Hawks apparently have some convincing to do (UPDATED)
Mike Woodson laughs at your odds, Mr. Bodog. (Jason Getz/AJC)
(Updated with more odds below)
After speaking to a few players in the Hawks’ locker room Thursday, it became apparent to me that their confidence is at an all-time high, not just to defeat Milwaukee in the first round of the playoffs but to make it to at least the Eastern Conference finals.
But oddsmakers aren’t in agreement.
According to the online sportsbook, Bodog.com, the Hawks are overwhelming favorites to defeat Milwaukee in their opening round series, which begins Saturday at Philips Arena. But they’re only fourth among teams to win the Eastern Conference finals – behind even the Boston Celtics, whom Atlanta finished ahead of in the standings and swept this season.
Here are the numbers. Do you agree, or do you think the Hawks are being short-changed?
Eastern Conference title odds
♦ Cleveland: 1-2 ♦ Orlando: 10-3 ♦ Boston 13-2 ♦ Hawks: 10-1 ♦ Miami: 40-1 ♦ Milwaukee: 65-1 ♦ Charlotte: 65-1 ♦ Chicago: 100-1Hawks-Bucks series:
The Hawks average out to 13-2 favorites to defeat the Bucks in the first round. The odds on how long it will go: ♦ Hawks win 4-1: 11-4 ♦ Hawks win 4-0: 4-1 ♦ Hawks win 4-2: 4-1 ♦ Hawks win 4-3: 4-1 ♦ Bucks win 4-2: 10-1 ♦ Bucks win 4-3: 12-1 ♦ Bucks win 4-1: 30-1 ♦ Bucks win 4-0: 50-1Odds to win the NBA title
Off-beat prop bet
Who will make it further in the NBA playoffs: LeBron James (-150) or Kobe Bryant (+120): James averages out to a 1.35-to-1 favorite.(Just added)
Odds to win NBA finals MVP
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Joe Johnson says playoffs need to be his time to shine
Vote in our poll: As Hawks open playoffs, what’s acceptable to you?
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61 comments Add your comment
Eric C.
April 17th, 2010
6:11 am
Getting to the Eastern Conference Finals has to be the realitstic goal for the Hawks this year. If they can get to that level, they will have soared higher than any previous Hawks team in Atlanta…go Bobcats!
Stats Matter
April 17th, 2010
8:04 am
Anyone know that the Hawks are 49-6 when leading with three minutes or less remaining in the game? I thought they were stinky with fourth quarter leads.
Someone for the Bucks to play
April 17th, 2010
9:05 am
If the mere fact of them wanting to win the championship is not incentive enough, I hope the players, or someone in the PR department reads this post. The Hawks, despite being a strong team, are dead to everyone else in sports media. ESPN has been breaking down the playoffs this week and when they talk about the East they mention, Cleveland, Orlando and . . . Boston. Atlanta? Nope. On Fox Sports Radio Friday night when they were breaking down each series, when they got to the Hawks-Bucks, the consensus was that there was no way Milwaukee wins without Andrew Bogut. That was it. Thank heaven Jamal Crawford played on pretty crappy teams before coming to Atlanta. Without his never-having-played-in-the-playoffs-before meme resonating at least with New York-bred media members (Crawford is a former Knick), Atlanta is an awkward pause before those guys move on to talk about the Cavs’ next opponent. Hawks, make them say your name!
cdog
April 17th, 2010
10:28 am
the hawks are a dangerous team.they need to deep down inside believe they are the best in the east and play with recklessness.their game is when they are on the move running.they need to pressure their opponents into an up tempo. if this happen, they will be in the nba finals because they have the team to do it this year.the playoffs is a whole new season as everyone knows.
cdog
April 17th, 2010
10:31 am
noone cares about espn. the hawks will do their talking on the court.the espn crew is nothing but a bunch of hapless braggots for lebron james.they will end up just like james will, on the outside, dissapointed looking in.
Today’s Celtics Links 4/17 « Flceltsfan’s Weblog
April 17th, 2010
11:08 am
[...] [...]
Dominique21
April 17th, 2010
3:50 pm
Who cares what MaryM thinks? The day I get my NBA advice from a woman is the same day I watch the WNBA.
Hawks find a perfect playoff pairing: victory and humility | Jeff Schultz
April 18th, 2010
12:50 pm
[...] ♦Hawks apparently have some convincing to do [...]
dr.maryb
April 20th, 2010
11:34 am
I for one like the props that Coach Woodson is presenting to the Team. I don’t remember hearing if any motivational tactics in Coaches recent playoffs runs.
This year seems different!
Phil gives his players books to read and plays “Rockie Balboa Movies”
Pat Riley had some big barrell or bowl thingy in the players locker room & they were putting
Ingredients into the bowl, the year Miami won it all!
Looks like Coach Mike has drug out the TROPHY & placed it in their faces!
If you WIN, I guess it’s All – Good!
Just Win Baby!
Faucons ont apparemment certains convaincre de le faire (mise à jour)
April 20th, 2010
2:47 pm
[...] Mike Woodson rit de vos chances, M. Bodog. (Jason Getz / AJC) (mise à jour avec plus de cotes ci-dessous) Après avoir parlé à quelques joueurs de «vestiaire des Hawks le jeudi, il est devenu évident pour moi que leur confiance est à un haut-temps tous, pas seulement à vaincre Milwaukee dans le premier tour des séries éliminatoires, mais de le rendre au moins à la finale de la Conférence de l'Est. Mais parieurs ne sont pas d'accord. Selon les paris sportifs en ligne, Bodog. com, les Hawks sont favoris pour la défaite de Milwaukee dans leur série manche d'ouverture, qui commence samedi à Philips Arena. Mais ils sont seulement au quatrième rang des équipes à gagner la finale de la Conférence de l'Est – même derrière les Boston Celtics, dont Atlanta termine devant au classement et balayé cette saison. Voici les numéros. Approuvez-vous ou pensez-vous que les Hawks sont à court changé? Conférence cotes titre de l'Est ? Cleveland: 1-2 ? Orlando: 10-3 ? Boston 13-2 Hawks ?: 10-1 ? Miami: 40-1 ? Milwaukee: 65-1 ? Charlotte: 65-1 ? Chicago: … URL article original: http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2010/04/16/hawks-apparently-have-some-convincing-to-do/?cxntf... [...]
David
April 29th, 2010
9:08 am
My post on April 16th, 2010 at 11:50 am will probably come true. Bucks win last 3 to lead 3 games to 2.