Heat vs Hawks odds - Hawks' balance too much for Heat
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Online betting handicappers can get their first look at an NBA playoff series price now as the Heat vs Hawks odds are posted. The Hawks are a small favorite, expected to win a series for the first time in ages. As a matter of fact, the Hawks haven’t even had home-court advantage in a playoff series since 1998-99.
Heat vs Hawks odds: Lack of depth will sink Miami
- WHO: Heat vs Hawks odds
- WHAT: Best-of-Seven series
- WHEN: Game 1 date and time TBA
- WHERE: Phillips Arena in Atlanta, GA
- KEY STAT: Hawks won season series 3-1
- THE PICK: Hawks in six
Sportsbook odds makers know that it wasn’t long ago that the Atlanta Hawks were part of the dregs of society in the NBA. In the 2004-05 season, the Hawks won a measly 13 games.
But it has been steady growth since that point for Atlanta as the Hawks have taken baby steps each and every season.
In 2005-06, they won 26 games. In 2006-07, they won 30 games. In 2007-08, they won 37 games and pushed the eventual NBA Champion Boston Celtics to seven games.
The Hawks are now faced with an opportunity to advance past the first round, which would be another baby step for a franchise that has once again improved its win total from a season ago.
The Heat vs Hawks online sports betting line indicates that it should be a close series but there are some subtle differences between the squads.
The Hawks rely on balance and depth, with six players averaging double figures in scoring. Meanwhile, the Heat odds are contingent on the NBA’s leading scorer, Dwyane Wade, carrying his team through the series.
The Heat don’t have the depth to match with the Hawks right now especially with a couple of key injuries. Forward Udonis Haslem has six stitches on his right thumb, Jermaine O’Neal is limited with a calf injury while Jamario Moon is day-to-day with a groin injury. All three should play in the series but all three clearly won’t be at 100 per cent.
One of the biggest problems for the Heat is rebounding and, when they acquired O’Neal at the trade deadline, they were expecting him to help out in that area. O’Neal is averaging a paltry 5.4 rebounds per game, which is part of why the Heat finished 28th in that category.
CRAIG’S PICK: The Hawks odds are enticing because they will have home court advantage against a team that doesn’t fare well on the road. The Heat are just 15-25 on the road while the Hawks were 30-10 at home this season.
The Heat do have the best player in the series in Wade but they don’t have enough help around him to get the job done. Expect the Hawks to get by in a grueling six or seven game series.
For more playoff basketball betting and NBA lines, bookmark the Betting Edge at betonline.com.
Craig Parsons is an avid sports fan, but his true love has always been basketball. Too short to realize his dream of playing in the NBA, he did the next best thing: sports betting and covering basketball for a living. Thoughts or questions?
