Give the Cleveland Cavaliers (62-31 SU, 45-48 ATS) a ton of credit for doing what they had to do in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks (68-27 SU, 55-38-2 ATS). Still, we see some real causes for concern for the visitors heading into Game 2 on Friday night.
SMITH'S SHOOTING CAN'T CONTINUE
J.R. Smith isn't going to do this again. He isn't going to hit 8-of-12 from beyond the arc, and he isn't going to spark a 22-4 run over the course of five minutes of the third quarter like he did in this one.
Just look at the rest of the Cleveland bench in Game 1. No points. 0-for-9 shooting. 0-for-7 from beyond the arc.
So yes, it's nice to think that Smith scored 28 points, and it's nice to see LeBron James score 31 to go with eight boards and six assists, but the bottom line is that someone else is going to have to do some damage, particularly off of the Cleveland bench for this team to succeed.
Unless we see someone like Matthew Dellavedova or Iman Shumpert stepping up and scoring some points for the Cavs, we've got a hard time backing them in Game 2 in live betting.
CARROLL'S CAUSE COULD BE BAD
DeMarre Carroll has always been known as a defensive force since coming to the NBA, and it isn't surprising that he was matched up with James for most of the opening game of this series. Though James did score those 31 points we mentioned, he only shot 12-for-26 from the field, and he was anything but efficient. He wasn't able to take open outside shots, and he turned the ball over four times.
Here's the good news for the Hawks, though. After Carroll went out of the lineup with around five minutes to play in the game, James went cold, going 1-of-5 to end the game from the floor.
It's going to be all hands on deck for the Hawks defensively though, and we don't know if that will be a strategy that can work long-term or not. Paul Millsap isn't quick enough to guard James, while Kyle Korver and Kent Bazemore just aren't athletic enough. Jeff Teague or Dennis Schroeder have to be preoccupied with Kyrie Irving.
If Atlanta finds an answer to keep James as relatively inefficient as he was in Game 1, it will have a shot in live betting. If not, as we saw at the end of the third quarter when he and Smith went on their tear, there's no sense throwing money away getting in front of this Cleveland team in live betting.
REBOUNDING EDGE CRUCIAL FOR CAVS
The Hawks have had problems rebounding the basketball all season long, and if Carroll can't play on Friday, that will take away one of their proverbial junkyard dog type of players.
Millsap and Al Horford aren't elite level rebounders, and they are undersized going against a lineup which often has three men at 6-foot-9 or taller at any given point on the court.
The Cavaliers were advantageous on the glass in Game 1, winning the rebounding battle 49-37, and they were +9 in second-chance points from their offensive rebounds.
Atlanta's issues are legitimate. The Nets consistently fielded bigger lineups against the Hawks and gave them all sorts of hassles, and though the Wizards weren't able to capitalize as often as they would have liked on the glass, when they were winning games in that second round series, they were doing so by outrebounding the Hawks.
Cleveland has a fantastic rebounding team, and it could have a serious edge in this series as a result. Live bet accordingly if the Hawks can't make the adjustments necessary to stop the bleeding on the boards.
BookMaker will have the spread for this Friday soiree the night before the game. 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 showdown between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks will start at 8:30 p.m. ET on Friday, May 22, 2015, at Phillips Arena in Atlanta, GA. The contest will be broadcast on TNT.
