Los Angeles Clippers AT Atlanta Hawks
Feb 4, 2011 at 7:30 PM EST
Opening Line:  Atlanta -7.5
Current Line:  Atlanta -7.5
Opening Total:  196
Current Line: 195
Opening Moneyline:  Atl -365 / Lac +305
Current Moneyline:  Atl -380 / Lac +300

The Clippers have been playing really well after their dreadful 5-19 start to the season, but it’s going to take all that plus more to beat Joe Johnson and the Hawks, who have won 13 of their last 15 at Philips Arena.  Joe Johnson has been playing spectacular basketball, averaging 32.7 points per game and 57.7% shooting over his last three games, and he recently received his bid as an Eastern Conference all star reserve along with teammate Al Horford.  “I’ve been taking my time,” Joe Johnson said. “My body is feeling pretty good now.”

While Atlanta sports a 16-7 home record, they are just 4-5 at home against the Western Conference this year, which would be a boon for the Clippers…if they weren’t a dreadful 3-15 on the road.  “When the game gets technical or fundamental or it gets hard, we suddenly with our youth, we gotta stay together more. We’re not doing that,” coach Vinny Del Negro said. “That’s kinda what happens to us on the road. We kinda have these lulls and we let that affect more than it should.”  The Clippers will again be without star shooting guard Eric Gordon and Baron Davis just sustained a back injury as well, leaving him questionable for tonight.

Some betting trends:

The total has gone OVER in 7 of the Clippers’ last 9 games and they are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games.  The total has gone OVER in 7 of the Clippers’ last 8 road games and the Clips are 3-19 SU in their last 22 road games.  They are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games and 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games against the Atlanta Hawks.  The total has gone OVER In 5 of the last 6 meetings against the Hawks on the road and the Clippers are 1-5 SU in their last 6 against Atlanta.  The total has also gone OVER IN 6 of the 7 last Clipper road games against the Hawks and the Clips are 4-11 SU in their last 15 road games against Atlanta.

The total has gone OVER In 4 of Atlanta’s last 5 games and they are 10-4 SU in their last 14 games.  The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Atlanta’s last 11 home games and they are 13-2 SU in their last 15 games at home.  The total has gone OVER In 5 of Atlanta’s last 6 games against the Clippers and Atlanta is 5-1 SU in their last 6 against the Clippers.

Key Matchups:

Randy Foye vs. Joe Johnson

Admittedly this is more about Johnson than Foye, but Foye has played respectable basketball starting in the place of the injured Eric Gordon.  In his 6 starts he is averaging 16.7 points per game and displaying what made him a 7th overall pick in 2006, as he has bounced around the league a little and still has yet to establish himself.  This Eric Gordon injury may do just that.  Joe Johnson has been playing out of this world though, and Foye will have to do his best to stick with the taller Johnson.  Joe Johnson’s size and strength will make him a tough cover for the 6’4″ 213 Foye, but he’s a solid defender and will no doubt make JJ work for his buckets.

Blake Griffin vs Al Horford

Griffin made the all star team in his rookie season and he been in the East he might have taken Horford’s spot.  Griffin is averaging 23 points per game and 12.7 rebounds per game as well compared to Horford’s 16.1 points per game and 9.9 rebounds.  Griffin has emerged as one of the most exciting dunkers in the league and is giving people a reason to tune into Clippers games, such as the one Wednesday on NBA TV against the Bulls.  The Clippers lost the game but Griffin showcased himself scoring 32 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.  He also, however, showcased just how bad he is at the line, shooting 4 of 13 from the stripe.  He’ll have plenty of time to work on that, but it has been a trend that poor free throw shooters stay poor.  He’ll hope to follow in the footsteps of Karl Malone rather than Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard.

Tonight’s game could be a good one, but only if the Clippers can show some reliency on the road and keep their composure throughout the entire game.  They are still a young team led by a rookie and that can cause problems for teams on the road.

//

//