The wait is over.
The Atlanta Hawks - 158 days removed from a humiliating postseason defeat at home to the eventual champions - return to the hardwood Monday night.
While the regular season is still a couple of weeks away, preseason play gives fans their first real look at the squad they'll be tuning in for all year long.
Summer league is a fantastic holdover while the offseason's dread begins to kick in, but really, that's all it is. Only high-profile first and second-year players bring real intrigue. The preseason, however, is an early look at how the full squad should mesh.
The roster of one of Atlanta's division rivals certainly appears to be meshing well.
Miami backed up an offseason of hype with an impressive debut
Sometimes, teams have a hard time living up to colossal expectations placed on them before the beginning of a season.
While that could certainly still be the case with the Miami Heat, their preseason opener couldn't possibly have gone better. Fans have every reason to be excited about the look of the squad. The team hasn't given them any reason not to.
They faced a Toronto Raptors team that was close to full health - minus Kawhi Leonard, their newest addition.
In a 129-105 victory, they saw everything they needed to see. The concerns regarding their outside shooting were immediately put to rest, and the depth appeared to be stronger than advertised.
Again, it's just the preseason, but the small sample size of just how elite Giannis Antetokounmpo looked in Erik Spoelstra's system has prominent voices around the league talking.
If they're able to remain healthy, the rest of the league should look out. While the Atlanta Hawks didn't make an offseason splash quite as notable as bringing in a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, they adjusted properly to a postseason defeat, and have a chance to generate some buzz before the season begins.
Atlanta needs to shift the conversation - they can do so Monday
Organizations have to earn respect.
Until Atlanta proves they can win consistently, they won't be in the same natural conversation as the Miami Heat.
One preseason, or one season in general, won't be enough to do that, but it's got to start somewhere.
Gaining some momentum heading into the long-awaited regular season could go a long way for Atlanta's image. Their fate is in their own hands.
What good is a flashy pickup if Miami is unable to outshine Atlanta in the preseason and on?
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