Money poured in on Atl at -3.5 and -4, now the screen is blanketed -4.5.
As with any game, one can certainly make the case for both teams, but I really think ATL -4.5 is correct here.
Sometimes the 'big picture' is more important than anything else.......
Atlanta won 60 games this year. They most certainly could have won more, but coasted for the last 6 weeks. Atl is about 5.5 points better than an average team right now in my ratings, and the outscored teams when on the road by almost 5 points.
Brooklyn is a slightly below average team, with aging Veterans that really had no desire to be in the playoffs, they got blown out very late in the year @Mil, and at home vs. Chic, they needed to win one of those to get in the playoffs and they no showed. They then back doored in, getting a win at home vs. Horrible Orlando, a game they trailed at home by, by 10 points.
However, Atl played poorly in games 1 and 2 IN THE 4th QUARTER, and let Brooklyn slip in and cover in both games. Their performance Qtrs 1-3 were just fine. That set up Brooklyn in the poster child of a great situation GAME 3, for zig-zig-zag AND Atl couldn't make a shot from the outside bricking their 3s. Brooklyn's suddenly got a winning team!!
Uh..........no. Brooklyn stunk all year, Lopez played great down the stretch of the season, but this team is still a complete pretender, and I think they get exposed tonight. Further, Brooklyn STINKS at home. They amazingly played better on the road this year, than in their home crib. Many will scream "BUT FEZZIK, look at the VALUE! They are getting 4.5!!".
They were getting 3.5 in a great spot game 3. NOW, they are only getting 1 more point, IN A TERRIBLE situation tonight. I really am kicking myself for not releasing Atlanta -4, but Atlanta simply HAS to be the right side here......the much better team in the great situation..........and Atlanta sees all the other Eastern teams winning, they will be ultra motivated to avoid making this a 6 or 7 game series which likely spells doom in the next rounds.......
Free Play: ATL -4.5!
On the capping front, I have a 2 star best bet in the NBA and will be adding MLB later....
http://bit.ly/1dO56ZY