in NBA Props
NBA Basketball Futures Betting – The Hawks vs. The World
by Charles Jay
At BetUS Sportsbook you can make wagers surrounding the win figures of every NBA team against every other NBA team. And since they were first alphabetically, and the first ones we saw, and also because they are a team that rose out of abject failure to become a playoff team last year, we take a look at the Atlanta Hawks against a number of other teams in the NBA.
First, let me say that I like the Hawks' future, even after losing Josh Childress to a European team. Atlanta won the eighth playoff spot with 37 wins, and took Boston to seven games in the first playoff round. They have a solid front line with Al Horford, the rebounder and defender who was one of the league's best rookies last year; Josh Smith, a premier shot-blocker, and Marvin Williams, a smooth scorer. They have a veteran leader, Mike Bibby, who still has something left. And Joe Johnson is one of the top all-around producers in the league. A win total of 42-45 games is not out of the question.
Having said that, let's get started:
Atlanta Hawks vs Chicago Bulls
Atlanta Hawks +4 Wins -120
Chicago Bulls -4 Wins -120
-- The Bulls should be better with Derrick Rose running the offense, but they still have holes. There is no inside scoring. And this team was disrupted on a continual basis last year. I think the Hawks stand a very good chance of finishing ahead of Chicago in the standings. ATLANTA +4
Atlanta Hawks vs Milwaukee Bucks
Atlanta Hawks -6 Wins -120
Milwaukee Bucks +6 Wins -120
-- I know they're very hopeful about Scott Skiles' arrival in Milwaukee. And he is trying to establish more of a defensive mindset. But I don't know that it's going to happen with the group of players he has at his disposal. They won 26 games last year, and they would have to improve about seven or eight games in order to get within this number. ATLANTA -6
Atlanta Hawks vs Portland Trailblazers
Atlanta Hawks +8 Wins -120
Portland Trailblazers -8 Wins -120
-- As improved as I think the Hawks are going to be, the Blazers have more upside. Last year I figured them to make a big leap, even without Greg Oden. Now the Oden is on board, I wouldn't count them out of a 50-win season and a division title. But I would be careful with laying this much with Portland, since they are, after all, in the much tougher conference. ATLANTA +8
Atlanta Hawks vs Charlotte Bobcats
Atlanta Hawks -½ Wins -120
Charlotte Bobcats +½ Wins -120
-- I think this one is easy. I know that Charlotte has personnel who can score, as well as Emeka Okafor in the paint. But true center play is lacking, and Larry Brown has already declared Sean May to be useless. Word is out that Brown isn't crazy about his personnel. ATLANTA -1/2
Atlanta Hawks vs Denver Nuggets
Atlanta Hawks +4 Wins -110
Denver Nuggets -4 Wins -130
-- This is a close call. Denver won 50 games last year, but I don't see that happening again without Marcus Camby and mediocrity in the middle. The Nuggets might not make the playoffs, and if the Hawks achieve a record of .500, this one slips within the impost. ATLANTA +4
Atlanta Hawks vs Golden State Warriors
Atlanta Hawks +½ Wins -110
Golden State Warriors -½ Wins -130
-- Golden State goes backward after losing Baron Davis and adding Corey Maggette. The Warriors will be hard-pressed to get to .500 or make the playoffs. ATLANTA +1/2
Atlanta Hawks vs Indiana Pacers
Atlanta Hawks -1 Wins -140
Indiana Pacers +1 Wins Ev
-- Indiana is a rebuilding team that is rebuilding without Jermaine O'Neal. Defense doesn't exist with the Pacers, and I don't think they are going to make a serious playoff run. ATLANTA -1
Atlanta Hawks vs Los Angeles Clippers
Atlanta Hawks -2 Wins -130
Los Angeles Clippers +2 Wins -110
-- Here I am going to show some faith in the Clippers, who struggled without Elton Brand last year but developed young standouts like Al Thornton. Now they add Baron Davis and Marcus Camby, not to mention getting rid of Corey Maggette, and that could make them a better team. CLIPPERS +2
Atlanta Hawks vs Miami Heat
Atlanta Hawks +1 Wins -120
Miami Heat -1 Wins -120
-- The Heat was decimated by injuries last year, and had to finish the season with a CBA roster. With a healthy Dwyane Wade and rookie Michael Beasley, they should improve. But I still don;t believe they can come all the way back to playoff status under first-year coach Erik Spoelstra. ATLANTA +1
Atlanta Hawks vs Minnesota Timberwolves
Atlanta Hawks -6 Wins -120
Minnesota Timberwolves +6 Wins -120
-- The T-Wolves acquired rookie Kevin Love, but they still have a long way to go in their rebuilding process after losing Kevin Garnett. ATLANTA -6
Atlanta Hawks vs New Jersey Nets
Atlanta Hawks -9 Wins -120
New Jersey Nets +9 Wins -120
-- I see the Nets in the early stages of an overhaul, and that overhaul could continue sometime before the February trade deadline when they have to make a decision about Vince Carter. There are still some lingering questions about how good, or consistent, Devin Harris is as Jason Kidd's successor at point guard. ATLANTA -9
Atlanta Hawks vs New York Knicks
Atlanta Hawks -4 Wins -130
New York Knicks +4 Wins -110
-- No one should have very big expectations about the Knicks, who spoil the efforts of people like David Lee with their selfish play. Mike D'Antoni hasn't made wholesale changes, but he is going to have a difficult transition into his "seven seconds or less" offense with this group. ATLANTA -4
Atlanta Hawks vs Sacramento Kings
Atlanta Hawks -8 Wins -120
Sacramento Kings +8 Wins -120
-- Sacramento is something of a one-man show this season, as Kevin Martin will be the dominant scorer. But this team is going to have to see some production of young players (including rookie Jason Thompson) and role players like Beno Udrih and John Salmons. ATLANTA -8
Atlanta Hawks vs Washington Wizards
Atlanta Hawks +1 Wins -120
Washington Wizards -1 Wins -120
-- I see a little upside for Washington, as they still put some All-Stars on the court (Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, and Gilbert Arenas, when he comes back), and the playoff experience has to do them some good. If the Wizards get any kind of pivot play, they're going to be competing for that #4 or #5 playoff spot. WASHINGTON -1
(Charles Jay of http://www.ebookies.com makes his shots from the top of the key as a regular contributor to the BetUS Locker Room).
