A difficult triad of battles is looming in Atlanta on the calendar.
Staring down an injury-plagued Hawks squad are the likes of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Detroit Pistons — three of the top six teams in the Eastern Conference, all within a span of four days.
If the Hawks were ever looking for an opportunity to prove themselves against playoff teams, now is the time. Each of these three squads has been a thorn in Atlanta's side to start the season, with critical losses coming to both Detroit and Cleveland earlier this year, and a hungry, young Sixers squad looking to take a top playoff seed from Atlanta, much to the shock of many around the league.
With the Hawks sitting at a seemingly comfortable 11-7 record without their star, shouldn't these games represent little more than vying for a spot or two in the standings? In reality, this stability is a facade.
Atlanta's record is deceptive of their victory odds against playoff-caliber teams
While the Hawks have certainly fared above what was expected of them after Trae Young went down earlier this season with a lengthy knee injury, their 11-7 record is anything but representative of tangible success against proven teams.
Of their ten victories, only four have been against teams over .500, and zero wins have been tallied against teams higher in the Eastern Conference standings than the Hawks. In four such battles, the Hawks have fallen short all four times against the current 1 through 6 seeds in the East.
The three-game stretch against the Cavs, the Sixers, and the Pistons finally gives Atlanta a real chance to capitalize on its hot streak of late. Jalen Johnson's stellar primary option play, Kristaps Porzingis' beginning to gel with the squad, and Okongwu's rapid breakout from range all demonstrate key areas that the Hawks have improved in.
The question is: can these areas translate against real playoff teams in the same way they have against the bottom of the pack (e.g., Nets, Pacers, Pelicans)?
If Atlanta is to truly cement itself as a contender before the trade deadline, the front office will have sound motivation to make that extra move or two to surround the core with the extra punch needed to make a deep playoff run. However, if the Hawks continue to flounder against the best of the best, there's no reason to go all in.
Ultimately, the November 28th-December 1st stretch is vital for GM Onsi Saleh to decide what direction he ought to take the franchise before the trade deadline. If the Hawks can manage to win all three battles, it will be all the more difficult to deny the squad a shot at title contention come February.