NBA Playoffs 2015: Latest Odds, Predictions for Wednesday's Game 5 Action
Two first-round series in the 2015 NBA playoffs that have gone in different directions than expected are headed toward a tell-all Game 5 Wednesday evening.
A No. 4 vs. No. 5 matchup out West and a No. 1 vs. No. 8 series in the East are set to resume Wednesday, but not in the fashion that conventional wisdom would suggest. The top-seeded Atlanta Hawks are the ones surprisingly tied 2-2 against the lowly Brooklyn Nets while Memphis has the chance to end its series with Portland in five games at home.
It's been a first round largely devoid of dramatics for the most part, but that has the chance to turn on its head with a couple of results Wednesday night. Let's take a look at both of the matchups on tap, including odds and predictions.
NBA Playoffs Schedule and Odds for April 29
| 7 p.m. | Brooklyn Nets at Atlanta Hawks (-8) | BKN 39-10, ATL 20-93 | 200 |
| 9:30 p.m. | Portland Trail Blazers at Memphis Grizzlies (-4.5) | POR 19-10, MEM 5-11 | 190 |
Odds courtesy of Odds Shark.
Predictions for April 29 Games
Brooklyn Nets at Atlanta Hawks
When the Atlanta Hawks made even more of a mockery of the East on their way to a 60-22 record, it seemed like a first-round bye would be more in order than facing a 38-44 Brooklyn Nets team. But that's not how the postseason works, and the Hawks are learning the hard way.
Atlanta stood tall in Games 1 and 2 at home, but things quickly turned sour upon heading to the Barclays Center for Games 3 and 4. The Hawks shot just 35 percent in Game 3, but it was their defense that fell flat in Game 4 in an overtime defeat.
The belief of needing elite stars in the playoffs may not be completely true, but Grantland's netw3rk wondered if that complex was playing a part in this series:
Even though the basketball world is wondering what's wrong with the Hawks or trying to figure out whether the Nets are the real deal, Atlanta isn't panicking. Paul Millsap told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Jeff Schultz, "This is good for us. It's good for us to see where we're at. It'll makes us better. It builds character."
It's only good if your season doesn't end in the process. But some early adversity from the previously underachieving Nets should be just what this Hawks team needs to wake itself up.
To be fair, Atlanta was forced to go on autopilot late in the season with its seed wrapped up and some key injuries. It's not surprising that it's taken some playoff games to shake that rust off.
Don't expect Kyle Korver to shoot 4-of-18 from three-point range like he did in Brooklyn, as the Hawks claim Game 5 to retake control of the series in convincing fashion.
Prediction: Hawks beat Nets, 101-96.
Portland Trail Blazers at Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies entered their first-round series with the Portland Trail Blazers as the home team despite being the No. 5 seed, and they have showcased why through four games of play.
Sure, they only won three of them—that's why the series heads back to Memphis for Game 5. But without the Trail Blazers overcoming a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter of Game 4, the Grizzlies would be moving on to face the Golden State Warriors.
Damian Lillard has struggled mightily in this series, but he seemed to turn it on in Game 4 just as Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley went down and subsequently had facial surgery after Game 3. Conley figures to be out Wednesday night, which doesn't bode well, as ESPN Stats & Info noted:
Although it's hard to envision the Grizzlies contending in the next round if Conley isn't 100 percent, they don't need him to put away Portland.
Even without Conley, Memphis has gotten dependable scoring from the backcourt. Beno Udrih is shooting 18-of-33 in the series while Tony Allen is contributing defensively on Lillard and making things difficult on the Portland guard.
To add onto that, the Grizzlies have maintained a serious edge in the post over LaMarcus Aldridge, as Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph have come to play. Assuming that doesn't change in Game 5, Memphis will put the Trail Blazers away for good.
Prediction: Grizzlies beat Trail Blazers, 99-94.
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