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Hawks confident heading into 2nd round rematch with Cavs

Ken Blaze / USA TODAY Sports

BOSTON - The Atlanta Hawks overcame fifty years of sour playoff memories to get by a hobbled Boston Celtics team and into the second round of the NBA playoffs.

Their reward is rematch with King James.

The Hawks will see a Cleveland team that is rested and maybe even a little hungrier than it was last year when it swept Atlanta out of the Eastern Conference finals despite being at less than full strength.

It's a tall order, but one the Hawks are embracing and were even quietly hoping for.

''I think we're a better team from last year, I really do,'' Hawks guard Kyle Korver said. ''I think our identity is more on the defensive end than the offensive end this year. I think we know that we're gonna have to play really well to beat them. ''

The top seed in last year's playoffs, the Cavaliers lost Kevin Love to a dislocated left shoulder in the first round against Boston, only to see Kyrie Irving suffer a freak broken kneecap in Game 2 of the Finals.

So far this postseason, the Cavs haven't provided any hint of defect.

Cleveland swept a young Detroit Pistons team in the first round and will have had eight days of rest by the time it opens the second round on Monday.

There will be no such luxury for Atlanta, which will have just three days to prepare for the Cavs. Game 1 is set for Monday night.

The good news for the Hawks is they have found their touch from the outside over the last two games, connecting on 22 3-pointers.

Atlanta has also gotten better at expanding and then protecting big leads, something it had trouble with during the regular season.

In Thursday's close out win over Boston, Atlanta led by as many as 28 points thanks to a 39-point third quarter, which featured a pair of big runs to help it get separation.

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