Saturday, April 16, 2016 | 2 a.m.
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We've reset the Play of the Day with fresh bankrolls and turned it into a yearly competition. Our three sports writers have re-started with $10,000 bankrolls to continue using on odds from the South Point.
Atlanta Hawks minus-5 vs. Boston Celtics: $660 to win $600
Forgive me for momentarily contradicting everything I wrote in our NBA Playoffs betting preview. I still like Boston’s chances in the series — just not today.
The Celtics are going to have an advantage as the series goes on with coach Brad Stevens able to adjust to what the Hawks are doing. At this very moment, however, the Hawks have an edge.
They could lay another point at Philips Arena after beating the Celtics by a combined 35 points in two games at the venue this year, but won’t because they’re drawing a majority of the action. Public underdogs should be avoided like pollen and pythons.
That’s particularly true with this one, because the Celtics have actually regressed late in the season. Their defense has fallen off noticeably, which is where Atlanta has made its move up the standings.
The Hawks now look more like the team that earned the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference last year than the one that looked like they could possibly miss the playoffs earlier this year.
There will be plenty of spots to back Boston in this series. Game 1 isn’t among them.
Current Standings (as of July 1): (44-35-2, $12,250), Bern (30-35, $7,315), Keefer (41-52-2, $6,000)
Lifetime standings: 2014-15 Champion Bern (109-109-1), Brewer (113-122-4), Keefer (124-134-4),
Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.
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