Atlanta Hawks: 3 keys to winning the first round against the New York Knicks

Atlanta Hawks key No. 1) Sneak an away win

The Hawks had a huge advantage over the final stretch of the regular season with seven of their last eight games at home. The Hawks actually finished the regular season with a league-best 11-0 win-streak on their home floor.

They were irrepressible on their home floor taking care of the Phoenix Suns by a large margin and also beating the Washington Wizards when they were at their peak. The Hawks should take care of their home floor against the Knicks.

They had problems away from home, they lost their last five straight games away from State Farm Arena. This includes a game against the Knicks which went into overtime. However, due to not being able to claim the fourth seed, the Hawks must win one game away from home.

The biggest problem is that the Knicks also defended their home court well. They went 9-1 in the last ten home games. They did lose to the Suns and had three overtime games, all of which they won.

They are vulnerable to the right style of play. They won two of their last three games by four points each against the San Antonio Spurs and the Boston Celtics. They also beat the Charlotte Hornets by nine points but had to go into overtime to do it.