Atlanta Hawks: Which potential matchup would be better in round one.

Atlanta Hawks less preferred opponent – The Miami Heat

The Hawks would not prefer to meet the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs. The current fifth seed is a nightmare matchup for any team at any stage for the playoffs. They managed to come from the sixth seed last year to make it all the way to the Finals.

They did this on the back of standout performances by Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler. These two players seem to know how to make it hard for any team. They have a belief so that it does not matter where they qualify, they are a threat.

It would be better if the Hawks can avoid playing the Heat until later in the playoffs Then the young team can experience playoff basketball against another team without the pressure a seasoned playoff team puts on their opposition.

However, the main reason the Hawks would rather avoid the Heat in the first round is Jimmy Butler. The former Chicago Bulls star just takes his game up a level in the playoffs and drags his teammates with him. He gets his teammates involved in the first part of the game and then takes over down the stretch. Playoff Butler is a phenomenon the Hawks would like to meet later in the postseason.