Hawks choose first-round matchup with Knicks on season's final day

With a win on the final day of the NBA season, the Atlanta Hawks could have clinched fifth place in the East and a first-round matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Instead, they sat their starters and let fate — and the Boston Celtics — decide their playoff seed.

The Miami Heat blew out the Hawks, 143-117, as all five of the Hawks' starters rested, along with three other rotation players. When the Toronto Raptors won, and the Celtics' reserves stunned the Orlando Magic, the Hawks dropped to 6th place and locked in a date with the New York Knicks.

Atlanta Hawks didn't mind facing New York Knicks

Hawks coach Quin Snyder told reporters after the game, "The focus for us has been on our guys going into the postseason healthy. And after that, we'll figure out who we're playing."

That ended up being the Knicks, but it's hard not to think the Hawks preferred playing the Eastern Conference's third-best team, rather than the Cavaliers. Perhaps they thought the Magic would beat the Celtics, who sat eight of their rotation players, which would have given the Hawks the five seed. But when a team can control its own fate and opts out, it's a sign they, at the very least, weren't worried about dropping down one spot.

The Knicks went 2-1 against the Hawks this season, winning the season series when officials waved off CJ McCollum's buzzer-beater on April 6. Both of Atlanta's losses came by three points, in games that were tied in the final minute, while the Hawks led by 24 points after three quarters in their lone win.

While the Knicks have Karl-Anthony Towns at center, the undersized Hawks might feel better facing one All-Star big man instead of two, with Cleveland's Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Atlanta has an impressive array of wing players led by All-Star Jalen Johnson, but a lack of big men after trading Kristaps Porzingis at the deadline.

Onyeka Okongwu had a breakthrough season, but he's only 6-foot-10. Backup Jock Landale's injury forced the Hawks to sign Tony Bradley for front-court depth. The rangy Hawks simply match up better with the wing-dominant Knicks.

Hawks chose a better second-round matchup as well

If the Hawks were motivated by avoiding teams with size, they're looking at a better second-round path, too. There's a compelling argument that the Boston Celtics are a more dangerous opponent with Jayson Tatum back on the court. However, the Celtics have Neemias Queta, Nikola Vucevic and Luka Garza at center — all quality role players, but hardly a group that would overwhelm Atlanta with size.

That's assuming the Celtics get past their play-in rivals, but not one of that group of teams boasts a giant center, after Joel Embiid's appendectomy kept him sidelined indefinitely. Bam Adebayo may have scored 83 points in a game, but he's still only 6-foot-9.

The biggest risk is that the Hawks handed Knicks coach Mike Brown some excellent bulletin board motivation. He can now point to the Hawks' resting starters as proof of disrespect, arrogance, even anti-Big Apple prejudice — whatever works for him.

It might all be moot. The Hawks were the NBA's third-best team after the All-Star break. It might not matter who they match up with if they keep playing as they have for two months. Even if that opponent feels insulted.