Hawks vs Celtics Game 3 Prediction NBA Playoffs Picks 4/21

A Plus Picks
Apr 20, 2023, 8:52:45 PM

Game Preview: Celtics vs Hawks (Apr 21, 2023) Pregame - Boston visits Atlanta with 2-0 series lead

As the NBA playoffs kick into full gear, the Boston Celtics find themselves in a prime position to move on to the second round with a 2-0 lead in their series against the Atlanta Hawks. The Celtics will look to extend their lead when they visit the Hawks in Atlanta on Friday, April 21, with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT. According to NBAPicksExperts, the Hawks are favored by 5 points, with an over/under of 228.5. NBA experts, predictions and the computers are closely monitoring this game, with many offering their NBA picks for the matchup. The Celtics had a dominant performance in their last game against the Hawks, winning 119-106 behind a 29-point effort from Jayson Tatum. The Hawks, however, were led by Dejounte Murray's 29 points in the losing effort. Atlanta is currently seventh in the Eastern Conference with a record of 41-41, while Boston finished second with a record of 57-25. The Hawks are averaging 118.5 points per game over their last 10 games, while the Celtics are averaging 118.0 points per game over the same period. Trae Young is the player to watch for the Hawks, as he is averaging 20 points, seven assists, and two steals per game. For the Celtics, Derrick White is averaging 25 points, six rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.5 blocks in his last 10 games. The Celtics are second in the Eastern Conference in scoring, averaging 117.9 points per game, and are shooting 47.5 percent from the field. They are also an impressive 34-18 in Eastern Conference play. This game is a must-win for the Hawks if they hope to stay alive in the series, but the Celtics have shown no signs of slowing down. It should make for an exciting matchup between these two Eastern Conference rivals.

Celtics: Offensive Analysis

The Boston Celtics have been one of the most proficient offensive teams in the Eastern Conference this season. With an average of 117.9 points per game, they rank fourth in the league in scoring. They have also been efficient, shooting 47.5% from the field, which is the third-best in the NBA. Jayson Tatum has been the Celtics' leading scorer, averaging 20.1 points per game over the past ten games. He has been shooting at an impressive rate, hitting 54.2% of his shots during this period. Derrick White has also been a crucial contributor, averaging 25 points, six rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.5 blocks for the team. The Celtics excel in sharing the ball, averaging 26.7 assists per game, which is seventh-best in the league. They also have a high assist-to-turnover ratio, averaging 1.985, which is fifth-best in the NBA. While the Celtics' offense has been strong, their defense has been equally impressive, allowing just 111.2 points per game, which is also fourth-best in the league. They have been able to keep their opponents off the free-throw line, allowing just 0.232 free throw attempts per field goal attempt, which is the third-best in the NBA. The Celtics' offense will face a tough challenge against the Atlanta Hawks, who are averaging 118.5 points per game over the past ten games. However, if they can continue to share the ball and shoot efficiently, they should have a good chance of securing a win and extending their series lead.

Celtics: Defensive Analysis

As the Boston Celtics head into the third game of their series against the Atlanta Hawks, their defense will be key in maintaining their lead. One area where the Celtics have excelled defensively is in limiting their opponents' scoring. They rank fourth in the league in both points per game allowed (111.2) and opponent field goal percentage (46.2%). This has been largely due to their solid perimeter defense, which ranks second in the league in opponent three-point percentage (34.3%). The Celtics have also been strong in creating turnovers, averaging 6.8 steals per game (sixth in the league) and forcing opponents into 12.7 turnovers per game (27th in the league). This has been aided by the defensive intensity of Marcus Smart, who leads the team in steals with 1.5 per game. Inside, the Celtics have struggled at times with rebounding, as they rank just ninth in the league in total rebounds per game (52.4) and offensive rebounds per game (9.7). However, they have been strong in limiting second-chance opportunities for their opponents, ranking ninth in the league in opponent offensive rebounds per game (9.9). Overall, the Celtics have been a well-rounded defensive team this season, and their success in limiting scoring and creating turnovers will be crucial in securing another win against the Hawks. With Boston leading the series 2-0, their defense will need to continue to step up in order to close out the series and advance to the next round. As NBA picks experts and NBA picks computer predictions continue to analyze this matchup, it is clear that the Celtics' defense will be a key factor in determining the outcome of this game. Celtics fans can only hope that their team continues to stand strong on the defensive end and secure another victory.

