The Atlanta Hawks are in the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season but are the No. 1 seed for the first time in a long time. They enter the playoffs as heavy favorites over the eighth seeded Brooklyn Nets but will the series be as easy as it sounds? Here is what our writers think will happen along with what will be the key matchup in the series.
What would it take to consider this playoff appearance a success?
(Brad Rowland) Reaching the Conference Finals. Given the nature of a 60-win season, this may seem like a low bar, but for a franchise that has never reached the conference finals, breaking new ground would qualify as a success.