The NBA 2015 Season is underway and it also means it's time to place your bets.
In an early encounter between two projected East powerhouses, which team will come out on top?
The Atlanta Hawks won 60 games last season and finished with the top seed in the East but they did lose one of their key contributors in DeMarre Carroll.
On the other hand, the Miami Heat was one of the most successful teams in the summer by re-signing Goran Dragic and drafting Justise Winslow. With Chris Bosh's return to action, the Heat will definitely improve on their finish last year which had them outside the playoffs.
Did the Heat improve enough to take down the Hawks?
The odds are very close on this one, as Odd Sharks has the Atlanta Hawks as the very slim favorite at a consensus 57% at a +4 point spread.
This means that for most betting opinions, they believe the Hawks will win if they are given a +4 point spread. The point spread, as defined by ESPN is "the number chosen by Las Vegas and overseas oddsmakers that they feel will get an equal number of people to wager on the underdog as on the favorite."
While the Hawks beat Miami in all their games last season, both teams know it's a different story this season. The pre-game report from Soaring Down South has these projected starting lineups:
Atlanta Hawks:
- Point Guard: Jeff Teague
- Shooting Guard: Kyle Korver
- Small Forward: Kent Bazemore
- Power Forward: Paul Millsap
- Center: Al Horford
Miami Heat
- Point Guard: Goran Dragic
- Shooting Guard: Dwayne Wade
- Small Forward: Luol Deng
- Power Forward: Chris Bosh
- Center: Hassan Whiteside
For a straight win, the Miami Heat are the slight favorites being tagged by pundits as the most improved team in the East.
Take your pick and place your bets on one of the early East match-ups.