The Atlanta Hawks take on the Boston Celtics on Friday at the TD Garden in Boston. The Hawks continue to struggle on the season while the Celtics have started to play to expectations.
The Atlanta Hawks are having another terrible season. After winning just a total of 24 regular season games last year, the Hawks are currently at 6-21 and owners of the second worst record in the East and third worst record in the entire league. They enter this game having lost 15 out of their last 18 games.
Atlanta ranks 22nd in team scoring at 107.9 points per game scored. The Hawks are 11th in the league in assists at 24.7 dimes per contest. They are also 20th in the NBA in rebounds at 43.8 boards per game. Atlanta is the worst scoring defense team in the league, ranking 30th in opponents points allowed.
Atlanta Hawks vs Boston Celtics 12/14/18
Moneyline Odds: Hawks +750, Celtics -1100
Odds from gtbets.eu as of 12/14/18
After a slow start, the Boston Celtics seem to be getting to where they are supposed to be. The Celtics were the favorites to win the East this season but so far, they have stumbled off the gates. Boston though has won seven games in a row including four on the road to move up to 17-10 on the season and rise to third spot in the loaded Atlantic Division.
Boston is the 11th best scoring team in the league at 111.1 points per game. They are also ranked 9th in assists at 25.3 dimes per contest. The Celtics average 46.4 rebounds per game which is 10th best in the entire NBA. But Boston’s best stat so far is their defense which allows only 103.6 points per game, the third best scoring defense in the league.
The Hawks and Celtics have played 373 times during the regular season. Boston holds the all-time series lead 230 to 143 with the Celtics winning three out of their last four meetings. These teams have played already once this season and that was last November 23rd in Atlanta where the Celtics were victorious 114-96.
Atlanta is 1-5 SU in their last six games played. The Hawks are 1-10 SU in their last 11 games played on the road. Boston is 5-0 SU in their last five games played. The Celtics are 8-3 SU in 11 home games this season. Head to head, the Celtics are 4-1 SU in their last five games versus the Hawks. The men in green are also 13-6 SU in their last 19 home games against Atlanta.
Taurean Prince injured his ankle on Monday against the Warriors and is expected to miss at least a couple of weeks. That means Atlanta will miss his 15 points per game production. For Boston, they will be without Al Horford who missed his third game on Wednesday with pain on his knee. But Boston has a deep roster that they just continue to win even without Horford. We can’t say the same for the Hawks who were already struggling even with Prince on the lineup.
We’re picking the Boston Celtics to beat the Atlanta Hawks on 12/14/18.
The Hawks are 2-4 ATS in their last six games played. Atlanta is 6-3 ATS in their last 9 games on the road. The Celtics are 5-0 ATS in their last five games overall. Boston 7-4 ATS in 11 home games played this season. Head to head, the Celtics are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 meetings against the Hawks.
Atlanta Hawks vs Boston Celtics 12/14/18
Spread Odds: Hawks +13 (-109), Celtics -13 (-109)
Odds from gtbets.eu as of 12/14/18
Atlanta is just 4-5 ATS when underdogs of at least 10 points this season. The Celtics have outscored their last five opponents by an average of 22.2. Boston beat Atlanta on the road by 18 points earlier this season and I think this one ends the same way. 13 looks like too much of a spread to cover but the Celtics are playing to their level now.
Prediction: Celtics -13
The total has gone under in six out of Atlanta’s last nine road games. The over is 15-12 in Atlanta’s 27 games played this season. The total has gone over in six out of the last eight games played by the Celtics. The over has also hit in five out of the last six games between the Hawks and Celtics.
Atlanta Hawks vs Boston Celtics 12/14/18
Over/Under Odds: Over 224.5 -109, Under 224.5 -109
Odds from gtbets.eu as of 12/14/18
The over is 5-1-1 in their last seven meetings and the over is also 4-0 in the Hawks’ last four games on one day rest. The total has gone over in six out of the last eight games played by the Celtics. Before the season began, Boston was regarded for its depth and the ability of their players to puts points on the scoreboard. The Celtics are starting to live up to that billing.
Prediction: Over 224.5
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