Sixers vs. Hawks Odds, Game 4 Preview, Picks, & Prediction

by Sloan Piva (SloanPiva) Last Updated 2021-06-14 14:12:06

Sixers vs. Hawks Game 4 Odds

NBA betting analyst Sloan Piva looks at Sixers vs. Hawks Game 4 odds and previews the matchup before making picks and predictions. Check back for additional picks and action updates between now and tip-off!

Sixers vs. Hawks Game 4 Preview

I recently wrote about how Nikola Jokic deserves props for getting the Denver Nuggets to the Western Conference Semifinals, despite the fact that his squad would be a lottery team without him (as currently constituted). I feel quite the same about Trae Young and his Atlanta Hawks—without the young sharpshooter, the Hawks would never have sniffed the playoffs. With him, they almost always have a chance.

That is, except now. Much like Jokic’s Nuggets going up against a vastly superior two-seed in the Phoenix Suns out west, Young’s Hawks are severely overmatched by the top-seeded 76ers in the East. Like the Suns, Philly has a complete team, filled with elite two-way talent and plenty of high-quality role players. The Sixers also have a superb coaching staff, led by veteran (and NBA champion) head coach Doc Rivers, and including top assistant coaches like Dave Joerger and Sam Cassell.

When it all boils down to it, Atlanta has one matchup nightmare in Young. Philly has multiple. Joel Embiid probably deserved more MVP love, despite the missed regular season games. As I’ve stated before, he is this generation’s Hakeem Olajuwon, with a jumper and handles. He could probably lift the 76ers past the Hawks with a bunch of nobodies around him.

But Embiid’s supporting cast is far from a bunch of nobodies. Ben Simmons can dominate both sides of the floor—like Embiid, he is one of the most elite players at his position, and like Embiid, he can score at will in the post or on the drive. Then there’s Tobias Harris, an extremely underrated third scorer who can turn it up from inside or outside at a moment’s notice. And don’t forget Seth Curry, Rivers’ son-in-law, who has looked like his older brother from long distance this postseason.

Philly also benefits from having a handful of above-average defenders as role players. Danny Green can do next-to-nothing offensively these days, but he can assure Rivers that whoever he defends will also do next-to-nothing. Matisse Thybulle might be the best perimeter defender on any NBA bench. And Dwight Howard has multiple DPOYs—and an intimidating hairdo—to flaunt whenever Embiid needs a breather.

Atlanta has come a long way in a short amount of time, building around Young and first-year head coach Nate McMillan. The season has already been a success for this young roster. But nobody in their right mind would put money on the Hawks against this Sixers squad. Young already led Atlanta to a Game 1 theft in Philadelphia—Embiid and the Sixers won’t be caught sleeping like that again.

It’s not just pace, space, and offensive intensity that Philly has improved since that Game 1 upset. It’s the intangibles, like hustling for loose and 50/50 balls, crashing the boards, and fighting through screens. It’s closing out on drives, denying Young the ability to get to his spots, and applying three-quarters court pressure.

The Hawks have a ton of young talent around Young, including big men Clint Capela and John Collins, as well as wingmen DeAndre Hunter and Kevin Huerter. They also have veteran scorers Danilo Gallinari and Bogdan Bogdanovic. But all of these guys are far too inconsistent to be No. 2 scoring threats on a legitimate NBA contender. I think Collins and Hunter will eventually reach that level of talent, but it’s not going to happen overnight.

Sixers vs. Hawks Picks & Predictions

Young might end up an MVP in this league, too, but that’s not happening anytime soon, either. He still needs to grow a bit physically and emotionally, and continue to improve when it comes to making his teammates better. He’s a deserving All-Star for leading his young squad to the playoffs this season—he’ll need to elevate to All-NBA First or Second Teams if he wants to transcend the ATL to Eastern Conference Finals contention.

In the meantime, I have a tough time visualizing any franchise other than Philly and Brooklyn in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Sixers were 19-8 as road favorites this season, good for a winning percentage over 70 percent. Meanwhile, the Hawks were 6-8 as home underdogs. All signs point to this ending in a gentleman’s sweep.

Philly has been scoring effortlessly (and relentlessly) this series, with points totals of 124, 118, and 127. Ever since Rivers and the Sixers made defensive adjustments to limit the damage incurred by Young as a playmaker, it has been smooth sailing for the No. 1 seed. Atlanta has averaged just 106.5 points in the two games since its 128-point explosion in Game 1, and has lost both games by 16 points.

I expect a little more out of Young and the Hawks with their backs against the wall at home Monday. However, I think the end result will be the same as Games 2 and 3. The Hawks will probably be sent fishing by the end of Wednesday’s tilt in Philly, and the Sixers will be resting up for the inevitable—an Eastern Conference Finals tilt with the New Evil Empire, the Brooklyn Nets. Let’s just all pray to the hoops Gods that Embiid stays healthy.

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: Sixers 120-117

Schmitto’s Pick: After dropping the first game of the series, the Philadelphia 76ers have overwhelmed the Atlanta Hawks in back-to-back outings. In games 2 & 3, the Sixers outscored Atlanta by a combined 32 points, winning by 16 points each time. So far, the Hawks haven’t had an answer for Joel Embiid. The seven-foot center continues to terrorize Atlanta, first scoring 39 points, followed by 40 and 27. Embiid has also been a vacuum on the glass, grabbing 9, 13, and 9, respectively. Oh, and I haven’t even mentioned the big man’s defense. Embiid has a whopping seven blocks through three games. Suffice to say, the Hawks can’t handle what the Sixers are putting forth. As of early Monday morning, about 90% of the consensus betting handle is on the Sixers, per our friends at Scores And Odds. So if you like fading the public, you might not like to hear what I have to say next — but I can’t bet on the Hawks. They have home court, sure, but the Sixers, who finished the regular season with the best record in the Eastern Conferenc mind you, simply outmatch what the Hawks and Young have to offer. The defensive duo of Simmons and Matisse Thybulle, not to mention Embiid providing help in the paint, have kept Young at bay (at least relatively speaking). They’ve held Young under his points prop in each of his last two games, as the 22-year-old scored 28 points in Game 3 and 21 points. The Hawks are asking too much from him and haven’t yet provided their franchise player with enough support. So I’ll be betting with the public and thus picking the Sixers -3 ahead of Game 4.

Game 4 Pick: Sixers -3 at BetMGM

Image Credit: Imagn