To be fair to the Hawks, I think the Nets are a much, much better playoff team than the Celtics. Sorry guys, I just think that's the case.
The Nets were a mediocre team most of the year, but with Brook Lopez playing in All-NBA "I Want a Big Contract" form and Deron Williams looking for stretches like some fraction of the player he once was, the Nets can actually hang with legitimate playoff opponents in a half-court set.
The Hawks will get out of this series, and when they do they may be (a) better for it and (b) ready to destroy their next opponent, with whom they'll match up better.
After all, the Celts went 7 against a pretty crappy Hawks team back in 08.