Our Nets vs Hawks prediction is for the underdog Nets to cover the +7.5 spread in Atlanta. The Nets (32-50 in 2023-24) traded one of their top players, Mikal Bridges, to their New York City rivals for a large package of draft picks and contracts. They also have a new head coach Jordi Fernández.
The Hawks (36-46 in 2023-24) are moving forward with a different foundation after trading Dejounte Murray to the Pelicans and picking 19-year-old Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher with the first pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Head-to-head, the Hawks and the Nets have played 196 games with Atlanta leading the series 105-91.
Offshore Odds: Hawks Are Favored at Home
| Team | Spread | Money Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nets | +7.5 (-105) | +250 | O 221.5 (-110) |
| Hawks | -7.5 (-115) | -300 | U 221.5 (-110) |
Two Teams Looking Toward the Future
The Nets have fully moved on from their attempt at buying an NBA championship club led by Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving. Bridges was acquired as part of the massive trade that sent Durant to Phoenix. He was one of their remaining marketable names.
In the offseason, they traded him to the Knicks for draft picks and Bojan Bogdanović. The only remaining “name” player is Ben Simmons who was out with various injuries. He enters the final year of his contract. Simmons is trade bait if he proves he is healthy and wants to play. Fernandez is in his first head coaching job after spending eight years as an assistant in Denver and Sacramento.
The Hawks traded away the former All-Star Murray and are essentially rebooting four years after losing in the Eastern Conference Finals. Still, they retain star point guard Trae Young. Young missed a chunk of 2023-24 with a finger injury. Risacher is not viewed as a typical first-overall pick in the vein of Victor Wembanyama, an emerging and automatic star. But the 6’9″ small forward is praised for his shooting touch and ball handling.
Prediction: Nets Will Keep the Opener Close
Our Nets vs Hawks prediction is that Brooklyn will be close enough to cover the point spread of +7.5 (-105).
It’s the first game of a long season. However, given both teams’ newcomers and that they are starting fresh, it’s a safe wager.
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