With the NBA season less than two months away, we took a look at the October schedule for the Atlanta Hawks. It is a relatively easy start for the Hawks with three games at home and then four on the road. However, November is the first full month of the schedule for the season so let’s take a look at the nuts and bolts of the month.
The Hawks play 15 games for the month, eight home and seven away. They also play 11 Eastern Conference opponents to only four from the Western Conference. Of the four Western Conference opponents, the only game the Hawks may lose is against the rejuvenated New Orleans Pelicans.
They play the rebuilding Utah Jazz at the start of the month, and the Houston Rockets at the end of the month for the second time this season. They also welcome Red Velvet, Kevin Huerter, back into the building towards the end of the month when they host the Sacramento Kings.
November will be a make-or-break month for the Atlanta Hawks.
After a relatively easy October, November has the chance to derail the Hawks’ season. Of their 15 games, nine are against playoff teams from last season. Teams like the Jazz have changed so much that they are no longer the powerhouse that troubled the Hawks.
However, they play the Miami Heat once, the Milwaukee Bucks twice and the Philadelphia 76ers three times in the month. Two of the 76ers matchups are the strange home-and-home scenario. In fact, the 76ers matchups for this month are all beneficial for them.
The first time that the Hawks play the 76ers in on the second night of a back-to-back. The only benefit for the Hawks is that they play the Jazz the night before at home before hosting the 76ers. Then the next game is the home-and-home. The next time that the Hawks play the 76ers is on another back-to-back. This time the Hawks host the Miami Heat before traveling to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers.
On top of that, the Hawks start the month at the end of a five-game road trip when they take on the New York Knicks. This is shaping up to be a very tough part of the schedule for the Hawks.
If the Hawks can come out of the month with a 9-6 record then they will be well placed for the start of December. Taking on the Orlando Magic at the end of the month will certainly help them with momentum.
Interestingly the Hawks will have played three of their four matchups against the Bucks and 76ers by the end of November. They will also have played two of their three games against the Toronto Raptors as well by the end of the month.