Atlanta vs Orlando Prediction: Betting on the Outsider

Orlando has only defeated Atlanta once in their last eight games, so it's no surprise that the Hawks are considered the undisputed favorites to win this game. Will the Hawks get their second victory in a row?

The Hawks' main concern heading into the season was whether their two playmakers - Trae Young and Dejounte Murray - would get along on the court. The answer came in the first game of the regular season when they combined for 20+ points and 10+ assists. Alongside Young and Murray, De'Andre Hunter and John Collins are shaping up quite well, while Atlanta hasn't even really noticed the loss of Bogdan Bogdanovic. Clint Capela is becoming less and less valuable offensively and could easily be replaced by Onyeka Okongwu. A newcomer to the club, A.J. Griffin, hasn't officially debuted in the NBA yet and doesn't even have a spot in the rotation. The good news is that, except Bogdanovic, no one is on injured reserve, so there should be no problem with the roster.

In the preseason, Atlanta defeated Milwaukee twice in Abu Dhabi, then lost to New Orleans and Cleveland. Nate McMillan's team started the regular season with a 117-107 win over Houston. Atlanta's defense in the paint left much to be desired, but the team scored 28 points on the fast break. The Hawks shot poorly from beyond the arc and made only 7 of their 25 attempts, with Young and Murray hitting just 2 of 12 three-pointers overall. The Hawks made up for the missed shots with good defense, and Aaron Holiday and Dejonte Murray combined for 8 of the team's 12 steals.

The Hawks' main concern heading into the season was whether their two playmakers - Trae Young and Dejounte Murray - would get along on the court. The answer came in the first game of the regular season when they combined for 20+ points and 10+ assists. Alongside Young and Murray, De'Andre Hunter and John Collins are shaping up quite well, while Atlanta hasn't even really noticed the loss of Bogdan Bogdanovic. Clint Capela is becoming less and less valuable offensively and could easily be replaced by Onyeka Okongwu. A newcomer to the club, A.J. Griffin, hasn't officially debuted in the NBA yet and doesn't even have a spot in the rotation. The good news is that, except Bogdanovic, no one is on injured reserve, so there should be no problem with the roster.

In the preseason, Atlanta defeated Milwaukee twice in Abu Dhabi, then lost to New Orleans and Cleveland. Nate McMillan's team started the regular season with a 117-107 win over Houston. Atlanta's defense in the paint left much to be desired, but the team scored 28 points on the fast break. The Hawks shot poorly from beyond the arc and made only 7 of their 25 attempts, with Young and Murray hitting just 2 of 12 three-pointers overall. The Hawks made up for the missed shots with good defense, and Aaron Holiday and Dejonte Murray combined for 8 of the team's 12 steals.

The Hawks looked unstable in the preseason, losing the last two games and even against a modest Houston team were not very confident in some moments. Atlanta has good big men on the defensive end, but they have many problems under the basket, and Orlando's front office should take advantage of that. If Cole Anthony returns to action and plays against Atlanta, the Magic will have an easier time, and their style of play could improve. 

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