Hawks Southeast Division Odds Fade to +1400 Following John Collins Suspension
- The odds of the Atlanta Hawks winning the NBA Southeast Division fell to +1400
- Power forward John Collins was suspended 25 games by the NBA on Tuesday following a positive test for PEDs
- The Hawks were at +600 to win the Southeast as recently as Oct. 29
It turns out that the shining light the Atlanta Hawks were driving toward wasn’t a beacon. It was an oncoming train.
Following a series of unfortunate events, the team’s promising start has taken a turn for the deep south, as have Atlanta’s odds of winning the NBA Southeast Division title.
Tuesday, power forward John Collins was suspended 25 games by the NBA following a positive drug test. Guard Trae Young has missed the past week due to an ankle injury.
Atlanta has lost three straight after opening 2-0. The Hawks are skidding in the NBA Divisional odds. Atlanta’s chances of winning the Southeast title are currently listed at +1400.
2019-20 NBA Southeast Division Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Miami Heat | -275 |
| Orlando Magic | +300 |
| Atlanta Hawks | +1400 |
| Charlotte Hornets | +3300 |
| Washington Wizards | +3300 |
Odds taken on November 5, 2019.
As recently as Oct. 29, the Hawks were +600 to win the Southeast.
Collins Out Of Mix
The NBA announced that third-year pro Collins had tested positive for a PED, the Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-2 (GHRP-2). His 25-game suspension was to begin with Tuesday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs and run until Dec. 23.
The NBA just announced John Collins has been suspended 25 games for testing positive for Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-2. Huge blow to the Hawks. pic.twitter.com/mwRY71r4O3
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) November 5, 2019
Collins is averaging 17 points this season and has pulled down a team-high 8.8 rebounds per game. He plays 32.2 minutes per game. Jabari Parker figures to step into Collins’ spot in the starting five.
Collins intends to appeal the suspension but, based on past history with NBA drug suspensions, is unlikely to win his appeal.
Young’s Wrong Turn
The Hawks did get some good news on Tuesday. It looks as though the ankle injury to point guard Trae Young has healed to the point where he will suit up against the Spurs tonight.
Young rolled his right ankle in a 112-97 loss to the Miami Heat last Tuesday. Original fears were that Young could miss as much as three weeks. However, further examination of the ankle confirmed the injury was not as serious as first feared. If he plays Tuesday, Young will have only missed a week of action.
Atlanta’s top pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Young is averaging 26.8 points, 7.3 assists and five rebounds this season.
When Young is not on the floor, Atlanta’s offensive rating drops from 112.2 to 94.5.
Hawks Grounded
Opening the 2019-20 NBA season with wins over the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic, there was optimism that the Hawks had the goods to at least be a playoff team for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
There was a close 105-103 loss to a very good Philadelphia 76ers team, but then the Hawks were schooled in back-to-back games by the Miami Heat, losing the pair by an average margin of 12 points.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrQXFWhSILk
The gleam and optimism that was present in Atlanta has since given way to a more familiar refrain of despair and frustration.
Rookie Cam Reddish, taken 10th overall in the NBA Draft out of Duke, has struggled to start his career. Through five NBA games, he’s shooting 20.9 percent from the field and 5.6 percent from 3-point range.
“WHAT A SHOT!”
Cam Reddish
Via @shaqtin— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) November 1, 2019
Meanwhile, the Heat is on. Miami looks like the real deal. At 4-1, the Heat have already claimed a couple of big pelts. They downed the Milwaukee Bucks by five in an overtime tilt. In their most recent game, the Heat defused the Houston Rockets, 129-100.
Healthy, the Hawks weren’t likely to soar to that level. Banged up and missing a key piece, Atlanta doesn’t stand a chance of winning the division.
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
