The 2011 NBA playoffs will begin with the Indiana Pacers traveling to play the Chicago Bulls at 1 pm ET on Saturday, followed at 7 pm ET when the Atlanta Hawks take on the Orlando Magic. On Sunday, the Philadelphia 76ers get the Miami Heat at 3:30 pm ET and the New York Knicks play the Boston Celtics at 7 pm ET.
Game two schedules are still up in the air, as are Western Conference games for the moment.
Games one, two, five, and seven will be hosted by the higher seed in each series, meaning Atlanta gets games three, four, and six. You'll now have the floor to make as many jokes as you need about games three through seven not being necessary, based on last year.
Ah, but that was last year. Hawks fans do have a glimmer of hope that the team won't fold like a neck roll this time around. They won the season series with the Magic three games to one, after all.
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