bucks have Giannis Antetokounmpo when the Hawks have their own superstar in Young. I actually believe the Hawks are the more talented team given their big men of John Collins and Clint Capela. The Hawks upset the Bucks, 116-113, in Game 1 in part because they grabbed four offensive rebounds during the final two minutes. Collins and Capela combined to have a plus 20 ratio when they were on the floor. The Bucks had a negative 14 ratio when their big man, Brook Lopez, was on the court.
The Bucks have a number of defensive stoppers such as Jrue Holiday and P.J. Tucker. Yet Budenholzer chose to put washed-up veteran Jeff Teague on Young during the second quarter. Teague only played around six minutes, but Young went crazy during this span just when it looked like the Bucks might have established early momentum.
I don't point this out to nitpick Budenholzer, but to illustrate that his poor playoff history does not warrant any form of trust. Milwaukee blew a seven-point lead with a little more than four minutes left in the fourth quarter.
The Bucks have no business being favored this high again in the series. But I'm not here to argue. I'm just thankful to receive another gift.
