Prop-mania for Game 4 – Cleveland Cavaliers at Atlanta Hawks

YOU WANT YOUR PROPS?

Cavaliers vs Hawks at Philips Arena in Game 4 of their second round playoff series tonight at 7 PM ET.

Looking at some props for Game 4 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.

FIRST TO SCORE 10 POINTS   
Cavaliers           -220
Hawks               +170

If you look at two of these three games, the pattern has been that the Hawks have been able to hang early, and have some hope at halftime before the superiority and depth of the Cavaliers pulls them away in the second half. I can definitely see this game having the same kind of pattern, since the Hawks will be charged up to avoid the four-game sweep and will be relatively fresh at the start of the contest. With all those key players injured (Marvin Williams, Joe Johnson, Al Horford) do you think they’re actually going to get stronger as the game progresses? Of course not, and Cleveland knows this. When you’re just getting warmed up at the start of the game, the thing is a virtual toss-up to begin with. Under the circumstances, I think this provides some value with the underdog play.

JAY’S PLAY:  HAWKS (+170) **

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TEAM LEADING AFTER 1ST QTR WINS GAME 
Yes     -300
No        +220

I’m going to use the same rationale foe this one as I did above. Yes, I know that the Hawks have not had a lead at the end of the first quarter in any of these games, but I just can’t see them laying down in front of the home crowd, especially early. The reality of the situation is that Cleveland will out-run them, out-gun them and generally wear them down as the game continues, but there will be that spark out of Atlanta, and it is going to come during the early stages, before they realize they cannot keep pace.

JAY’S PLAY:  NO (+220) **

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TOTAL 3 PT SHOTS MADE IN THE GAME 
Over  13½  3 Pt Shots               -110
Under  13½  3 Pt Shots             -120

Now we can crunch some numbers. The Cavs made an average of eight three-pointers per game this season, while Atlanta averaged 7.3. Thus far in the series the teams have been shooting less than their combined average (14 per game). Yes, that’s been the pattern so far, but you’re going to see more desperation heaves on the part of the Hawks as they (1) try to stay in the game with the Cavs in the first half, and (2) try to get back into the game with the Cavs in the second half. This is it – there is no tomorrow, and if it turns out to be a blowout, Cleveland will be happy to give them that shot all they want in the second half.

JAY’S PLAY: OVER 13.5 (-110) **

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WINNING MARGIN         

• Cavaliers to win by 1-2 pts         +1200
• Cavaliers to win by 3-6 pts         +400
• Cavaliers to win by 7-9 pts         +500
• Cavaliers to win by 10-13 pts                 +450
• Cavaliers to win by 14-16 pts                 +800
• Cavaliers to win by 17-20 pts                 +600
• Cavaliers to win by 21 or more pts         +300

So far the Cavs have won by 27, 20 and 15 points. My opinion is that Cleveland is not going to show any mercy in this game. In other words, I think they see the benefit to wrapping the series up early and giving its starters a lot of time to rest, since it appears the Orlando-Boston series is going to go six games and may even go seven. Close haves don’t look like Cleveland’s style against inferior teams in the post-season, and this Atlanta club doesn’t much believe in itself at the moment. The huge blowout seems unlikely on the road (and by that I mean the 21-plus points), so that narrows the field a bit. Among those opportunities available, I’ll take the one that offers the best price.

JAY’S PLAY:  CAVALIERS TO WIN BY 14-16 POINTS (+800) *