Vegas Line at this writing: Atlanta -1 (197)
Injury Report as of this writing
Cavs:
G Kyrie Irving (Knee Tendonitis) Probable
Hawks:
No significant injuries reported
The Cavs turned things up on the defensive end and got excellent bench play to dispatch the Bulls in six games. They’ll need to get more of the same in this series with the Hawks as Lebron has struggled shooting the ball in the playoffs and has yet to put together back-to-back dominating games. Lebron has been a dog in seven Game One’s of playoff series over his career and his teams are 2-5 in those games. Kyrie Irving sat out the second half of the clincher vs. Chicago but he’s had five days to get treatment on knee tendonitis and will give it a go.
The Hawks were slow to get going in six game wins over the Nets and Wiz. The team has battled several nagging injuries to starters Jeff Teague, Paul Milsap and Kyle Korver but appears to be 100% healthy entering this series. Teague and Korver will need to regain the shooting form they had for most of the NBA regular season. Al Horford has been a star and DeMarre Carroll has come out of nowhere to lead the team in scoring during the playoffs at 17.1 including a 25/10 performance in the clincher vs. Washington.
The Hawks have won seven of eight in the series including the last five on this floor, all by eight points or more. The Over is 6-1 in the last seven meetings. The Hawks are 3-1 Over in their last four while the Cavs are 6-3 Under in their last nine. The Hawks finished off the Nets and Wiz in six games. The Cavs swept Boston and then went six games with the Bulls. The Cleveland has been off five days, the Hawks four.
Cavs: Players to watch (Probable Starters)
PG Kyrie Irving (21.7, 3.2, 5.2)
C Timofy Mozgov (9.7, 7.3, 0.7)
SG Iman Shumpert (8.0, 3.6, 2.0)
PF Tristan Thompson (8.5, 8.0, 0.5)
SF Lebron James (25.3, 6.0, 7.5)
Hawks: Players to watch (Probable Starters)
C Al Horford (15.2, 7.2, 3.2)
PF Paul Milsap (16.7, 7.8, 3.1)
SF DeMarre Carroll (12.6, 5.3, 1.3)
PG Jeff Teague (15.9, 2.0, 7.9
SG Kyle Korver (12.1, 4.1, 2.6)
Allen’s Angles
Cleveland is 4-13 this year as an underdog, 1-4 as a road dog of three or less
The Cavs are 5-1 ATS this year after allowing 85 points or less
The UNDER is 21-10 when the Cavs are off 3+ wins
The Over is 4-2 when Cleveland is off 3+ days rest
Atlanta is 28-13 ATS this year vs. winning records
The Hawks are 12-5 ATS this year vs. Central Division teams
The Under is 8-3 when the Hawks come off a straight up underdog win
The Over is 13-6 in Atlanta’s L19 with 3+ days rest, 3-3 this year