Atlanta
Hawks at Charlotte Hornets Betting Preview
The first
game of the NBA's Sunday schedule is an Eastern Conference battle, with the
Atlanta Hawks visiting the Charlotte Hornets. The action tips off at 1 pm ET.
Both teams
have shown more than in years past, sitting squarely in the mix of the playoff
race. The East is wide open this season beyond the top three teams, so both
teams have plenty to play for.
Let's break
down both the Hawks and Hornets and find our favorite bets of the day.
BETTING
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Atlanta
Hawks: One of the Most Balanced Teams in the League
The Hawks
have been winning more than not the last month thanks to a strong balanced
attack. Atlanta is one of the steadier teams, ranked 13th on offense and 12th
on defense. They're one of only seven teams in the NBA to be ranked inside the
top 13 in both categories.
Atlanta is
also a balanced team in terms of offensive preference. It is middling in both
points in the paint and points from three-pointers. We won our last free pick,
go take a look at our Spurs
at 76ers betting preview.
This gives
the Hawks flexibility against varying defenses. If one team is strong in one of
the categories, Atlanta has shown a willingness to adapt.
Charlotte
is a bottom 10 defense, meaning the Hawks are well-positioned to get points on
the board.
The Hawks
point leader is none other than Trae Young, averaging 25.2 points per game,
tacking on 9.4 assists. The offense flows through the guard, with power forward
John Collins playing the supporting role, averaging 18.2 points.
Atlanta has
one of the best perimeter defenses in the NBA, ranking fourth in the league
defending the three. It's a surprising strength, given center Clint Capela's
presence in the paint. Capela sports your ideal stat line for a big: 14.2
rebounds and three blocks per game.
This
season, Atlanta is 26-23-1 against the spread and 25-25 against overs.
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Choice > Guide
to Betting NBA Teasers
Charlotte
Hornets: Loves the Three
The loss of
rookie guard LaMelo Ball hurts this Hornets team, no doubt about it. Ball vs.
Young would have made this one of the most compelling games of the weekend.
The Hornets
offense has stayed afloat without him, thanks to the 1-2 punch of Gordon
Hayward and Terry Rozier. The Hornets don't quite have the consistency of
Atlanta, coming in 17th on offense and 25th on defense.
NBA
bettors know what Charlotte does well is shoot the
three. The Hornets are seventh in the NBA in threes made per game, an
impressive metric that keeps them in every game.
Rozier
averages 20.4 points per game, shooting 41% from three. Hayward is right behind
him, averaging 19.6 points on an identical 41% from deep, though he'll be
sidelined for this game and the next few weeks with a foot sprain.
While the
Hornets excel from deep, this Sunday match doesn't bode well for their
strength. As we mentioned, only three teams defend the three better than
Atlanta.
On the
season, Charlotte is 27-21-1 ATS and 22-26-1 against overs.
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Game Pick
There's a
clear advantage for Atlanta in this one. Their offense has a significant
advantage over the weak Charlotte defense. As we just mentioned, the one
Hornets strength is canceled out by a superior defensive strength of Atlanta.
The Hornets
and Hawks have played twice this season, both back-to-back in early January.
The Hornets won both, but that included their star rookie Ball. Without him and
Hayward, this offense doesn't have the versatility to overpower a strong
defense.
The pick is
Atlanta to win and cover the spread.