The statistical projections and pundits believe the Hawks will be among the two or three worst teams in the NBA this season. Accordingly, most bookmakers have set the over/under win total for the Hawks at 25-½ games.
But the betting public is bullish on the Hawks surpassing those expectations.
According to the Bovada online sportsbook, the Hawks are getting the second-most action on the "over" bet among NBA teams behind the Thunder (50-½) and ahead of the Cavaliers (53-½). At last look, the Hawks over bet was at -125 odds ($12.50 to win $10) and the under was at -105 ($10.50 to win $10).
I can see why bettors might lay the juice and take over 25-½ victories for the Hawks. By now everyone knows the reasons why the Hawks are not expected to be very good. Paul Millsap, Dwight Howard, Thabo Sefolosha and Tim Hardaway Jr. are gone from the 43-win team in 2016-17 with a statistical profile added up to 39 expected wins. The Hawks now are younger, and with less offensive talent.
But there also are some legitimate reasons to think the Hawks can beat expectations. Among them: another potentially good defensive team under coach Mike Budenholzer, the budding stardom of Dennis Schroder, a possible bounce-back season for Kent Bazemore, a sophomore bump for Taurean Prince.
And, of course, there’s also the shabby shape of the East overall. To that point, Bovada reports that the Knicks (30-½) are getting the heaviest action on the season under, followed by the Sixers (41-½).
Bovada also lists some over/under proposition bets for Schroder, Bazemore, Prince, Ersan Ilyasova and John Collins:
- Schroder points per game (20-½) and assists per game (6-½)
- Bazemore points per game (12-½)
- Prince points per game (10)
- Ilyasova points per game (13)
- Collins points per game (10)
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