Jan 28, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks center
Al Horford(15) makes a move against Brooklyn Nets center
Brook Lopez(11) in the third quarter of their game at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 113-102. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
(1) Atlanta Hawks vs (8) Brooklyn Nets
Key Matchups: Al Horford vs Brook Lopez
Season Series: Hawks win 4-0
Nets
On the last day of the NBA’s regular season, the Brooklyn Nets “earned” the right to play the Atlanta Hawks in the first round in the playoffs. Well, maybe they just earned the right to get sacrificed to the Atlanta Hawks. Either way, you get the idea.
The Nets don’t belong in the playoffs, but somehow here we are.
If there’s anything intriguing to watch in this series, other than the Hawks scoring a bajillion points, is the Brook Lopez-Al Horford matchup. Lopez has been playing out of his mind recently — has averaged 21 points, nine rebounds and two blocks per game in his last 25 contests — and his matchup with Horford is going to be as close to must-see TV as we’re going to get in this series.
Hawks
I’m just going with the premise that the Atlanta Hawks got bored towards the latter portion of the regular season. That’s the only explanation.
For some reason, towards the end of the season, the Hawks didn’t look as impressive as they looked in the meat of the season. And while much of that could be chalked up to injury, I tend to think there’s something that we’re definitely overlooking with this team. I’m not sure if they’ve peaked for the year, but I’m not going to believe that.
Nor entertain that thought.
So I’m just going to assume what I was assuming when they were in the midst of their 19-game winning streak. Atlanta is going to blow the East away in the playoffs.
And it’s going to begin with an old, shell of themselves Nets team that didn’t even want to be in the playoffs.
Prediction: Hawks sweep
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