Celtics vs Hawks Game 1 Prediction NBA Playoffs Picks 4/15

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Game Preview: Hawks vs Celtics - NBA Picks, Expert Predictions, and Best Bets Today

On April 15, 2023, the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics will face off in the first round of the playoffs. Both teams are looking for a deep playoff run, but only one will advance to the next round. NBA picks experts and computer NBA picks emp have given their predictions for the game, but anything can happen in the playoffs. The Celtics are a 57-win team and finished second in the Eastern Conference. Led by All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, they appear to be in prime position to make another deep run. However, the Hawks are a tough team to beat. Trae Young and Dejounte Murray lead their backcourt and with the addition of Coach Quin Snyder on the sidelines, they appear to be rejuvenated. The Celtics have been dealing with injuries as of late, but they are as close to full strength as they have been all season. Brown returned to practice after cutting his finger, and Smart says he's ready to go after missing a couple of games due to a nerve issue in his neck. This is definitely a big boost for the Celtics. The Hawks, on the other hand, are used to being the underdog. They are motivated to prove all the skeptics wrong and show that they have more than what people have been giving them credit for. Despite being 16 games behind the Celtics during the regular season, the Hawks won't go down without a fight. The Celtics will have to execute their game plan and rely on Tatum and Brown to lead the way. The Hawks will have to rely on Young and Murray to step up in crunch time. This game promises to be a close one, and NBA picks and parlays are going to be tough to predict. However, our NBA experts have given their picks and predictions, so be sure to check them out before placing your bets.

Hawks: Offensive Analysis

The Atlanta Hawks head into their first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics with a high-powered offense that ranks third in the league in points per game at 118.4. Led by Trae Young, who averages 26.2 points per game, the Hawks rely heavily on their backcourt to generate offense. However, the Hawks' offense can be inconsistent at times, as evidenced by their 41-41 record during the regular season. They tend to hover around .500 and have trouble climbing above it. In fact, they haven't won more than two games in a row since January 21st, and they've never been more than two games above .500 all season. One of the reasons for their inconsistency is their struggles in the paint. The Hawks average 54.4 points per game in the paint, which ranks seventh in the league, but they also allow 54.6 points per game in the paint, which ranks 29th. This could be a problem against the Celtics, who have a strong frontcourt led by Al Horford and Robert Williams III. In terms of shooting, the Hawks shoot 48.3% from the field, which ranks ninth in the league, but they only shoot 35.0% from beyond the arc, which ranks 23rd. They will need to improve their three-point shooting if they want to keep up with the Celtics, who shoot 37.7% from three and average 16.0 three-pointers per game. Overall, the Hawks have the potential to put up big numbers on the offensive end, but their inconsistency and struggles in the paint could pose problems against a strong Celtics defense. NBA picks experts and NBA picks computer predictions may lean towards the Celtics in this matchup.

Hawks: Defensive Analysis

As the Atlanta Hawks head into the playoffs, their defense will be a crucial factor in determining their success. Let's take a closer look at their defensive stats and performances. In terms of points allowed per game, the Hawks rank 24th in the league with 118.0 points surrendered per contest. This is an area where they will need to improve if they hope to make a deep playoff run. On the other hand, the Hawks do a solid job of limiting their opponents' fast break points, ranking 24th in the league with 15.3 points allowed per game in transition. They will need to continue this trend as they face off against a Boston Celtics team that can be dangerous in transition. The Hawks also struggle to defend the paint, allowing 54.6 points in the paint per game -- the 29th worst mark in the league. This will be a key area for improvement as they face off against big men like Al Horford and Robert Williams III of the Celtics. However, the Hawks do an excellent job of forcing turnovers, ranking third in the league with 14.1 opponent turnovers per game. They also have a high assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.936, ranking sixth in the league. Overall, the Hawks will need to tighten up their defense if they hope to make a deep playoff run. However, their ability to force turnovers and limit fast break points could be key in helping them pull off an upset against the Celtics. As always, it will be interesting to see how the experts, computer models, and NBA picks and parlays stack up against the Hawks' defensive performance.

Celtics: Offensive Analysis

The Boston Celtics head into the playoffs with a strong offensive game, ranking fourth in the league with an average of 117.9 points per game. Led by All-Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics' offense has been consistent throughout the regular season. Tatum made history as the first Celtics player to average 30 points in a season and is still going strong after averaging 36.9 minutes per game, the third-most in the NBA. Boston's offense is efficient, ranking fifth in assists per game at 26.7 and fifth in field goal percentage at 47.5%. They also rank fourth in effective field goal percentage at 56.6% and second in assists to turnover ratio at 1.996. The Celtics' perimeter game is strong, ranking sixth in three-point percentage at 37.7% and second in assists per field goal made at 0.632. However, Boston does struggle with getting to the free throw line, ranking 27th in free throw attempts per field goal attempt at 0.243. This could be a weakness that opponents could exploit in the playoffs. Overall, the Celtics have a strong offensive game that can lead them deep into the playoffs. If Tatum and Brown can continue their dominant play and other supporting players such as Marcus Smart can step up, the Celtics can make a run for the NBA title.

