Atlanta Hawks-Miami Heat: Playoff Player Match Ups

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First, to sort out the seeds:

The Hawks lead the Heat by three-and-a-half games for fourth in the Eastern Conference Playoff race. With only 11 games left to go for Atlanta and 12 for Miami, it is going to be difficult for the Heat to overtake the Hawks.  Philadelphia could sneak into the fifth spot, but I think that D-Wade will carry the Heat to enough wins to set up a great first-round matchup with the Hawks.

The Hawks have won eight of their last nine contests and have largely solidified their position. They have a tough three-game home stand this week with the San Antonio Spurs, Boston Celtics, and L.A. Lakers coming to Philips Arena.

The pressure will be on to come up with at least two wins; I actually like them against the Spurs and the Celtics.

For the Heat, D-Wade sat out last week’s game versus the Celtics, and Jermaine O’Neal missed last night’s game with a bruised right hip. Supposedly, O’Neal "could have played if it was a Playoff game" and is expected to play Wednesday night.

Both of these teams are very good at home this season which means the series probably will go six or seven games.

Check out this preview of the player matchups for a Hawks-Heat series. I'd say the Hawks clearly have the advantage at several positions, but the Heat have D-Wade, who is playing at an MVP level.

Atlanta head coach Mike Woodson will have to decide whether to let D-Wade score 40 points per night and hold down the other players or to double Wade when he has the ball (or when he comes off ball screens) and make the other players beat the Hawks.

Mike Bibby vs. Mario Chalmers

Will the Hawks be able to re-sign Bibby this summer? I really hope so; this guy has solidified a position that has tormented Hawks’ fans for the past decade.

Just think about where this team would be if Acie Law was the starting point guard for 2008-09. Only Billy Bob Thornton’s character in the movie Armegeddon could adequately describe that scenario.

Bibby has hit big shots all year for this team. His defense is a liability, but not against this particular opponent.

Chalmers is a solid rookie who is clearly going to be an above-average NBA player.  I would take him over Acie Law right now, but Chalmers is a rookie.

The Playoffs are a whole different level of intensity; the preparation by opposing teams is much more specific. I see Mario struggling when the Hawks force him to make big jump shots in the fourth quarter.

Joe Johnson vs. Dwayne Wade

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