Barkley: Hawks will win opening series

Atlanta Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll (5) shoots between the defense of Brooklyn Nets guard Jarrett Jack (0), and forward Kevin Garnett, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday Jan. 28, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Credit: Chris Vivlamore

Credit: Chris Vivlamore

Atlanta Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll (5) shoots between the defense of Brooklyn Nets guard Jarrett Jack (0), and forward Kevin Garnett, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday Jan. 28, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 30: (L-R) TV analysts Reggie Miller, Charles Barkley and Marv Albert speak before a game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks at Quicken Loans Arena on October 30, 2014 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) TNT analyst Charles Barkley - flanked by Reggie Miller (left) and Marv Albert - believes Nets could give the Hawks trouble, but Atlanta will defeat the Brooklyn in their first-round playoff series. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)

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Charles Barkley believes the Hawks will defeat the Nets in their first-round playoff series. However, the TNT analyst thinks the Nets could present problems in the No. 1 vs. No. 8 Eastern Conference matchup.

Speaking on a playoff preview conference call Thursday, Barkley said: “I don’t think Brooklyn can beat them, but I think it can be a very interesting series.  What’s going to be real interesting is the Joe Johnson factor. I can promise you that (former Hawk) Joe Johnson is going to try to win that series by himself. … The Nets won’t beat the Hawks, but I’m not sold on the Hawks because they are too little.”

“The Nets won’t go out quickly, they have a good chance to make it a competitive series,” he later added.

On the same conference call, fellow analyst Kenny Smith said the Hawks and Warriors, the top teams in each conference, have proven themselves in the regular season.

"(The Hawks and Warriors) both won 60 games for a reason, and (the eight seeds) squeaked in for a reason.  After the first round, with the best eight teams left, a lot can happen.  Atlanta and Golden State have proven that they are more than jump shooting teams, they have good defenses and will have a good chance to finish it out."

Smith also predicts the Hawks will easily win the series.

“Brooklyn was so inconsistent this year, it won’t be a terribly difficult series for Atlanta," Smith said. " But if Brooklyn had gotten it together, this could have been a series I’d think they could win.