Heading into Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the one thing that is clear is that the Cleveland Cavaliers (63-31 SU, 46-48 ATS) are going to the NBA Finals. It's just a matter of how long they decide they're going to screw around with the Atlanta Hawks (68-28 SU, 55-39-2 ATS) before putting them away.
ODDS ANALYSIS
Late line movement was dead wrong in both Games 1 and 2 of this series. Late sharp money was clearly on the Hawks, pushing that line up to Atlanta -2.5 in Game 1 and Atlanta -3.5 in Game 2. The Cavaliers dominated both games.
Now, Cleveland is expected to open up close to double-digit favorites in Game 3 back at home, a swing which should have sharps salivating to back the Hawks once again.
INJURY REPORT
The injury report is starting to get far too long for the Hawks to deal with. DeMarre Carroll is clearly playing hurt right now. Kyle Korver doesn't seem like he is going to be able to get back on the floor after suffering a sprained ankle in Game 2. Al Horford did return to the court in Game 2 after leaving for a bit, but his knee could prove bothersome moving forward.
Cleveland meanwhile, is just coasting on Easy Street. Kyrie Irving may or may not play thanks to a knee injury picked up late in the series against the Bulls, but we don't see the need to rush him back.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"That's how the game presented itself. When I was attacking, I was seeing guys open. They were bringing two to me. I was seeing guys open. I've got the most confidence in my teammates to make shots and to make plays." – Cavaliers forward LeBron James on essentially becoming a point forward in Game 2 against the Hawks
BETTING TRENDS
- The Hawks are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games following a loss of 10+ points, though it should be noted that this is the first time in the playoffs they have had to come off of a double-digit defeat.
- The Cavaliers are 1-5 ATS in their last six games following an SU win of 10+ points, all of the games of which came here in the postseason.
- The OVER is 5-2 in Cleveland's last seven home games overall.
KEY STATS
18: The number of rebounds Atlanta's starters had in Game 2 against the Cavs. Tristan Thompson had 16 boards by himself. Cleveland was +8 on the glass, but that number would have been a lot higher without a lot of missed shots down the stretch of the game when things were out of hand.
43.0 percent: The shooting percentage of the Hawks in this series to date. This is a team which shot the ball in the regular season at 46.6 percent and 38.0 percent from downtown. Now, Atlanta can't throw the ball in the ocean from beyond the arc thanks to the Cavaliers and their stout defense which has taken away all of the perimeter options which the Hawks love to utilize.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
We know that the stats all suggest that maybe the Hawks should at least stick closer in this one than they did in Games 1 and 2, and they very well might do so.
However, we just don't see any evidence of that on the court. The Hawks are outmanned for the first time this year, and they’re being outmanned by more or less a one-man team. The rest of the pieces are proving to be interchangeable once again around LeBron in the Eastern Conference, and for as long as he is on the court, this is easily the best team in the East by a country mile.
Cleveland 98, Atlanta 81
The NBA betting lines for this Sunday contest will be released first by BookMaker. Now you can wager in-game while the action unfolds with BookMaker's live betting option.
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The matchup between Atlanta Hawks and the Cleveland Cavaliers will go down Sunday, May 24, 2015 at 8:30 p.m. ET at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH. The game will be televised nationally on TNT.
