This is the only time the fans in Atlanta get to see their former All-Star forward Paul Millsap, who might not recognize many faces. The rebuilding Hawks will host the Denver Nuggets on Friday night, the Nuggets who had hoped to impress already, but find themselves in a tough spot.
Nuggets at Hawks
Spread: Nuggets -7 (-120); Hawks +7 (-120) at BetDSI Sportsbook
Total: TBR
Things not working well in Denver
This was not the start the Nuggets envisioned or hoped for. They’ve lost for the second time in a row, and third time in four games since the season started. Sorry. They didn’t just lose, they were routed by an average Hornets team, 110-93. They were behind by 25 points before halftime, and the lackluster effort has left their coach Malone fuming.
Poor defense has become something of a standard already, but the offense has gone ice cold and it drains the life and the emotion of this playoff hopeful. A new starting line-up and new additions to the team can’t be an excuse for everything. Chandler, Millsap, and Jokic need time to gel, but it’s the lack of any playmaking from the backcourt that doesn’t seem to be fixed so easily. Mudiay was relegated to the bench this year, and the young guard took it badly. The way he plays with the second unit can only hurt his cause and certainly isn’t helping the team. The starters for the Nuggets stayed the same, but this might not be the case for much longer, as the second unit needs scoring aside of Barton, and the starters need someone who can play without the ball and be effective on both sides. Jokic continued to play well, but the world around him was falling apart. Harris woke up in the second half, a little too late. The Nuggets shot only 38 % from the field and 26% from the three-point range.
They continue their road trip with a visit to Atlanta, where Millsap will meet his former team. They have a good opportunity to grab a much-needed win, as they’ll be catching them on their second night of a back-to-back, and possibly without the full roster. Of course, the Nuggets have to think about their own troubles first.
Place: Philips Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
Date/Time: Friday, October 27th, 2017. 7:30 PM ET
TV Coverage: FSSE, Altitude-2
The Hawks finally home
Due to some Philips Arena renovations and repairs, the Atlanta Hawks were forced to play their first 5 games on the road. The game against the Nuggets is, therefore, their home opener, and a chance to show their own fans the new roster they have assembled after breaking apart from a team that had long maintained continuity and success in Atlanta. As the team is completely overhauled, it’s great to have Millsap in the building as someone that can remind the fans what it all is about.
Every team wants to leave a good first impression on the ticket holders, but the Hawks might not be able to do much without their two starters, Ersan Ilyasova and Dennis Schroder. They aren’t very good with them in the squad, and they possibly won’t be ready due to injuries. The Hawks play tonight in Chicago, so hopefully, we’ll learn more about their status after the game. Prior to that game, the Hawks have lost three in a row and the last one without Schroder and Ilyasova. They managed to stay in the games and this will help the young players with their learning process. It’s what this season is about for the Hawks. They play at a very quick tempo, taking the first available shot in transition, hoping to maximize their youth and athleticism. Defensively, they gamble a lot, leaving assignments to try to steal the ball, forcing the opposition to play with more precision. Once they do, the defense breaks down. They are not an efficient team and don’t have much of a three-ball threat, so they tend to play positive offense only during stretches of time. With Schroder, they play too much isolation in the half court, and the things weren’t much better in Miami either.
Next up is the Milwaukee Bucks in three days, so the Hawks shouldn’t risk Schroder. However, he’s young and youngs heal quickly, so consider him questionable for now. Ilyasova is close to return, might play in Chicago tonight.
Denver Nuggets at Atlanta Hawks Game Trends & Prediction
The Nuggets’ offense is letting them down, so it’s no wonder that they’ve consistently stayed under the total points line this season. On top of their 0-4 O/U record, last five games of the last season have also gone to minus, albeit with a much higher lines. The spread has followed their defensive success, which is rare as you might expect. Denver is now 1-3 against the spread, covering only against the Kings.
Low expectations in Miami helped the Hawks escape with a push, so they are now 1-2-1 against the spread this season. They’ve failed to cover in the last three games though, so the books will likely tease you with some value on them. They are also 1-2-1 against the over/under, but the overs were much closer to come than with the Nuggets. The pace itself will guarantee it, but they need a bit more firepower (healthy and beyond).
A unique ranking system – AdmiRank helps you understand how good NBA teams are on a scale to 100. While both teams are trending downwards, the Hawks are sinking slowly, while the Nuggets rankings seem to have been glued to an anchor. Despite that, there’s significant edge on the away side.
If all things would ever good according to plan, this should be an easy win for the Nuggets. They are more balanced, deep and more talented. Most of the team plays together for a longer period. They are healthier, more rested and (should be) more motivated.
The books are using wait-and-see approach, just as we are, so there aren’t any odds released early. When this happens, I always provide you my fair number that can help you strike as soon as the market opens. As much as the Nuggets failed to meet expectations, they are going to be heavily favored, and I don’t see value on them. On the other, I’d skip riding with the Hawks. The bet I’ll be looking for is the overs, and it’s not unrealistic to get a good price on it, especially if the Bulls vs Hawks game fails to go to overs.
As Schroder is doubtful for this game, I’ll give you the number without him:
Denver -7 and over/under 204.5 points
My Pick: Denver Nuggets -7 (-120)
Total: Over 204.5 points
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