NBA Wednesday Preview – Hawks vs Raptors

We’re only two days away from March Madness brackets being due and while the 2010 March Madness odds are the main focus, the NBA action on Wednesday presents a matchup of a potential playoff preview in the Eastern Conference when Joe Johnson and the Atlanta Hawks fly up to Canada to take on Chris Bosh and the Toronto Raptors.

Atlanta Hawks (42-23, 3^rd in Eastern Conference) @ Toronto Raptors (32-33, 8^th in Eastern Conference)

NBA Odds: (*note lines are approximations as they have not been posted at the time of writing)

Spread: Hawks -6.5

Over/Under: 214

Money Line: Hawks -275, Raptors +180

Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks are 8-3 in their last 11 games and are hitting a light part of their schedule. The Hawks have developed in the last couple of years from a fringe playoff team, to losing surprising seven-game battle with the eventual champion, Boston Celtics, as an eight seed, to having a better regular season but being swept in the 2^nd round by LeBron and the Cavs to now being a legitimate contender for the NBA Finals this year. Perhaps it is because the missing link was found in Jamal Crawford. Crawford, coming off the bench, has averaged 17.5 points in 30.6 minutes a game and is a favorite for sixth man of the year. Those numbers have been even better in March as Crawford has scored 20.1 points and averaged 3.3 assists and 3.4 rebounds a game in only 28.7 minutes. Crawford is shooting an incredible 49% on both two’s (92 attempts) and three’s (47 attempts) improving on his season averages significantly.

The Hawks also boast All-Stars Joe Johnson and Al Horford and perhaps the last man left off the Eastern Conference team, Josh Smith. Those guys match up well with the Raptors who rely upon Chris Bosh inside for most of their scoring. Horford is one of the best in the game on the defensive end and Smith is an elite shot-blocker. Joe Johnson however, will be the best player on the court and will not be able to be guarded by rookie Demar Derozen or Sonny Weems.  With Johnson able to score in bunches, and the Raptors being significantly less physical than the Hawks, the Hawks should win easily.

Toronto Raptors

Toronto is on a 1-9 slide and has fallen under .500 for the first time in a while and is in danger of slipping out of the final playoff spot. If the Bulls were not so banged up, they probably would have overtaken the Raptors by now. The cause for the slide has been curious as Chris Bosh returned six games ago and the Raptors have still been winless. Bosh has ripped his teammates for playing with no heart and not fighting as they have lost badly to awful teams on this stretch. Bosh is likely going to be playing elsewhere next season and the team is on the verge of a complete late season collapse.

5dimes Review: Prediction

The Raptors are fighting within the team, they’re playing with no heart and Bosh’s numbers have been down too on this losing streak. The Hawks present a challenge that the Raptors, in their current state, cannot compete with and this game will not be close, even in Toronto where the Raptors are 22-10 on the year.

Final: Hawks 118 – Raptors 103

While you’re filling out your March Madness Bracket , take Atlanta -6.5.