What a weekend of intrigue we have in store for us. If things go well tonight, we could be staring at playoff-level intensity tomorrow night at Philips Arena, when a sold out crowd will watch the Hawks take on the Celtics.

Our magic number to clinch is three - a win tonight coupled with a Pacers loss in Philly would bring it down to one. But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Tonight is what it's all about. The Hawks take on the Knicks in New York, a place they've won once already this season. Atlanta has beaten New York three times already this year, but all have been closer than you'd think given the relative strength of each squad. In fact, the easiest win came at Madison Square Garden, as the Hawks won there by 11 back on March 16.

So what is the key to tonight? The same thing that's been the key to several Hawks wins and losses over the past few weeks: Mike Bibby. Bibby has been outstanding in the team's wins, but in a few losses he has been missing in action.

That's not entirely true - even in the games the team has lost he's been a good distributor - it's been his scoring that has been absent, and that's what the Hawks need desperately if they are going to have any chance of clinching this weekend (or in general).

My friends and family have been asking me what I think about the Hawks chances, and to be honest, despite the team's roller-coaster ride of a season, I'm still pretty confident. As I've said before, a 2-game lead with 4 to play is relatively safe, provided the team doesn't go in the tank.

I don't think they will. With Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson leading the way, Atlanta has a playoff-tested backcourt that is capable of carrying the team, and I'm not worried about them shrinking in the limelight. We all know what Mike Bibby does in the clutch, and Joe's not too shabby himself.

Still, the Hawks can't stroll into the Garden tonight expecting the Knicks to lay down. Isiah Thomas is fighting for his job, and with Donnie Walsh on board to try to right the ship, most of the players are auditioning for him as well. This isn't the squad that sleptwalked (sleepwalked?) through most of the season, and their 3 straight wins is evidence of that.

Atlanta should win tonight, but it won't be easy. They have to show up and put it to New York, something they failed to do Tuesday in Indiana.

We've said for years we wanted to see the Hawks play for something meaningful in April - well, it doesn't get much more meaningful that tonight.

Catch all the action on FSN - game time is 7:30.