Record: 19-25
When you take the first game in the first round, you get the best of the bets.
All the lollygagging we saw to end the season?
Gone.
They will come to play in Game 1.
And when you take the best, you ride the good teams in the NBA playoffs if the line is not sufficient.
This one is not.
The Wizards have been waiting to make a statement in the Eastern Conference all the way back to when they upset the Bulls in the first round.
The obvious also plays a large roll here with the Hawks dispatching the Wizards in 2015 to head to the Eastern Conference Finals.
But one of the biggest factors, is not to bet on losers. Perennial playoff losers.
I watched on in utter disbelief as Howard, a member of the Lakers then, got himself thrown out of Game 4 against the Spurs a few years ago.
It was nothing to him. This guy is all about himself. While most NBA players are, this one is a special breed.
You cannot trust him. You cannot put your money on this player.
And there simply isn't enough complimentary parts around Howard because management has gone out of their way to break this team down.
And just like the tanking team that lost 17 of 18 when they made the headlines of the New York Times (in the Danny Ferry era), the Hawks responded by making a run.
But this Hawks team is running into the wrong team at the wrong time.
This is the strongest Game 1 home game line so I will lay the points.
And I see no way the Hawks win it nor do I see them pushing it to 7.
So I will also take the series bet Wizards -1.5 games.
Lots of rhetoric here because I am short on time so I will be back for more.
The bet:
Wizards -5 over Hawks Game 1
Wizards -1.5 +111 For the series.