Hawks’ Supporting Cast Has Upper Hand on Bucks After Game 4

UPDATE: Giannis Antetokounmpo reportedly avoided any structural damage in his left knee, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. While Giannis has avoided the worst, his timetable to return remains unclear. What follows in the initial report surrounding the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks odds to win Game 5.

When Trae Young was ruled out for Game 4 in Atlanta, it looked like the Milwaukee Bucks were going to roll to a 3-1 series lead and potentially the NBA Finals. 

It may have looked like that, but that’s why they play the games. The Atlanta Hawks were up 10 points already in the third quarter before a scary injury knocked Giannis Antetokounmpo out for the rest of the game and possibly the series. 

Atlanta rolled once Giannis left, outscoring the Bucks 48-36 on its way to a 22-point Game 4 win to even the series. WynnBET had the Bucks as 4.5-point favorites in Game 5 to open the day, but the line has moved all the way down to just two points, and it could move even further. 

Antetokounmpo likely is facing an uphill battle to play in Game 5, and it’s crushed the Bucks’ NBA Finals odds, as they are now just +325 to take home the title. 

While Young’s status for Game 5 is also up in the air, I actually think the Hawks have an advantage heading into Game 5.

Atlanta has already played a game without Young in the lineup, and it won the game easily. Milwaukee, on the other hand, hasn’t faced this situation this postseason. Antetokounmpo has played in every one of the team’s games, and the Bucks looked lost offensively (they only scored 88 points) without him in Game 4. 

This season, the Bucks were 6-5 in the 11 games that Giannis missed, and unless Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday take a serious step forward, the Bucks’ supporting cast isn’t nearly as strong as Atlanta’s depth wise. 

Milwaukee has been rolling with an eight-man rotation most of the postseason, and it has already lost a starter in Donte DiVincenzo for the year. 

The Hawks, who are without De’Andre Hunter, were bolstered by the return of Cam Reddish in the Eastern Conference Finals, and got solid production from Lou Williams in place of Young. 

From a chemistry and game planning standpoint, the Hawks already know what it takes to win without their best player. Milwaukee does not. 

With Mike Budenholzer’s ability to adjust constantly questioned, we can only look to the Bucks early exit last season to see how the team fared with Giannis out. 

Milwaukee may have more top-heavy talent, but the Hawks have the momentum of winning without Young. Vegas knows it too, and the line is getting closer and closer to a pick’em as Game 5 approaches.