RealGM

Maybe the Hawks are better than their record indicates. Compare them to the Celtics who just got into the playoffs a while ago with 35 wins for the season. Dino was a superstar, X-Man was good, Dominique shot the ball a lot, Montross was big but wasn't passed the ball, Wesley and Brown were a very short backcourt and Sherman Douglas was also there.

The Hawks do have a lot of lottery picks. A lot more talent than many 37 win teams. Bibby, Williams and Horford know how to win, at least at the college level. Pachulia is a strong player that is useful for playoff basketball. Is Claxton on their roster, he brings some knowledge like Cassell should for Boston.

Comparing the Hawks of now to the Celtics of then, the Hawks would sweep them like the Magic did in 1995. The Hawks of 2008 may have underachieved during the regular season, so while the standings say 37 wins they are really a lot better than that, and if a coach that is poor in their knowledge underestimates the Hawks it could be very bad.

Agreed 100%

The problem with these first round upsetters (still potential in this case, but looking more and more likely) is that once they get to the next round, they almost never advance. They're "happy to be there."

The only exception, ever, was the Knicks of '99. And that was a weird season anyway with the lockout and all.

Yes we underachieved, but we also got Bibby at the trade deadline.

I agree on the talent comparison.

But for anyone who might care, in '95 the Magic won 3-1 and Boston gave them a serious scare, it was a pretty close series. From memory Orlando won Game 1 by like 40 points or something, then Boston won game 2 in Orlando. Games 3 and 4 both came down to the last possessions of the game with Boston easily could have won them both. Plus I think Wesley, Fox and Montross all injured. I remember Derek Strong having to guard Shaq in game 4.

I remember when the Celtics won the second game. I will never forget the next day's Orlando Sentinel newspaper front page headline:

TRAGIC KINGDOM

Local media ripped the Magic for that loss.