Series Predictions For Hawks vs Knicks: Who Wins, Biggest X-Factors, and More

The NBA Playoffs are one day away and the Atlanta Hawks are set to make their return to the postseason for the first time in three years. Atlanta got out of the play-in tournament for the first time in five years and just like five years ago, the Hawks are facing the New York Knicks.

Things are different than the last time these two teams met however. The Knicks lacked playoff experience in that series and the Hawks exposed them, winning in five games. This time around, the Knicks are one of the elite teams in the Eastern Conference, have one of the best starting fives in the NBA, and were two wins away from the NBA Finals a year ago. This group has cohesion and experience in the playoffs, something this Hawks team does not.

Don't discount Atlanta though. They have been one of the NBA's best teams over the past couple of months and I don't think that it is a fluke. They have been one of the best defenses in the NBA and have a young star in Jalen Johnson who can lead them to victory.

The Knicks are the favorites in this series, but the Hawks can pull the upset. Here is how the staff here at Atlanta Hawks On SI thinks the series will go, who will be the X-Factor, and who needs to step up most.

Who wins