Cavs vs. Hawks Game 2 – Prop and Picks

Looking at some props for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semi-final series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks, which you can find at BetOnline by clicking the "Show All Props" link under the game odds:

LARGEST LEAD OF THE GAME

Over 20½ Points -150

Under 20½ Points +120

Well, let’s put it this way – if Cleveland comes out as serious on Thursday night as they did in the second half of Game 1 with Atlanta, this will be eclipsed. I’m not quite so sure where Atlanta’s psyche is right now, but it has to be one where they are intimidated just a bit. Anything they were able to do against Cleveland in the regular season – and they didn’t do badly – has to be washed away now. For them to keep things tight in this second game they are going to have to get some scoring punch from other places, and if Joe Johnson is going to go back into a slumber (we’ll cover that in a minute) and Al Horford is going to be so lame that he might not even play, I’m not convinced it’s going to come from anywhere.

JAY’S PLAY: OVER 20.5 (-150) **

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JOE JOHNSON TOTAL POINTS

Over 17½ Points -105

Under 17½ Points -125

Johnson played 39 minutes on Tuesday night, which was more than any other Atlanta regular but one. He had just eleven points, and took only ten shots from the field. It is obvious that the Atlanta offense ran through him this season, and that a part of any opponent’s defensive philosophy would be to slow him down and thus let them search for some other source of offensive support. Johnson, who averaged over 21 points during the regular season, has averaged just 16.4 ppg in the post-season, reaching the 20-mark only twice.

Johnson tried to lay some blame on his teammates and coaching staff after the rout in the first game: “It’s very difficult and frustrating at the same time. Because if you give the ball up, there’s no way you’re going to get the ball back. I played 40 minutes and took 10 shots. And we can’t play like that. But I don’t know if everybody knows that. And that’s why, if we don’t figure it out, this might be a short series.” Does that explain his 42% from the field and relatively paltry average to this point in the playoffs?

Probably not, but Johnson’s comments, which incidentally were not met with agreement by coach Mike Woodson, are most likely not going to get him the ball MORE. The Atlanta fans have cried out for him to be a bigger part of the offense throughout the whole series with Miami. He just hasn’t responded consistently. And we’re not counting on him.

JAY’S PLAY: UNDER 17.5 (-125) **

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JOSH SMITH TOTAL POINTS REBOUNDS AND ASSISTS

Over 29½ Points+Rebs+Assists Ev

Under 29½ Points+Rebs+Assists -130

If you look at this guy’s numbers, he is one of those players that can do other things, like rebound the ball, if he’s not having a good night contributing in the scoring column. Smith seems to have taken it upon himself to pick up the pace with Joe Johnson struggling a bit. In three of his last four games he has scored 20 points or more, and he’s averaged 8.5 rebounds per game in the post-season. His playoff averages are 17 points and 2.6 assists. Even with him stepping up, and considering that his team has no choice but to pick up the pace a little in Game 2, we think it will be hard to get to these numbers. You have to understand that the Cavaliers are the best defensive team he’ll face, and that he averaged only 9.7 points against them this year in 33 minutes of playing time. Plus, if it’s a blowout late, he’ll lose minutes.

JAY’S PLAY: UNDER 29.5 (-130) *