Monday's NBA Playoffs action is shaping as much as be fantastic with the opener between the Hawks and Cavs and Game 2 between the Thunder and Spurs. We break down all of the action so that you can cap the games like a pro.

Atlanta Hawks at Cleveland Cavaliers (-7.5, 200.5)

Series tied 0-0

The Atlanta Hawks were no match for Cleveland during last season's Eastern Conference finals and try to submit a greater fight this time around once they meet the Cavaliers within the conference semifinals. The hunt begins Monday in Cleveland and the Hawks certainly haven't forgotten that they were swept last season and suffered a 30-point shellacking within the final game of the series.

Forward LeBron James operated at will within the conference finals by averaging 30.3 points, 11 rebounds and 9.3 assists. James continued his dominance of the Hawks this season with averages of 27.3 points, 11 rebounds and 7.8 assists in three games - all won by Cleveland - but isn't expecting another cakewalk. "Nothing is simple within the postseason," James told reporters. "There's an excessive amount of work, both at the floor and mentally it is advisable do to organize for a playoff series understanding how the contest goes to be at its highest level. Easy should not even come into play when you find yourself talking about playoff basketball or basketball typically at this level." The Cavaliers swept the Detroit Pistons within the opening round while Atlanta ousted the Boston Celtics in a six-game series.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, TNT

LINE HISTORY: The Cavaliers opened as eight-point favorites within the opening game in their second round playoff series - the road dropped to -7.5 as bettors put their initial support behind the Hawks. The full opened at 200 and went up as high as 201.5 before settling down at 200.5 on Sunday evening. Take a look at the whole line history here.MATCHUP CHART:

ABOUT THE HAWKS (52-36, 45-42-1 ATS, 39-49 O/U): Small forward Kent Bazemore can be under the microscope after averaging 14 points and 7 rebounds within the series against Boston as he's going to draw the defensive assignment of slowing down James. Bazemore hasn't been shy about criticizing James up to now and is without doubt one of the Atlanta players who has a chip on his shoulders because of last season's playoff beat down. "YOU WERE GIVEN to amp yourself up and also you can't go in humble, I guess," Bazemore told reporters. "YOU WERE GIVEN to make yourself angry and do whatever you were given to do to just accept that challenge, because he's a freight train and brings it and is derived with everything he has, so that you must do the similar to hold in there."

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (61-25, 39-44-3 ATS, 43-43 O/U): Point guard Kyrie Irving was superb throughout the sweep of the Pistons and topped 30 points twice while averaging 27.5 for the series. Irving knocked down the large shots as he continues to turn that someday he's going to be the team's undisputed closer in preference to sharing the role with James. "ON THE end of the day we've two of the most productive closers within the game playing on one team," Irving told reporters. "YOU COULD HAVE a 6-8 monster who can penetrate and get anywhere he wants at the floor, after which myself having that confidence in those situations. Without reference to who the play is drawn up for, that's as much as (coach Tyronn Lue)."

TRENDS:

* Hawks are 1-6 ATS of their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.* Cavaliers are 2-7 ATS of their last 9 Conference Semifinals games.* Under is 6-0 in Hawks last 6 after scoring 100 points or more of their previous game.* Over is 8-2 in Cavaliers last 10 vs. NBA Southeast.* Over is 6-1 within the last 7 meetings in Cleveland.

Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs (-7.5, 202.5)

Spurs lead series 1-0

The San Antonio Spurs annihilated Oklahoma City within the series opener and try to take a 2-0 lead within the Western Conference semifinals once they host the Thunder on Monday. San Antonio held a 23-point lead after the outlet quarter of Game 1 and All-Star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge had an enormous game with 38 points because the Spurs blitzed the Thunder from the outset.

San Antonio led 73-40 at halftime while establishing supremacy over the Thunder but shooting guard Danny Green isn't expecting things to be really easy in Game 2. "WE ALL KNOW that they are going to pop out super-aggressive next game, they're gonna make adjustments, and we aren't gonna shoot in addition to we did," Green told reporters. "It’s one game. It’s not a momentum thing. Each game is different. Every game is its own playoff series. So it is not like it will carry over to next game." Oklahoma City stars Kevin Durant (16 points on 6-of-15 shooting) and Russell Westbrook (14 points, 5-of-19) both had woeful games as Spurs' two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard took turns defending each player. "Me personally, I never take a look at the man in front of me," Westbrook told reporters. "I GLANCE on the help to look what is the next move. Not a large problem, just got to seek out how you can read the assistance a little better and make better decisions."

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT

LINE HISTORY: The Spurs opened as seven-point favorites and the books were forced to bump them as much as -7.5. The full opened at 202.5 and has yet to transport. Take a look at your entire line history here.

MATCHUP CHART:

ABOUT THE THUNDER (59-29, 40-47-1 ATS, 43-45 O/U): Durant has scored not up to 20 points in two of Oklahoma City's six playoff games and wasn't in the least interested to share his feelings after the horrendous loss. "I AM NOT telling you," Durant said in a response to an issue about his emotions. "Because it's over with. Move on. We just move past it and determine what we need to do better. No crazy emotions. It isn't like we were upset and screaming at one another within the locker room after the sport. That isn't going to fix things". Westbrook's 14 points and 26.3 field-goal percentage were his lowest figures in six games this postseason.

ABOUT THE SPURS (72-15, 48-39 ATS, 37-48-2 O/U): Aldridge was a force by going 18-of-23 from the sector or even knocked down a 3-point basket for the primary time this season. "It was only one of these nights," Aldridge told reporters. "I WILL NOT take credit for it. I USED TO BE just seeking to play confident and ended up making some plays that I probably won't make the following game. It was enough for me." Leonard also shot superbly by making 10-of-13 from the sphere - the Spurs shot 60.7 percent as a team - and scored 20 of his 25 points within the first half.

TRENDS:

* Thunder are 4-1 ATS of their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.* Spurs are 7-1 ATS of their last 8 Conference Semifinals games.* Over is 7-1 in Thunder last 8 road games.* Thunder are 4-1 ATS within the last 5 meetings.

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