10 Keys for the Atlanta Hawks Heading into NBA Playoffs

With the 2012 NBA regular season coming to a close, the Atlanta Hawks are poised to reach their fifth consecutive postseason. With a three-game winning streak and a star player potentially returning for the playoffs, the Hawks look to be hitting the postseason in stride and readying themselves for a long-awaited title run.

The issue is, we always seem to say that.

While the Hawks will be riding on a high from their first-round upset of the Orlando Magic in 2011, the bar has been set much higher in 2012. If the Atlanta Hawks fail to make the Eastern Conference Finals, thus losing in the Eastern Conference semis for the fourth consecutive season, it's likely to bring about some major changes in the A-Town. Yet again, there is an issue that's even more concerning: What if the Hawks are to lose in the first round?

To place themselves in position to fight off the worst case scenario, the Hawks must have a set of guidelines laid out for their success. To reach the best case scenario and win a title, here are 10 keys they must follow.

Al Horford's Return

It was Jan. 13 when Al Horford was diagnosed with a shoulder injury that would hold him out for three to four months. We later discovered the injury was a torn pectoral muscle, a painful development that even the unfamiliar can imagine as debilitating.

Fortunately for the Hawks, CBS Sports reports that Horford has already begun non-contact drills. If Horford's recovery is on schedule, he could be ready for the 2012 NBA playoffs. Furthermore, the Atlanta Hawks could have a realistic chance at winning the NBA Championship.

His paced but timely recovery is key.

Jeff Teague Must Continue Strong Play

Jeff Teague came into the season with high expectations and plenty of pressure resting on his shoulders. While his first three months were rather up and down, Teague has actually become quite the pure point guard.

Prior to March, Teague had registered just five games with seven or more assists. In the month of March, Teague registered nine games above seven assists, including an 18-point, nine-assist and seven-rebound performance in a 139-133, quadruple-overtime victory over the Utah Jazz.

Should Teague continue this level of play, there's no reason the Atlanta Hawks cannot pull off some upsets come playoff time. Just note that this is a dangerous bet to make.

Joe Johnson's Continued Resurgence

After posting just 14.5 points on 39 percent shooting during the month of February, Joe Johnson rebounded with a season-high 22.4 points on 49 percent shooting in March. That includes his shooting 48 percent from distance.

What must be noted, however, is that Johnson's improvements went far beyond scoring. He made improvements in his rebounding, assist and steal totals.

If the Hawks are to enter the playoffs with momentum, their $18 million star must continue this pace. Johnson is showing signs of doing so, shooting 54 percent from distance in three games this April. While his average of 16.7 points is down from a month ago, he's also played fewer than 30 minutes in two blowout victories over the Charlotte Bobcats.

This is judgment day for one of the most harshly criticized players in the NBA.

Kirk Hinrich Returns as Himself

From March 21-27, Kirk Hinrich scored in double figures in all five of the Atlanta Hawks' games. In the six games since then, the closest Hinrich has come to double-digit scoring was an eight-point performance against the Philadelphia 76ers.

While Jeff Teague's play has certainly been impressive as of late, depth at the point is important with the Hawks' potential first-round opponent being Rajon Rondo and the Boston Celtics. Furthermore, Hinrich knows Derrick Rose as well as any and is notorious for his perimeter defense that could potentially slow Rose down enough to create opportunities for his teammates to secure a close win.

Marvin Williams' Shooting Must Improve

Marvin Williams has had quite a confusing season for the Atlanta Hawks, shooting a career-high 40 percent from three but a career-low 43 percent from the field. He's also averaging less than 10.0 points per game for the first time since 2006; his rookie season.

For the Hawks to have continued success throughout the postseason, Williams must make a change and continue a habit. He must prolong his tear from beyond the arc and improve his shooting from everywhere else. If he fails to do so, the Hawks' bid for a title will fall short.

Again.

Hope the Indiana Pacers Orlando Magic Continue to Falter

There is no one in the NBA that is happier to hear of the Orlando Magic's struggles than the Atlanta Hawks.

