Hawks vs. Knicks NBA Odds, Preview, and Picks (Archive)
The Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks faced in the first round of the playoffs last season. Now they face once again the Knicks’ playoff hopes on the line. After looking at the NBA odds, which team is the right NBA pick?
Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks
Tuesday, March 22, 2022 – 07:30 PM EDT at Madison Square Garden
New York Knicks
The New York Knicks got a very important win over the Washington Wizards on Friday night. The Wizards are a half-game ahead of the Knicks in the standings. Both teams are chasing the Atlanta Hawks for a Play-In spot.
The Hawks are currently five games ahead of the Knicks with 11 games to go. So while the Knicks' playoff hopes are unlikely, they still have a chance. Still, they will need to win this game tonight in order to avoid elimination.
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After making the playoffs last season, the Knicks backed their success up with a season of disappointment. The Knicks are currently 30-41 and have lost all the momentum they gained as a franchise last year.
New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau’s hard-nosed tactics wore down the team. Also, I think the Knicks were too reliant on Derrick Rose, and his absence with injury has sunk the team. Julius Randle also has regressed, although Randle has been playing better as of late.
The primary scapegoat in the New York media for the Knicks' decline has been Julius Randle. Randle followed up his all-NBA season with steep declines in inefficiency. Randle shot 45% from the field last season; he is 41% from the field this season.
Even worse is his three-point shooting decline. Randle went from 41% from behind the arc last season to only 30% behind the arc this season. Randle has drawn the ire of Knicks fans and rightfully so. Randle's drop in playing level has directly correlated with the Knicks' inability to win.
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks also have had a disappointing season, but they are on track to make the Play-In tournament. The Hawks can turn their season around with another good playoff run. The Hawks have been hovering around .500 all season and are currently 35-36.
They are 12-22 on the road this season. The Hawks are 6-4 in the last 10 and have a point differential of +0.8. The Hawks are coming off a 117-112 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans in Atlanta.
The loss ended a seven-game home win streak for the Hawks. The Hawks are much better at home and they have won 15 of their last 18 in Atlanta. The Hawks will need to play better on the road, however, as they will not have the home-court advantage during the playoffs.
The Hawks’ Trae Young had 21 points and 10 assists in the loss to New Orleans, giving him 35 double-doubles this season. The Hawks will need Young to be at his best in order to get the victory tonight. That should not be a problem, however, as Trae Young treated Madison Square Garden as his home arena during the playoffs last year.
Key Matchup
Danilo Gallinari vs. Julius Randle
Danilo Gallinari has been starting for the Atlanta Hawks with John Collins out of the lineup. Gallinari is an excellent offensive player who can score inside and out, although his defense does leave something to be desired.
I'm certain that the Knicks and Tom Thibodeau will be attacking Gallinari, who is one of the weak points in the defense. This will be a great opportunity for Randle to have a big performance. If Randle can have a big night against Gallinari, the Knicks have a good chance to get the home win.
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If Gallinari becomes the latest in a line of power forwards to slow down Randle, the Hawks have a great chance to get the road victory.
Best Bet
This line is far too short for an Atlanta Hawks team that is playing much better and is actually focused on making the playoffs. While the fans may feel like they have hope in the team, the Knicks players know that they are just limping towards another lottery finish.
The Knicks haven't shown fight all year, I don't think that being on the brink of elimination will up their sense of urgency. Against the spread, the Atlanta Hawks are a great bet. Another way to approach this game is also the under. The Knicks prioritize defense and play at a slow pace.
When the Hawks are winning games, they also make defense a priority as well. Now that the Hawks are back to living up to their potential on the defensive end, they have been winning games. This is not a coincidence.
The Hawks have gone under in their last three contests. The Hawks do have the scorers to beat even the best defenses, but the Knicks offense will have problems scoring against a great Hawks defensive effort. Knicks games have gone under three of their last four outings.
As well as the Hawks to win, I like this game to go under. The best bet for the game is under 225.5.
NBA Pick: Atlanta Hawks -1 (-110) with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
NBA Pick: Under 225.5 (-110) with BetOnline
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