Tip off: 8 PM EST
Spread: ATL -2
Total: 174
M/L: ATL -130, BOS +110
Betting Odds from Bookmaker
Celtics lead series 3-1
It’s strange to think Boston has prove themselves the way they have, in winning three of the first four games in this series, and yet they find themselves 2 point underdogs on the road to a Hawks team they beat by 22 last game. I don’t always claim to understand NBA oddsmakers, but we’ll roll with it.
In game four, six Celtics players reached double figures, paced by Paul Pierce’s 24. Rondo managed 20, while dishing out a game high 16 assists and forcing three steals, yet did not pick up a single personal foul. Ray Allen came off the bench to score 12 points in 19 minutes. Allen will play a bigger role tonight, to be sure, and one would figure return to the starting lineup after proving his relative health. Keyon Dooling has still been a huge spark off the bench and came in to score 10 points in 12 minutes in game 4. The Celtics have a lot of weapons and unhailed heros, and we haven’t even seen Mickael Pietrus do much yet.
Atlanta ultimately is going to have to write this season off as a throw away: They lost Al Horford, and his All Star game and presence is crucial towards Atlanta’s success. Josh Smith is a free agent, and they could be headed a different direction. Joe Johnson’s contract doesn’t help, but that mess was self created. Johnson shot only 8 times in game 4, and that has to change for Atlanta to be the kind of team that they can be. Tracy McGrady played 8 minutes of garbage time. One would figure “T Mac” could still help the Hawks.
Really, this game should be one that Boston wins, and I would take the money line on Boston without second thoughts. I fully expect Rondo to exploit both Jeff Teague and Kirk Hinrich, and Jason Collins is a non-factor in the paint. Josh Smith still shoots bad shots. It just doesn’t look good for the favored Hawks.
