Safe Bet Is Bucks Make Statement In Game 2 Vs. Hawks
The Eastern Conference playoffs have already been quite a story. Nobody projected the Atlanta Hawks to be here. Few even picked the Milwaukee Bucks.
But here we are. And what's even more surprising is the Hawks own a 1-0 series lead entering Friday's Game 2. That marks their first conference finals win since moving from St. Louis to Atlanta in 1968. (Before that, oddly enough, they played home games in Milwaukee.)
Hawks guard Trae Young is coming off a massive performance -- 48 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds. Atlanta looked fresher, more organized and like the team with the biggest star.
But the Bucks have been down before, including in their previous series vs. the favored Brooklyn Nets. Like the Hawks, the Bucks won a Game 7 on the road in the semifinals. Like the Hawks, the Bucks have a major star in Giannis Antetokounmpo. And like the Hawks, the Bucks haven't been to the Finals in what seems like 100 years and are determined to break the streak.
So what of Game 2? The Bucks are favored and a -8. Given that they're again at home and played only so-so in Game 1, they should come out with all guns ablazin'. They should cover the spread. I suspect a double-digit victory of a statement game. Go with the Bucks.
Meanwhile, the over-under of 225.5 is tricky. The Hawks won the first one by a 116-113 count. That's 229. The second matchup is generally lower scoring. Both teams have almost certainly heard from their coaches that they need to tighten up the defense. So take the under, then get ready to keep guessing how this will all play out in the end.
Follow Sam Amico on Twitter @AmicoHoops