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Millsap returns to Atlanta as Nuggets face Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks finally play their home opener Friday night against the Denver Nuggets after beginning the season with five consecutive road games.

The Hawks, who are 1-4 after a 91-86 loss at Chicago on Thursday, were expected to be a work in progress, and that is certainly the case.

New GM Travis Schlenk would only forecast before the season that the team would "play hard and play together and play the right way, and we are going to be able to live with the results."

Point guard Dennis Schroder helped lead the Hawks to a season-opening victory at Dallas but has missed the past two games with a sprained left ankle. He may return against the Nuggets.

The home opener will debut the first phase of Philips Arena's two-year makeover, which will cost $192.5 million. The team played its two home exhibition games at Georgia Tech.

macd-gm wrote:I'm going to the game. Want to make sure Paul gets a big standing O. I hope Collins gets some big dunks. It'd be nice if Baze quits trying to playmake. A win would be nice.

Atlanta Hawks executives are chirping about the new food debuting this season at their arena: Crickets.

Looking to create some buzz, executive sous chef Blake Stembridge struck a deal with edible cricket brand Aketta to give fans the opportunity to experience protein in a new form.

"We did an internal taste test and people really loved them," said Robert DiCicco, vice president of hospitality and strategy at Phillips Arena. "As part of transforming our concessions experience, we want to give people the chance to try something here that they normally wouldn't consider."

The Hawks will become the latest team to serve insect dishes, with crickets on the menu. Aketta

Fans of the Hawks, who play their home opener on Friday night versus the Denver Nuggets, can get their crickets in two forms.

A one ounce bag of crickets, in a sweet and spicy flavoring Aketta made just for the Hawks, sells for $4.50. A taqueria in the arena is offering three tacos with crickets, avocado, cilantro, onion and queso for $12.

DiCicco said a pimento cheese sandwich with deep fried cricket crumbs is being worked on and will be available sometime this season.

The Hawks got their inspiration to sell edible insects from the Seattle Mariners, who were the talk of Major League Baseball for selling grasshoppers this season.

graymule wrote:Jamaaliver:

Watch the "Dumb Daddy" commercial we see regularly on TV. The 10 year old son points out that NBA games
are "NEVER" sold out. All you have to do is go to their page and get tickets and they are always available and
they are never fake.

Now days, dads are always weak minded in commercials. This is just another example. Now remember, there
is no such thing as being sold out. If you don't believe this, watch the commercial!