Even after the Atlanta Hawks' thorough dismantling of the Brooklyn Nets in a series-clinching Game 6 victory on Friday, it would be understandable to think of the Washington Wizards as the favorites in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Sure, the Hawks were on the money Friday night, riding a 41-point third quarter to a big lead and then cruising to the final buzzer and a 111-87 victory. But now, they have only a single day to rest before squaring off with the Wizards, who have been sitting tight and presumably staying loose ever since completing their dominant sweep of the Toronto Raptors.
The final game in that Toronto-Washington "battle" came all the way back on April 26, and it wasn't a particularly close contest. Washington won by 31 points in front of its hometown fans, taking advantage of a team that often looked as if it had completely forgotten how to play basketball.
While the Wizards were recovering and watching other teams attempt to join them in the second round, the Hawks were failing to live up to the expectations typically associated with a No. 1 seed. Fresh off the first ...
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Article written by Adam Fromal
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