Celtics: Defensive Analysis

Going into their first-round playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks, the Boston Celtics will need to rely heavily on their defensive game. Despite finishing second in the Eastern Conference with a 57-win season, the Celtics ranked just fifth in the conference in terms of points allowed per game, giving up an average of 111.4 points to opponents. With a potent Hawks offense led by Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, the Celtics will need to step up their defensive efforts to come out on top in this series. One of Boston's strengths on defense this season has been their ability to force turnovers, averaging 13.4 turnovers forced per game, which ranks eighth in the NBA. This has been largely due to their aggressive play on the perimeter, where Marcus Smart has been a standout defender with a knack for getting in the passing lanes and disrupting plays. Additionally, big man Robert Williams III has been a force on the interior, averaging 1.8 blocks per game and anchoring the Celtics' defense in the paint. Another area where the Celtics have excelled defensively is in limiting opposing teams' three-point shooting. The Celtics held opponents to just 34.5% from beyond the arc, which ranks fourth in the Eastern Conference. This has been a collective effort from the entire team, as Brown, Tatum, and Smart have all been effective at contesting shots on the perimeter and forcing opponents into mid-range shots. Overall, the Celtics will need to utilize their defensive strengths and limit the Hawks' scoring opportunities if they hope to advance in the playoffs. They will need to bring their best defensive effort each game, as the Hawks are capable of putting up big numbers on offense. With a solid game plan, execution, and the right mix of intensity and discipline, the Celtics can come out on top in this series.

Injury Report Analysis

Both the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics have maintained relatively healthy rosters heading into their first-round playoff series. However, there are a few notable injuries and updates to keep in mind. For the Hawks, forward De'Andre Hunter remains out for the season after undergoing knee surgery earlier this year. Guard Cam Reddish has also been sidelined with an Achilles injury and is not expected to return until later in the playoffs. However, Trae Young, who has been dealing with a shoulder injury, played in Atlanta's play-in game against Miami and appears to be good to go for the series against Boston. On the Celtics side, guard Marcus Smart missed the final two games of the regular season with a neck injury, but has said he is ready to play in the playoffs. Forward Jaylen Brown cut his hand and missed the final two games as well, but returned to practice and is expected to play. Center Robert Williams III, who has been dealing with knee issues all season, is reportedly healthy and ready to play significant playoff minutes. Both teams will benefit from having key players return to action for the playoffs, but the Hawks could potentially struggle without the presence of Hunter and Reddish. The Celtics, on the other hand, have all of their key players healthy and ready to make a postseason run. This could give them an advantage and potentially make them a strong NBA pick for expert predictions and NBA picks and parlays.

Betting Trends

The Atlanta Hawks come into this game with an overall record of 41-41, while the Boston Celtics finished the regular season with a 57-25 record. The betting trends heavily favor the Celtics, as they have been one of the top teams in the league this season. According to NBA picks experts, the Celtics are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games, which includes a convincing win against the Miami Heat in their final regular-season game. They are also 9-1 straight up in their last 10 games at home. On the other hand, the Hawks are 5-5 ATS in their last 10 games and 4-6 straight up in their last 10 road games. They are also 1-4 ATS in their last five games against a team with a winning record. Computer NBA picks also heavily favor the Celtics, with many models giving them a double-digit point spread advantage. This is due to their strong offensive performance this season, ranking in the top five in the league in points per game and effective field goal percentage. Experts NBA picks and predictions also heavily favor the Celtics, with many believing that they have what it takes to make a deep playoff run this year. The Hawks, on the other hand, are seen as a team that may struggle in the postseason due to their inconsistent play throughout the regular season. In terms of NBA picks and parlays, many bettors are likely to take the Celtics on the money line or with the spread, given their strong recent performance and favorable matchups against the Hawks. However, there is always the possibility of an upset in the playoffs, so bettors should carefully consider all factors before making a final decision. Overall, the betting trends heavily favor the Celtics in this matchup, with many experts and computer models giving them a significant advantage. However, anything can happen in the playoffs, so bettors should approach this game with caution and carefully consider all factors before placing a wager.

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