Who will Hawks face in playoffs?

The Atlanta Hawks are clinging to the fourth seed in the race for the Eastern Conference Playoffs and would meet the Miami Heat if the playoffs began today. With just five games separating the last four teams in the standings, the race remains tight. It is possible for the Hawks to go below .500 in their last 21 games and still make the postseason. But that comes at a cost. We present you two scenarios, you pick the opponent.

If Hawks keep the fourth seed ...

Associated Press photos

The Hawks (34-27) have defeated Dwyane Wade and the Heat (32-28) in two of their three meetings this season. Wade had positioned himself as an MVP candidate, leading the NBA in scoring (29.2 points per game), and posting 5.0 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. Detroit (30-29), the current sixth seed, has been rolling with -- and without -- Allen Iverson. With guards Will Bynum, Richard Hamilton and Rodney Stuckey keeping the momentum swinging in the Pistons' direction the team could make a late push. • Next games: Pistons, March 7 | Heat, April 14 • Who would you rather see?

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If Hawks lose the fourth seed ...

• PLAYOFF ROUNDS: Winners bracket | Losers bracket • Schedule | Tickets

• More on the Hawks: Standings | Sekou Smith's beat blog | Hawks Hacks | AJC Hawks