Phoenix Suns at Atlanta Hawks Betting Preview

Opening Line: Suns +4 / Hawks -4 O/U 217.5

Time: 8 PM EST Friday January 15, 2010 on ESPN

Tonight in a match of 2 teams that are in 2nd place in their respective conference the Atlanta Hawks host the Phoenix Suns. The Hawks have won 2 games in a row, are 5-5 in their last 10 games and are in 2nd place in the Southeast Division only ½ game back of the Orlando Magic. The Suns are coming off a loss, are 5-5 in their last 10 games, and trail the L.A. Lakers by 6 games in the Pacific Division.

This season the Hawks are 15-4 at home and 20-18-1 ATS and the Suns are 9-11 on the road and 26-12 ATS.

Don't look for a lot of defense in this game, as the Suns are the highest scoring team in the NBA averaging 109.9 ppg and the Hawks rank 7th (103.2 ppg). However, while the Hawks are decent on D ranking 14th in the league in points allowed (97.4 ppg) while the Suns do not play much defense ranking 29th (106.9 ppg).

The Hawks like to get out and run, but if they do that tonight they may be in trouble tonight against the Suns. If the Hawks can slow the pace of the game they have a great chance to win, as they are a better half-court team.

Slowing down the Suns will not be easy and much of the responsibility falls on Hawks' PG Mike Bibby, as he has to contain Suns' PG Steve Nash (19.2 ppg), who is tied with Chris Paul for the most assists per game (11.2 per game).

Every Suns' starter is averaging at least 11 points per game.

The Hawks have to play good defense against Amare Stoudamire, who leads the Suns in both scoring (20.9 ppg) and rebounds (8.7 rpg). Hawks' C Al Horford has to play good defense on Stoudamire and not let him score a ton of points in the paint and dominate the boards.

In the last 3 games for the Suns they have blown big leads and they cannot afford to do that tonight against the Hawks.

One of the best ways to slow down an up-tempo team is to shoot well, so if the Hawks have a legit FG% tonight they should win this game.

Joe Johnson (21.3 ppg) and Josh Smith (14.7 ppg) are if they are shut down the Suns have a great chance to win this game.

Atlanta is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall, 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games as a home favorite of 0.5-4.5, and 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games against teams in the Pacific Division.


Future Betting Odds

NBA Handicapping

Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat Odds 6-12
The Mavs are up 3-2 in this series heading to South Beach and for the Heat to force Game 7 they will have to play better in the 4th quarter, especially LeBron James. 5Dimes has the hometown Heat as 5-point favorites in Game 6 with a total of 187.

NBA Toolbox

Sportsbooks