Sixers matchup may be playoff preview

Hawks coach Mike Woodson loves this time of year.

His team is in the thick of the playoff hunt and that means every game and every day is more important than the next.

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Louie Favorite/lfavorite@ajc.com

High-flying Josh Smith says, ‘Philadelphia is an interesting team for us because they match up pretty well against us.’

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So just as your about to exhale after wrapping up a monster four-game homestand with a win over the Los Angeles Lakers Sunday, you roll into an even bigger game Tuesday night in Philadelphia. The Hawks could meet the 76ers in a first-round playoff matchup.

“This is our version of March Madness,” said Woodson, whose team can finish off yet another winning month with a win. “And this is what these guys signed up for. This is what we all signed up for. You want to be playing meaningful games this time of year as opposed to the alternative.”

Miami is busy trying too hold off the 76ers for the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference. The Hawks have to keep an eye on both. The team that secures the fifth spot will face the Hawks, who have a 4-1/2 game lead over the Heat for the fourth spot and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

“I can’t tell you the last time we played a game that didn’t seem like our entire season was on the line at the opening tip,” Hawks forward Josh Smith said. “Philadelphia is an interesting team for us because they match up pretty well against us. And the way they play that up-tempo style, they’re going to challenge you to either run with them or put your own stamp on the game. We have to make sure the game is played the way we want it played.”

If the Hawks were facing the 76ers at home Tuesday that might be a little bit easier to do. But for all they’ve accomplished this season, they’re still vulnerable on the road, where they are just 14-22.

They haven’t served up a road win over a playoff-bound team in weeks, their last being a thorough beating of a fading Detroit team Feb. 11, just before the All-Star break.

“I don’t care where we have to do it or how we get it done,” Hawks swingman Mo Evans said. “We have to find a way. There’s too much at stake these days for us to let anything slip by us. That’s why [Sunday’s win over the Lakers] was so important.

“We let San Antonio and Boston come into our place and knock us off stride at home. And after winning seven straight at home that’s just something we didn’t see coming. But we bounced back from that and took care of some business. Now we have to take care of some more away from home.”

Woodson keeps reminding his team that they’ll have to do the same in the postseason if they plan on playing beyond the first round.

“There’s no way you’re going to make any noise in the playoffs just winning on your home court,” he said. “There’s no question that’s what you play for, the right to have that advantage. But the good teams, the teams that move on, they have to find a way to win in a hostile environment. And we have just enough road test left to see if we can’t be that kind of team.”