The Atlanta Hawks are in store for a challenging stretch when they return
The Atlanta Hawks (28-30) have one of the easiest remaining schedules based on opponent win percentage but they will have one of their toughest stretches right out of the gates. Hopefully, they used the downtime to get healthy and in the right headspace; they’ll need to lock in as they’ve acknowledged was necessary.
We’ve often referred to the chapters of this season for the Hawks as they have been proof that basketball truly is a game of runs.
This next one features four games against three opponents all of which are among the playoff field in the East. Meanwhile, the Hawks are still holding on to the final spot in the play-in tournament with eyes on making a move up if they do deliver.
It’s time for the Atlanta Hawks to turn their potential into a consistent reality
The Hawks take on the second-seeded Chicago Bulls on Feb 24 only to turn around and face them again one week later on Mar 3 in an extended home-and-home that the Hawks will begin on the road. It is just one of two road games in the stretch and although they do have to travel every other game, they don’t have any back-to-backs.
Still, it is the caliber of opponents they will face that makes this next run one of the most daunting of the season.
Sandwiched between the tilts versus the Bulls, the Hawks host the Toronto Raptors and visit the Boston Celtics. They are just 2-5 against those teams with both wins coming against the Celtics before they got healthy and made moves at the trade deadline.
Atlanta has had a couple of similar stretches already this season and they haven’t gone well.
The good news is that immediately after this, they take on the Washington Wizards and Detroit Pistons, albeit on the road. After being tested by the Milwaukee Bucks and surprising Los Angeles Clippers, they will also get to do battle with the Indiana Pacers and Portland Trail Blazers.
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From there only half of their remaining 14 games are against playoff teams and one comes against the Charlotte Hornets who are just one game ahead for the nine-seed.
With the Hawks just one game up on the Washington Wizards for that final spot while Toronto and Brooklyn remain within a stone’s throw, every game matters. They are just 2-2 when on three or more days’ rest.
John Collins’ health is paramount
Despite the Hawks doing well in his absence prior to the break. But he and several other teammates will need to take it to another level if they want to prove last year was no fluke.
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The Hawks will specifically need their defense led by Clint Capela and De’Andre Hunter to play at a high enough level to not sink one of the league’s best offenses and weapons in Trae Young.