Cleveland at Atlanta

When you look at an NBA semi-final round and see a double-digit line posted to the side of the visitor, it makes you look to the home side for value. The problem is that cupboard is bare. This is a Hawks team that has been limited to 85 points per game in the playoffs (80.4 in their last five games) and they are facing the NBA's toughest team in defensive points allowed. They are also facing a team on a mission - a team that has steamrolled to a 7-0 playoff mark, winning by 18 points per game on average. The Hawks have had 12 quarters of basketball against the Cavs in the playoffs and have managed to win just one of them, outside of a 4th quarter when the Cavs were up so big, they sat most of the starters for the period. It just doesn't seem to matter for the Cavs who they play or where, or the situation. If they were posted as a double-digit favorite in every game played in the playoffs and regular season, they would still have the second best ATS record in the NBA! Think about that one. They have faced several possible letdown situations already this postseason and they haven't flinched. They have still delivered a beatdown. The Cavs have beaten playoff-caliber teams all season and really taken care of business versus the marginal ones like Atlanta. Cleveland is 14-5 ATS vs. teams at .500 to .600 including 11-2 ATS in their last 13. Some will say they are due for a fall but the way they are playing this season, it's not likely to happen. They are 17-5 ATS this season after covering the spread in three straight games and a perfect 10-0 ATS after four straight double-digit wins. Laying ten points on the road in the playoffs is normally unheard of, but this Cavs team is breaking all the rules and I like them to deliver another double-digit beatdown tonight.