Hawks vs. Bucks Odds, Game 1 Preview, Picks, & Prediction

by Sloan Piva (SloanPiva) Last Updated 2021-06-23 22:00:04

Hawks vs. Bucks Game 1 Odds

NBA Picks: Hawks vs. Bucks Update

• GM 1 Moneyline: NBA bettors are laying big odds on teh Bucks. The current money line might be as high as -400, but that hasn’t kept 77% of bets from backing Milwaukee to win outright.

• GM 1 Spread: The spread, on the other hand, isn’t quite as lopsided. The Hawks have received 61% of the consensus handle out online sportsbooks. The best price for Atlanta can be found at DraftKings, where the Bucks are giving the away team 8.5 points.

• GM 1 Over/Under: The over/under opened at 224.5 but has moved up a half-point to 225 in spite of 71% of money being bet on the Under.

The NBA Playoffs never fail to surprise us. Case in point, the No. 3 seed Milwaukee Bucks host the No. 5 seed Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals, set to tip off Wednesday night. Neither of the top seeds remain in the postseason, and the Phoenix Suns are the only active No. 2 seed in the tournament. Long story short, lots of futures bettors have lost large sums of money on their 2021 NBA Champion picks at sportsbooks. But at RotoGrinders, we are experiencing smooth sailing, with just an occasional rough wave. So let’s keep the ship cruising, fire up our Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 betting guide, and make some money on what’s sure to be an exciting series.

How did we get here? The top-seeded 76ers were stunned by fully-emerged superstar Trae Young and his young, upstart Hawks. Young and Atlanta coach Nate McMillan exploited Philly’s weaknesses—namely Ben Simmons’ free throw shooting—and delivered the death blows via Young’s elite playmaking and lethal long-range shooting (not to mention the “Legend of Kevin Huerter ). As for the Bucks, they were too much of a complete team for a top-heavy, injury-ravaged Nets squad to handle. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday narrowly outlasted the incredible Kevin Durant in a Game 7 overtime thriller.

The stage has been set for what could be a truly epic and historic conference championship series. Atlanta and Milwaukee are two of the faster-paced offenses in the NBA, and both teams combine superb three-point shooting with above-average athleticism and slashing penetration. These teams also both rebound the ball very well, and have multiple elite two-way defenders.

Hawks vs. Bucks Betting Preview

Of course, the stars will undoubtedly be shining the brightest. Young has fully broken out in his first career postseason, looking every bit like the Steph Curry comp Atlanta’s managerial team pinpointed three years ago when they traded Luka Doncic for him. The 22-year old has led the Hawks to an 8-4 playoff record, averaging 29.1 points and 10.4 assists in the process. He has been unstoppable, and in the one game he got heat-checked, Huerter and company stepped right up.

For Milwaukee, Giannis remains the main catalyst. Will McMillan and the Hawks opt to hack him, like they did with Simmons? The only thing the Greek Freak cannot do at this point is hit free throws with consistency. He has averaged 28.8 points, an NBA Playoff-leading 13.6 boards, and 5.1 assists per game, while shooting 53.3 percent from the floor. Hawks fringe All-Defensive center Clint Capela will have a huge task on his hands in limiting Antetokounmpo’s path to the rim. If the Hawks can keep Giannis outside the three-point stripe, where he has shot under 20 percent this postseason, and on the line, where he is shooting 53.8 percent, the Hawks might soar to the Finals.

However, that’s a big ‘if.’ The two-time MVP and five-time All-NBA selection can usually get to his spots, regardless of who may be standing in his way. And if and when Giannis draws double-teams, Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer has him well-trained in the art of dishing to open teammates. That’s where two-time All-Star Middleton’s scoring prowess comes in, as well as the clutch offensive contributions of underrated midseason acquisition Holiday. The Bucks are deep—they no longer need to rely on deep threes from center Brook Lopez. They now have a trio of elite two-way scorers in their Big Three, and three accurate long-range shooters in P.J. Tucker, Pat Connaughton, and Bryn Forbes. This is a core rotation capable of going the distance.

Hawks vs. Bucks Game 1 Picks & Prediction

As an NBA bettor, I usually place my money on the more complete team, with fewer question marks on both sides of the court. Milwaukee has the experience, the deeper roster, and home-court advantage. The Bucks also have the best defensive unit of the final four squads remaining.

I’ll be taking the home team in Game 1—and in the series—as I think Milwaukee is much stronger overall than Philadelphia. The Bucks have gone 31-10 at home this season, 30-8 as a home favorite. However, I won’t be touching their -7 point spread. Milwaukee has covered in just 21 of its 41 home games this season, and Trae Young has proven he’s the wrong guy to bet against on the spread.

We may continue to see surprises in these NBA Playoffs, and this one might end up closer than oddsmakers expect, but I’d be shocked if the Bucks lost this one outright.

• FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: Bucks 121-117

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