Hawks on the Verge of Eliminating Knicks
Jeff Teague
The Atlanta Hawks magic number to clinch the final Eastern Conference playoff spot is one. The New York Knicks are the only team that could still catch them but they would have to win their three remaining games and the Hawks would have to lose their remaining three games. Atlanta got a big win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night 93-88. The Hawks are now 36-43 with three games left while the Knicks are two games back at 34-45. Atlanta has the tie breaker.
On Saturday the Hawks host the Miami Heat, who is a half game ahead in the race for the top spot, so they will be motivated to knock the Hawks off. Their remaining two games are at home against the Charlotte Bobcats and on the road at the league worst Milwaukee Bucks. This does not bode well for New York. The Knicks will have a tough time sweeping their final three games anyway, which they must do to have any shot. They play the Chicago Bulls, the Nets and the Toronto Raptors, all three of whom are heading for the playoffs.
A couple of weeks ago, it appeared the Hawks looked as if they were going to choke away the playoffs to the surging Knicks. They had lost seven in a row and were in a tie for the eighth spot with seven games to play. The Knicks are 2-2 in the last four but the Hawks are 4-1 during that stretch. That did not seem likely at the time as they had beaten only the pathetic Philadelphia 76ers in their previous eight games.
Tonight’s game against the Heat is going to be an interesting one to watch because this is a very likely first round match up. The Hawks would face the top seed and right now that is looking like it will be the Heat. Of course the Hawks could put the Pacers back in the top spot with a win tonight, so if they’d rather not see the Heat in the first round, they should do something about it tonight.
Carbon Sports has Miami -5 -110 and Atlanta +5 -110 ATS. Moneyline is Miami -200 and the Hawks +170. We will go with Miami -5 -110. They see the finish line now and are getting into playoff mode. That is bad news for the Hawks.
One thing is for sure. The New York Knicks will fell strange rooting for the Miami Heat tonight. They likely have not done that very much in their lives. Spike Lee is probably sick to his stomach a little.
