Joe Gavazzi Friday NBA
Atlanta Hawks at Brooklyn Nets (-5) 7:35 ET
4% Brooklyn (-5)
Feeling the hot breath of the Knicks (12-5 SU) on the nape of their neck, the Hawks responded from their 7-21 SU ATS slide by going 3-1 SU ATS of late. The closer inspection finds those victories against non-playoff teams, Boston and Cleveland (on this court), a win at Indiana (who is 3-25 ATS of late), and a loss at home to Detroit. Not impressed! Yet, this line is impacted for the Hawks’ playoff need. Prior to that road victory at Indiana, the Hawks have gone 1-6 SU, 2-5 ATS on the road against winning teams (defeating only Charlotte) with road losses since the All Star break of 10 at Indiana, 9 at Phoenix, 24 at Portland, 14 at Golden and 10 at Toronto. The Hawks’ slide can be traced to the loss of their best big man, Al Horford, at midseason. It is characterized by an overall road record of 9-16 ATS as single digit road dog. Brooklyn is firmly locked into the No. 5 seed. But, the Nets have been like money in 2014. Since the turn of the calendar, Brooklyn is 33-14 SU, 31-17 ATS. That includes their recent performance on this court where Brooklyn has gone 15-0 SU, 13-1 ATS.
Charlotte Bobcats (-5) at Boston Celtics 7:35 ET
4% Charlotte (-5)
Super Surger vs. Towel Tosser supreme! It is clear that the Celtics have tossed the towel. Their losing streaks are now 11-37 SU, 1-14 SU, and 0-9 SU. At home, they are on a negative slide of 9-18 ATS. The Celtics are just 8-14 as home dog this season. Charlotte was projected to win just 17 games, following their 21 win season of last. Today, however, Charlotte finds themselves in the No. 6 spot in the Eastern playoff queue with a record of 40-38, after 5 consecutive victories. They have been led by their emerging big man, Jefferson, along with the perimeter pop of Kemba Walker. A microcosm of a Charlotte transition has come with the fact that those Charlotte victories have come by an average of 11 PPG, in no small part, because the Bobcats are allowing just 89 PPG in that timeframe. In that same span of time, Boston has allowed 109 PPG on 52% shooting. Longer term, the Bobcats are 21-11 SU, 22-10 ATS with a record of 13-5 ATS on the road in competitively priced games, where the line is +6 to -6.