While the Hawks are all but mathematically assured of a spot in the playoffs, position and matchup are just as important as the simple honor of making it. With the Boston Celtics aging and lacking any form of a transition offense, it may behoove the Hawks to match up with the Big Three on what could be their last rodeo.

It may also benefit them to face a team that has never made it out of the first round, the Indiana Pacers. How they meet the Pacers is still up in the air, but the Hawks' placement of just 0.5 games behind the Pacers for third could be a fate-changing achievement.

If the Hawks want to have momentum and home court on their side, they must close out strong—stronger than the struggling Magic and Pacers, at least.

The Enduring Brilliance of Ivan Johnson

For those who haven't seen Ivan Johnson play this season, I'm sorry. This guy has been absolutely phenomenal, and by comparison, I'd say that he's the Hawks' version of Taj Gibson.

He crashes the boards, can defend multiple positions and even adds some ferocious dunks here and Wizards" target="_self">there. And there. And definitely here.

If Larry Drew can continue to find minutes for Johnson, who has made the most of them with an average of 16.5 points and 6.0 rebounds over the past two games, then the Hawks will be even more dangerous than usual. So much so that his pairing with a healthy Al Horford could mean an Eastern Conference Championship berth for Drew and his makeshift Hawks.

Which Bench Will We See?

Willie Green has always been a bit of an enigma, displaying top-level talent on one night and borderline shyness on the next. The fact is, that top-level talent does come out; his 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting against the Knicks is perfect evidence of such.

Tracy McGrady is still an excellent playmaker, has a glimpse of his once stellar mid-range game and can take over a game for the five to 10 minutes he spends on the court at one time. He's also an aging player whose history of injuries have caught up with his abilities but not his mindset. As long as McGrady plays within himself, he can help the Hawks win big.

While the Atlanta Hawks have long been a team reliant upon their starting lineup and a sixth man, their bench has become a very important piece of their ever-confusing puzzle. Between Green, Ivan Johnson and McGrady, the Hawks' bench will certainly play a big role in Atlanta's success or failure. Let's just hope it's the bench we love, not the bench we loathe.

Winning the Gimmes

The Atlanta Hawks are currently 0.5 games ahead of the Orlando Magic for fifth in the Eastern Conference. To sustain this position, the Hawks must win the games they're supposed to win.

While six of the Hawks' final nine games are against playoff contenders, they also have two games against the Toronto Raptors and one against the Detroit Pistons. While pessimism would tell you the Hawks could potentially lose all six of those games, the three wins they are expected to secure could be enough to outlast the slumping Magic.

Remaining Home Games: Toronto (Apr. 15), Detroit (Apr. 18), Boston (April 20), New York (Apr. 22), Los Angeles Clippers (Apr. 24), Dallas (Apr. 26)

Remaining Away Games: Boston (Apr. 11), Orlando (Apr. 13), Toronto (Apr. 16)

Zaza Pachulia's Elevated Level of Play

Zaza Pachulia has been an absolute revelation in Al Horford's absence. Since Feb. 6, Pachulia has averaged 8.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, going toe-to-toe with even the best centers in the NBA. While Horford's return will certainly cause excitement, the Hawks would not be in this position without Pachulia's play.

With Al Horford's return delayed until the playoffs, it's likely Pachulia will remain the starter as the Hawks compete for anywhere between the third and sixth seed in the East. If that's the case, Pachulia must maintain this elevated level of play.

Bonus: Josh Smith Maintains All-Star-Caliber Play

Did you really expect me to leave his name off of this list?

In recent years, Josh Smith has been a flashy star who often tries to do too much. Because of the mindless effort, Smith had actually been hurting the Hawks' title chances.

In 2012, Smith has turned down the outrageous and turned up the magnificent. He shot 50 percent or better on seven different occasions during March. He has continued that pace in two of the first three games in April.

If Smith can further develop this from trend to second nature, the Hawks will be tough to stop. The key will be Larry Drew's capability of keeping Smith in the low post enough that when he does go to the mid-range game, teams aren't as prepared for it as they once were.