2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: Atlanta Hawks Still Have No Chance vs. Magic

Funny how quickly things can change in a series following a first-game defeat.  Sportswriters, analysts and everyone in between picked the Orlando Magic to easily dispose of the Atlanta Hawks.

Sure, Joe Johnson explodes for one game and the Hawks would fall in five games instead of four.

Then it happened. Atlanta manhandled Orlando—with the exception of a certain someone donning a white No. 12 jersey—and shocked the home crowd in a 103-93 victory.

Now, those same sportswriters and analysts have immediately backtracked on their previous predictions and deemed the Hawks front-runners in the series.

Just stop.  I'm not one of them.  Was I shocked by the Hawks' prideful display on Saturday?  Of course, you'd be a fool to expect the Hawks to dominate a game in which Dwight Howard went for 46 points and 19 rebounds.  But I don't think this is something to be up in arms about. I'm sticking to my prediction that the Magic will knock off the Hawks 4-1 in the series.

Here is why: 14 points and 11 rebounds—the combined output from Hedo Turkoglu, Brandon Bass, Jason Richardson and J.J. Redick.  Throw in the fact Orlando shot a paltry 27.3 percent (6-of-22) from beyond the arc and you've got a recipe that simply doesn't get cooked very often.

Expect Howard and the Magic to come out and make a statement in Game Two tonight, thrashing the Hawks by at least double digits.

Don't be surprised if that momentum carries into Atlanta, where a nonexistent Hawks fanbase resides. 

Point being: Magic in five.