Hawks vs. Celtics, 2016 NBA playoffs: Boston looks to take the next step against the rock-solid Hawks

No one paid much attention to the Atlanta Hawks and the Boston Celtics coming into the season. Both were projected to make the playoffs, but were thought of as early-round fodder. Thanks to finishing with the fourth- and fifth-best records in the East, respectively, now one of Atlanta or Boston will definitely make the conference semifinals and could surprise whomever they face there.

The Hawks couldn't replicate the offensive success they had last season, when they won 60 games. Instead, they made defense their calling card, finishing second in the league in efficiency on that end behind only the San Antonio Spurs. Atlanta pulled off the seemingly impossible and became one of the few teams to force a lot of turnovers without fouling much, which is the secret to its success.

The always underrated Paul Millsap is arguably their best player on both ends, but what makes Atlanta unique is that it's solid at every position. Al Horford is one of the most well-rounded big men in the league, Jeff Teague and Dennis Schroder combine to give them enough off-the-bounce creativity from the point guard spot and the wings can shoot. If there's one chink in the Hawks' armor, it's their subpar rebounding. Other than that, this is a team with few weaknesses.

The same could be said about Boston, which is what makes this series so intriguing. The Celtics are a deep, balanced team that does some things well and does few things poorly. They ranked in the top half of the league in offensive efficiency despite not boasting great shooting because they don't turn the ball over and make teams that do pay for their mistakes. They are elite on defense thanks to their perimeter players, who can pressure ball handlers into bad decisions.

Isaiah Thomas is their go-to scorer in the half-court and he's had his best year as a pro. His 22 points and six assists per game earned him his first All-Star nod. Now, he's looking to make an impact in the playoffs to take the next step in his career. Behind him are multiple two-way players who give coach Brad Stevens plenty of room to experiment with lineups. What the Celtics lack in star power, they make up for in versatility, so counting them out is always a risky gamble.

The matchup

• Hawks (48-34, expected record 51-31) vs. Celtics (48-34 expected record 50-32)
• Hawks' offensive efficiency: 103 (18th) | Celtics' offensive efficiency: 103.9 (13th)
• Hawks defensive efficiency: 98.8 (2nd) | Celtics' defensive efficiency: 100.9 (T-4th)
• Season series: Hawks 3-1

Key matchup: Isaiah Thomas vs. the Hawks' point guards

Both teams rely on fast-break points to complement their occasionally anemic offenses, but both are also among the best in the league at preventing transition opportunities for opponents. This matchup could turn into a half-court affair, and if that happens, point guard play could be a huge factor in determining who has the edge.

Thomas carries the burden of shot creation for the Celtics. He's the engine to their offense, boasting a usage percentage that no one else on the team comes close to matching. Between his scoring and his assists, he creates over 36 points per game for Boston. If he struggles then they will too -- they don't really have another great playmaker in the backcourt or a dominant big man who can take over.

The Hawks have more options but they still need the maddeningly inconsistent duo of Teague and Schroder to have a steady hand on offense and bail out possessions when the system fails to create good looks. More importantly, they will have to be sharp on defense to prevent Thomas from going off.

X factor: The rebounding battle

Both teams are dreadful at securing defensive rebounds, ranking in the bottom 10 in the league in that category. They simply lack a big man who secures misses at a high rate on his own. They also love leaking out for fast-break opportunities, which provides opponents with opportunities to attack the offensive glass.

The difference between the two squads comes on the other end. The Celtics are among the league's best offensive rebounding teams. Their bigs come alive when they chase misses. Boston ranked third in the league in second-chance points, while Atlanta ranked 27th in that category. That's a huge edge in a battle between evenly matched teams.

Whether they will be able to leverage it remains to be seen. The Hawks are surely aware of the perils of letting Boston crash the offensive glass, so they will likely pay extra attention in that area. If the Celtics dominate the boards, however, they will have a shot at pulling off the upset against a team that outplayed them in the regular season.

Predictions

Ziller	Flannery	Prada	Gomez	Peachtree Hoops	Celtics Blog
IN 7	IN 7	IN 6	IN 6	IN 7	IN 7

Schedule (all times Eastern)

Game 1: Saturday, April 16, Philips Arena, Atlanta. 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Game 2: Tuesday, April 19, Philips Arena, Atlanta. 7 p.m. (TNT)

Game 3: Friday, April 22, TD Garden, Boston. 8 p.m. (ESPN2)

Game 4: Sunday, April 24, TD Garden, Boston. 6 p.m. (TNT)

Game 5 (if necessary): Tuesday, April 26, Philips Arena, Atlanta. TBD.

Game 6 (if necessary): Thursday, April 28, TD Garden, Boston. TBD.

Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday, April 30, Philips Arena, Atlanta. TBD.