NBA playoff predictions 2017: Washington Wizards vs. Atlanta Hawks first-round series

With the opening weekend of the 2017 NBA playoffs upon us, we delivered predictions, projections, and picks from around the web for the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series between the Washington Wizards and Atlanta Hawks.

The 2017 NBA playoffs are finally which features a slate of intriguing games starting this weekend which includes Eastern Conference first-round playoff series matchup between the Washington Wizards and Atlanta Hawks. Game 1 is scheduled for Sunday, April 16 at 1:00 p.m. ET on TNT. Learn the complete playoff schedule here.

The Washington Wizards last playoff appearance came in 2015 when they advanced to the NBA East Semifinals against the Hawks. Despite taking an early 2-1 series lead, the Wizards 2015 playoff run came to an end after the Hawks won the next three games to win the series 4-2.

Must Read: Wizards vs. Hawks full first-round playoff schedule

After a miraculous regular season, the Washington Wizards are hungrier than ever as they return to the NBA playoffs after a one-year absence. With the postseason here, we deliver several playoff predictions from credible sports sites.

2017 NBA Playoff Predictions

FiveThirtyEight.com

Starting with a team-by-team forecast by FiveThirtyEight.com, the site grants the Wizards with the upper-hand in Game 1 with a 76 percent chance of taking a 1-0 series lead following Sunday’s game.

Moving forward to the bigger picture, FiveThirtyEight’s team-by-team forecast shows the Wizards with a 79 percent chance of making the East Semifinals, followed by a significant drop of 38 percent chance of reaching the East Finals. Lastly,

Finally, the site gives Washington basketball 22 percent probability of reaching the 2017 NBA finals, along with a slim four percent chance of winning the NBA title.

Overview of Wizards NBA playoff chances

Sports Illustrated

SI’s The Crossover staff delivered their 2017 NBA Finals picks, completed with a vivid image of their NBA playoff bracket. Although seven SI experts revealed their playoff picks, we will examine the one that best favors the Wizards, which is SI writer Ben Golliver.

Golliver had this to say about his playoff picks:

"In the East, Cleveland’s potent offense should help it easily put down the Pacers and withstand a strong challenge from the Raptors before dispatching a shallow Wizards team in the East finals."

After picking the Wizards to beat the Hawks and top seed Boston Celtics to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, Golliver has the Wizards postseason run ending against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

ESPN

Thirty NBA experts from ESPN.com presented their playoff picks for every East first-round playoff series. All thirty experts selected the Wizards to beat the Hawks to advance to the East Semis.

Jeremias Engelmann, Chad Ford, Andrew Han, Chris Herring, Zach Lowe, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin, David Thorpe and Justin Verrier all project the Wizards to advance past the Hawks in five games.

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The SportsNation staff is giving fans a chance to cast their vote for each first-round series as ESPN gathers a full forecast. At the moment, 71 percent of the 46,822 votes picked the Wizards to roll past the Hawks.