PREMIUM
Stephen Nover's Playoff Total of the Year
(NBA) Cleveland vs. Atlanta,
Total: 197.50 | -107.00 Over
Result: Win
Total: 197.50 | -107.00 Over
Result: Win
Outstanding defense and slow pace. That's a winning combination for an under play - and that's the scenario I see for this Game 2 of the Cavaliers-Hawks Eastern Conference Finals.
Cleveland has gone under in six of its last seven road games. The Cavaliers are giving up an average of 86.7 points during their last four games.
This isn't a fluke either. Because of Kevin Love's injury, Cavaliers coach David Blatt has figured out his best defensive starting lineup consists of Tristan Thompson and Iman Shumpert being on the court. Cleveland has yielded fewer than 90 points a game during the past six games Thompson and Shumpert have started. Thompson is the ultimate under player - a big man who can rebound and play defense but would rather pass than shoot.
The Hawks are a solid defensive team. They've allowed an average of 89.6 points per game during their last three games. DeMarre Carroll may not play. He's a good defender, but his impact would also be felt on Atlanta's offense. The under has cashed in five of the Hawks' last seven home contests.
Despite J.R. Smith having a game for the ages in Game 1 hitting eight of 12 shots from 3-point range, the total reached just 186 with Cleveland winning, 97-89.
These teams know how to defend each other. They also played at an extremely slow pace with an average of just over four fast break points per quarter, while eating up a lot of clock before shooting. The 92.5 point possession rate the teams played in Game 1 would have ranked last in the NBA.
The Hawks' defensive task is made easier by Kyrie Irving being far from 100 percent and now having just one day off between games. The under is 35-15-1 (70 percent) the past 51 times the Cavaliers have played on one day's rest.
Minus Love and with Irving hurting, LeBron James has to take deeper shots and he's shooting just 14 percent from 3-point range in the playoffs missing 42 of 49 shots from beyond the arc.
The Hawks' best 3-point shooter, Kyle Korver, is wearing down and cold, too. He's missed 12 of his last 15 shots from 3-point range.
Atlanta is in a desperate position down 0-1 at home. This is going to be an intense, methodical, grind-out defensive game. Worthy of a strong under play.
Cleveland has gone under in six of its last seven road games. The Cavaliers are giving up an average of 86.7 points during their last four games.
This isn't a fluke either. Because of Kevin Love's injury, Cavaliers coach David Blatt has figured out his best defensive starting lineup consists of Tristan Thompson and Iman Shumpert being on the court. Cleveland has yielded fewer than 90 points a game during the past six games Thompson and Shumpert have started. Thompson is the ultimate under player - a big man who can rebound and play defense but would rather pass than shoot.
The Hawks are a solid defensive team. They've allowed an average of 89.6 points per game during their last three games. DeMarre Carroll may not play. He's a good defender, but his impact would also be felt on Atlanta's offense. The under has cashed in five of the Hawks' last seven home contests.
Despite J.R. Smith having a game for the ages in Game 1 hitting eight of 12 shots from 3-point range, the total reached just 186 with Cleveland winning, 97-89.
These teams know how to defend each other. They also played at an extremely slow pace with an average of just over four fast break points per quarter, while eating up a lot of clock before shooting. The 92.5 point possession rate the teams played in Game 1 would have ranked last in the NBA.
The Hawks' defensive task is made easier by Kyrie Irving being far from 100 percent and now having just one day off between games. The under is 35-15-1 (70 percent) the past 51 times the Cavaliers have played on one day's rest.
Minus Love and with Irving hurting, LeBron James has to take deeper shots and he's shooting just 14 percent from 3-point range in the playoffs missing 42 of 49 shots from beyond the arc.
The Hawks' best 3-point shooter, Kyle Korver, is wearing down and cold, too. He's missed 12 of his last 15 shots from 3-point range.
Atlanta is in a desperate position down 0-1 at home. This is going to be an intense, methodical, grind-out defensive game. Worthy of a strong under play.
