NBA Picks & Predictions for Friday, April 1, 2011
By Anthony Rome
(The Spread) – The Boston Celtics got back in the win column on Thursday night but now must travel to Atlanta and play on back-to-back nights.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have made the Celtics 1.5-point favorites over the Hawks on Friday night. The over/under total for this game is currently 177.5 points.
Boston enters tonight’s game with a 52-22 overall record and a 23-14 mark at home. According to latest NBA trends, the Celtics are 34-38-2 against the spread this year and 18-19 ATS on the road.
The Hawks come into Friday night’s contest sporting a 43-32 overall record and a 23-15 mark at home. They’re 35-40 against the spread this year, which includes a 15-23 ATS record at Phillips Arena.
NBA Free Pick: The Celtics may have looked good against a struggling, Tim Duncan-less Spurs team on Thursday night, but keep in mind that Boston has dealt with its own struggles of late. Before winning in San Antonio last night, the C’s had lost three of their last five games, including back-to-back home losses against the Bobcats and Grizzlies. Maybe they’re about to get into a groove again, but they’re at the end of a four-game road swing and their focus might be wavering. There’s usually value in taking the home underdog, especially when it’s a team like the Hawks that is 4-0 against the number in their last four games overall. The Celtics, meanwhile, are 2-6 ATS in their last eight trips to Atlanta and the road team is just 5-12 ATS in the last 17 meetings between these two teams. The Hawks have won three-straight games, have a red-hot Josh Smith leading the way, and is injury-free. Take Atlanta.
FRIDAY NBA FREE PICK: ATLANTA HAWKS +1.5