Atlanta Hawks: Playoff Hopes on Life Support
By Kit Anderson
Being an Atlanta Hawks fan is rarely easy but the ending to this season has been especially painful. The Hawks seem to be imploding and all hopes of a playoff run seem to be squashed.
The Atlanta Hawks have been riddled with injuries and losses over the last month and tonight will face another tough challenge in the Boston Celtics. Tonight’s game is as close to a must win game as the Hawks might have for the rest of the year.
They are less than two games from falling out of the playoffs all together and only a game and a half from falling to the 8th spot in the playoffs. While if they manage to make the playoffs in the 8th spot it would be somewhat of a success it would also mean the Hawks are likely to exit in the first round of the playoffs.
If the Hawks were to fall to the 8th seed they would face Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavs in the first round. That would likely be the end of the Hawks season and give them no opportunity to at least advance past the first round of the NBA playoffs.
Of the Hawks five final games two will be against the Cavs and one against the 2nd place Boston Celtics. Two of those games are going to have to result in wins if they are going to hang on to their current playoff spot.
Match-ups with the Celtics often seem to get heated for the Hawks and provide a much needed spark offensively and fighting in the paint. If they can use that energy towards a win tonight it could spring board the Hawks and give them some momentum headed into the playoffs.
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Paul Millsap is finally healthy as well and will give Dwight Howard some help fighting for rebounds and scoring in the paint. Tip off is scheduled for 8:00 EST tonight.