AP capsule previews of the two semfinal series kicking off tomorrow:
No. 1 ATLANTA HAWKS (60-22, 4-2) vs. No. 5 WASHINGTON WIZARDS (46-36, 4-0)
Season series: Hawks, 3-1. Atlanta won the first three meetings before giving its entire starting lineup the night off on April 12 and going with Elton Brand, John Jenkins, Mike Muscala, Kent Bazemore and Dennis Schroder in a 108-99 loss. The Hawks averaged 110.3 points with their regular team and made 16 3-pointers in a 120-89 rout on Jan. 11.
Story line: After needing six games to eliminate No. 8 Brooklyn on Friday in the first round, the Hawks face a rapid turnaround with this series starting Sunday afternoon. Washington has had a week off after completing its sweep of Toronto with a 125-94 victory on April 26.
Key Matchup I: Jeff Teague vs. John Wall. Wall averaged 17.3 points and 12.5 assists and outplaying a banged-up Kyle Lowry in the first round, but it's a much fairer matchup against fellow speedster and All-Star Teague. Teague averaged 21.7 points against Washington during the season and showed he can control a game without scoring at all in the Game 6 clincher against the Nets, handing out 13 assists while shooting 0 for 5.
Key Matchup II: DeMarre Carroll vs. Paul Pierce. Carroll scored 20 or more points in the last four games of the first round, averaged a team-high 17.5 and was called the series MVP by Nets coach Lionel Hollins. Pierce actually has won a postseason MVP award, from the 2008 NBA Finals, and was at his crafty best against the Raptors, shooting 58 percent overall and from 3-point range and setting the tone for the series with his clutch play in overtime in Game 1 in Toronto.
X-Factor: Marcin Gortat. Atlanta can be hurt by a big body inside, as the Nets' Brook Lopez showed, and Gortat should be confident he can do it after making 29 of his 39 shots (74 percent) and averaging 17.3 points against the Raptors.
Prediction: Hawks in 7.
No. 1 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (67-15, 4-0) vs. No. 5 MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (55-27, 4-1)
Season Series: Warriors, 2-1. The teams split two games in Memphis, then Golden State won its lone home game of the season series by a deceptive four-point margin - since the Warriors led by 27 after three and then a bunch of reserves gave just about every bit of the lead away.
Story Line: The moments of truth for Golden State have now arrived. No Warriors team has won two playoff series in the same year since the title season of 1975, and they'll be facing a Memphis team with nothing to lose.
Key Matchup 1: Stephen Curry vs. Mike Conley. First of all, that's assuming this matchup actually happens. Conley's status is still unclear because of the facial surgery he needed in the first round, and even if he plays - the smart bet is that he will - it's anyone's guess how effective he will be. Curry, meanwhile, is showing no signs that he's letting the playoff moments become too big for him. And if he gets the MVP award, as many expect, during this series his game could just keep elevating.
Key Matchup 2: Draymond Green vs. Zach Randolph. Green has become one of the league's elite defenders, and his speed and footwork will keep Randolph from getting the spots that he wants. Green will probably be called upon to help on Marc Gasol as well, and his ability to close passing lanes will be huge for the Warriors
X-Factor: Klay Thompson. He averaged 25 points in the first-round sweep of New Orleans, and the Grizzlies will have to worry so much about Curry that Thompson figures to continue thriving in this matchup.
Prediction: The Warriors are the better team, the healthier team and the team with home court. Warriors in 5.
