4 Ways the NBA was petty with the Atlanta Hawks schedule
3. Old Hawks Visit First
The Hawks saw four rotation players leave this offseason. They traded away Danilo Gallinari to the San Antonio Spurs in the Murray trade. Kevin Huerter was traded to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for players, cap relief, and a draft pick. Meanwhile, Gorgui Dieng (Spurs) and Delon Wright (Washington Wizards) left of their own accord.
All of them will come to Atlanta before the Hawks go on the road to visit them. This would seem to be an obvious advantage for the Hawks (see their home record from the previous slide). But it is also a double-edged sword. All of those players will also be “returning home” in a way and that can lead to some unexpected moments and momentum swings. And all of them have had some big games in State Farm Arena.
Celtics fans will like Danilo Gallinari. He chirped his new boss Brad Stevens about the time he lit the Celtics up with 10 threes off the bench in his Atlanta days pic.twitter.com/UJhBW1ur44
— The Camera Guys (@NBCSCameraGuys) July 12, 2022
Gallinari, who has since been released by the Spurs and signed by the Celtics) has the best chance to play spoiler in his return (Nov 16). He will also have the best chance at ruining their playoff run – if and when they get there. Wright will get the most opportunities to beat the Hawks, home or away, since he joined the division-rival Wizards (Feb 28).
Huerter won’t have many chances. But he should get the most opportunity within the Kings (Nov 23) head-to-heads. As for Dieng, his Spurs (Feb 11) are in full tank mode. Murray should be extra motivated for that game as well. But never overlook an opponent as the Hawks found out when they fell to the Houston Rockets 132-126 in their first meeting last season on December 13. Petty.