Here They Go: Brooklyn Nets Vs. Atlanta Hawks Playoff Predictions

The Nets are in the NBA Playoffs for the third straight year since moving to Brooklyn. It took the Nets a win over the Orlando Magic and some help from the Memphis Grizzlies for this moment to happen.

With the Brooklyn Nets taking the 8th and final playoff spot, their opponent waiting in the wings are the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks are the top seeded team in the Eastern Conference and the second best team in the NBA. In the best of 7 series, Brooklyn Nets fans are guaranteed at least two home games at Barclays Center. During the regular season, the Hawks managed to sweep the Nets 4-0, however, that was the regular season. The postseason is a completely different animal as many NBA players will tell you. For example, the Nets did not win the Atlantic Division championship last year but beat the Toronto Raptors, the team who held that immediate title. The Nets also swept the then NBA defending champions, the Miami Heat, during the regular season last year but the Nets fell to the Heat 4-1 in the series.

For the Nets to have a chance against the Hawks the anchors of this team in Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, and Brook Lopez have to be in playoff mode. Many say that people only remember what you do in the post season. It’s where the moments of the game live forever. These three men have to live in that moment. They must be the very best of themselves. The flashes and sparks we’ve seen from them during the regular season must become a constant.

The strong supporting cast of the Nets also play a huge roll. Thaddeus Young, Bojan Bogdanovic, Jarrett Jack, Mason Plumlee, and Alan Anderson will have to either match the tone or set the tone for their entire team. Good news for the Nets is that Mirza Teletovic has been cleared to play after recovering from bloodclots in his lungs. Months out of action only to play in the Playoffs is difficult to do but Mirza is a tough guy from Bosnia that plays in Brooklyn; he’ll be alright. Any one of these men can have a series defining game to help the Nets push the series into their favors. In fact, its something they all must do because the Hawks are simply a lethal, well oiled, and nothing to joke about team.

The Atlanta Hawks are the biggest sleeping giants in the entire NBA. Despite being the second best team in the NBA, the Eastern Conference Champions, and having 60 wins this season, they are still considered “meh”. Maybe its because Lebron James is still in the Eastern Conference and its hard to picture him not being in the NBA finals. Maybe its because there aren’t ‘stars’ on the team the people can identify with ‘box office’. Whatever the reason is, if anyone thinks they can push the Hawks around, you’re going to be swept out of the series before you realize your mistake.
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Kyle Korver is an absolute assassin from 3-point territory. If you give him the opportunity to shoot the ball, chances are the ball is going down with +3 on the boards. Jeff Teague is as sneaky and as fluid as they come when it comes to getting through traffic and doing trick shots with the ball. If he is able to get to the rim, its too late because the ball is going in. Paul Millsap is such an agile player in the post along with Al Horford that it doesn’t really leave any room for double teams. Then to top of all of that, the Hawks have seven other guys that cannot be ignored. Their names? Mike Scott, DeMarre Carroll, Shelvin Mack, Kent Bazemore, Dennis Schroder, Mike Muscala, and John Jenkins. Each one of these dudes can shoot the ball very well from the free throw line, produce on simple to difficult jumpers, and oh by the way, just about all of them are capable of knocking down 3-pointers. Tie that in with the fact that they play unselfish basketball and you have an incredible championship ready team. The Atlanta Hawks are simply no joke. Yet, they are unbelievably still flying under the radar even as you read this.

Thankfully every team has a weakness and the Hawks weakness is called rebounds, offensive and defensive. If it hasn’t corrected itself in the regular season, it will show itself in the postseason. The Hawks are ranked 29/30 in offensive rebounding and 22/30 in defensive rebounding. This along with the Hawks pick and roll defense are probably the only things the Nets could, rather need to exploit to make this a long series. As much as we here at OurBKSocial love our Brooklyn Nets, its hard to see the Nets win this series over Atlanta. Its not that the Nets can’t, its just that the Nets haven’t been consistent all season long. Up until the end of March, beginning of April, the Nets couldn’t win many games in a row. Again, if it hasn’t corrected itself in the regular season, it will show itself in the postseason. The Nets can win a game or two against Atlanta but we would be ridiculously happy and shocked if they were able to do more than that.