Hawks: Offense Analysis

As the Boston Celtics look to extend their lead in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks, let's take a closer look at their offense. According to nbapicksexperts, the Celtics are ranked fourth in the Eastern Conference in terms of points per game, averaging 117.9 points per game. Their offensive strategy relies heavily on their star player Jayson Tatum, who is averaging 20.1 points and 5.8 rebounds over the past ten games. However, the Celtics' offense is not without its flaws. They struggle with their free throw attempts, ranking 28th in the league with a free throw attempt to field goal attempt ratio of 0.241. Additionally, their three-point shooting percentage of 37.7% is only sixth in the league. On the other hand, the Hawks' offense is led by Trae Young, who averages 20 points, seven assists, and two steals per game. Despite their seventh-place ranking in the Eastern Conference, the Hawks are capable of a strong offensive showing, averaging 118.5 points per game over the last ten games. They rely on their ball movement, ranking seventh in assists per game with 25.0. However, the Hawks may struggle to keep up with the Celtics' offensive firepower, as they rank 14th in the league in shooting percentage, with a field goal shooting percentage of 46.9%. In conclusion, while the Hawks may have a strong offensive game plan, the Celtics' offense has the potential to overpower their opponent. As nbapickscomputers and nbaexpertspickstoday suggest, the Celtics are likely to extend their lead in the series and come out on top in this matchup.

Hawks: Defensive Analysis

The Boston Celtics are visiting the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference first round with a 2-0 lead in the series. The Celtics won the last meeting 119-106 on April 18 led by 29 points from Jayson Tatum, while Dejounte Murray scored 29 points for the Hawks. Looking at the defensive statistics, the Hawks have gone 26-26 against Eastern Conference teams and are averaging allowing their opponents to score 120.3 points per game. Meanwhile, the Celtics are allowing their opponents to score an average of 111.2 points per game, ranking fourth in the Eastern Conference. In terms of individual performances, Trae Young is averaging 20 points, seven assists and two steals for the Hawks, and Jae Crowder is averaging 19.6 points over the last 10 games for Atlanta. For the Celtics, Derrick White is averaging 25 points, six rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.5 blocks, while Tatum is averaging 20.1 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting 54.2% over the past 10 games. Based on the defensive analysis and statistics, it seems that the Celtics have the upper hand in this matchup. However, the Hawks can't be counted out, and it will ultimately come down to which team can execute better on both ends of the court. NBA picks experts and NBA picks computer predictions have been favoring the Celtics to win this series, but the NBA is unpredictable, and anything can happen. So, let's see how this game plays out.

Injury Report

Both teams are relatively healthy heading into this game. The Hawks have no players listed on their injury report. The Celtics, on the other hand, will be without Danilo Gallinari due to a knee injury. Gallinari has been a key player for Boston this season, averaging 15.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. His absence will be felt on both ends of the floor. Overall, injuries are not likely to be a major factor in this game. Both teams have depth and should be able to overcome any absences. However, the Celtics will need to find a way to replace Gallinari's production if they hope to maintain their 2-0 series lead. Look for players like Marcus Smart and Robert Williams III to step up in his absence.

Betting Trends

When it comes to betting trends, the Boston Celtics have a strong record against the spread, going 45-37-0 this season. They also have a great record against the spread on the road with a record of 24-16-0. On the other hand, the Atlanta Hawks have struggled against the spread, going 36-45-1 this season and only covering in 44.4% of their games. In terms of over/under trends, the Celtics have gone over in 44 of their 82 games this season and have a 21-19-0 over/under record on the road. The Hawks, on the other hand, have gone over in 45 of their 82 games this season and have a 21-19-1 over/under record at home. In terms of expert predictions, many NBA picks experts are favoring the Celtics to continue their dominance over the Hawks in this series. The Celtics have shown a lot of strength on both ends of the court and are expected to cover the spread in this game. In addition, NBA picks computers are also predicting a win for the Celtics, with many predicting a double-digit victory. The Celtics' strong defense and efficient offense are expected to be too much for the Hawks to handle in this matchup. Overall, NBA picks and predictions today are heavily favoring the Celtics and their ability to cover the spread in this game. However, as with any game, anything can happen, and the Hawks will be looking to turn the tides and avoid being swept in this series.