Brooklyn at Atlanta

The Brooklyn Nets certainly are in the playoffs, but do they deserve to be? The Nets played well enough late in the season to get here, but at 38-44, they are a product of a very weak Eastern Conference. Brooklyn faltered in a big way on the road where they went 4-18 SU against a team that had a winning percentage of .444 or better. Hardly the look of a playoff team. Many will argue that this team figured things out late in the season, but that is simply another product of beating bad teams. Brooklyn finished April at 0-4 SU and ATS on the road vs. the same teams they couldn't beat before they appeared to get hot, those .444 or better. Not a single April win or cover. Atanta appears to be a default #1 seed, as they did not play their best down the stretch, but did they have any motivation? The Hawks had the #1 seed in the East under lock and key very early, and really coasted down the stretch. Think you see the same Hawks team that dominated prior to the big cushion in this one. Atlanta is a strong defensive team, and I think they will come out and impose that defensive will early here on Brooklyn and try and mentally take them out of the game defensively. Brooklyn is just 1-10 ATS in their last 11 games after posting a 10+ point win in their last one. Think the Atlanta defense is going to sign in early here and carry the mail. Make the play on Atlanta and the first half UNDER.