atlantabbq99 wrote:I posted 3 or 4 times after the draft that the Hawks can make the 8th spot in the east and 9 out of 10 of you called me crazy. Damn if i can't find those post right now.
I really think we're just benefiting from an easy, early schedule.
And I'll gladly take it before we reach a more difficult part of the schedule. If anything, it's really beneficial for building chemistry and confidence.
atlantabbq99 wrote:I posted 3 or 4 times after the draft that the Hawks can make the 8th spot in the east and 9 out of 10 of you called me crazy. Damn if i can't find those post right now.
I really think we're just benefiting from an easy, early schedule.
And I'll gladly take it before we reach a more difficult part of the schedule. If anything, it's really beneficial for building chemistry and confidence.
I think so too. I'm just glad that the first game in a new Arena was an awesome win. Comeback from 26 down. Loved it. But if anybody told me we'd be 2-2 with John Collins, nope...but yeah.
Re: Atlanta Hawks 18/19 Schedule
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2018 4:05 pm
by Roy Tarpley
jayu70 wrote:
Jamaaliver wrote:
atlantabbq99 wrote:I posted 3 or 4 times after the draft that the Hawks can make the 8th spot in the east and 9 out of 10 of you called me crazy. Damn if i can't find those post right now.
I really think we're just benefiting from an easy, early schedule.
And I'll gladly take it before we reach a more difficult part of the schedule. If anything, it's really beneficial for building chemistry and confidence.
I think so too. I'm just glad that the first game in a new Arena was an awesome win. Comeback from 26 down. Loved it. But if anybody told me we'd be 2-2 with John Collins, nope...but yeah.
Yeah, the first ten games on the schedule is pretty easy. I remember thinking that in order to have a chance at winning the division, it was crucial that the Hawks come out of the first ten games at least 6-4. But after the Collins/Dedmon injuries, I thought 4-6 was the bare minimum the Hawks needed to not feel terrible about itself.
Re: Atlanta Hawks 18/19 Schedule
Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2018 7:33 pm
by Jamaaliver
Man, the early going for this season has been as comfortable as can be. Bulls won't be at full strength tomorrow and will be playing the 2nd night of a back-to-back.
We're definitely in position to swat down another young, underwhelming lottery squad.
It's possible Collins comes back just in time for the tough stretch, with guys like King, Assassin, Dipo, Joker, Claw etc looking intently at the eyas
Re: Atlanta Hawks 18/19 Schedule
Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2018 8:54 am
by tbhawksfan1
A couple of winnable match ups with SAC and CLEV coming up. After that wins will likely be few and far between. Looking at the schedule untul xmas, likely wins can be counted with one hand...
Seen people moving Hawks down on early mocks... we will finish with a top 5 and probably even top 3.
Need to add a couple more top talents to the young keepers and things will look very good for two three years down the road
Re: Atlanta Hawks 18/19 Schedule
Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2018 7:12 pm
by steady
ESPN power rankings for this week shows Hawks moving up. LP has got to be happy with good defensive showing.
25. Atlanta Hawks 2018-19 record: 2-3
PREV. RANK LAST WEEK THIS WEEK 30 1-1 @PHI, @CLE, SAC, MIA The Hawks savored their win in the hyped Doncic-Trae Young matchup in Wednesday night's home opener when Young lifted his team to the win after struggling most of the night in the shadow of Doncic's sublime first half. The Hawks actually posted the best team defense in the league over the past week, edging out Boston by a healthy margin. -- Arnovitz
Atlanta fell to 2-5 on the season, losing their third straight on Tuesday night in Cleveland. These last three games are what the Hawks are going to look like for the majority of the season.
The Hawks struggled to score in losses to the Bulls and the Sixers, combining for 177 points in the two games. Considering the amount of scoring going on in the NBA right now, that’s pretty damn awful...Without injured forward John Collins, Trae Young is the only player that is consistently putting up double-digits. Taurean Prince and Kent Bazemore have not proven to be consistent enough scorers. Beyond that, the Hawks’ options are pretty bleak offensively.
This is what the Hawks are: a tanking team looking for as many top draft picks as they can find. But that is ok. There is no reason to stop watching now. In today’s NBA, that’s the only way to get to the top, and GM, Travis Schlenk knows that first hand.
This is just the first wave of prospects with a lot more waiting around the corner. Eventually, Atlanta is going to land a superstar or two or three of them through this process.
After 11 games, the Atlanta Hawks sit with a 3-8 record and, given preseason chatter around the league, that 22-win pace is at least reasonably in line with where many projections were in early October. However, Atlanta’s strength of schedule has been the easiest in the entire NBA to this point and that has to be noted.
The Hawks have faced only three teams with winning records (Memphis, Philadelphia, Charlotte) and each contest featured a double-digit loss. That trend may not continue but, beginning on Friday (and, really, on Sunday), things become more difficult for Atlanta, with a five-week scheduling gauntlet in which the team does not project as the “favorite” in a single game
Spoiler:
Let’s take a look at what is on the horizon.
The Appetizer
Hawks vs. Pistons (Nov. 9)
If we’re being honest, this isn’t all that difficult of a match-up. The Pistons are sitting with a .500 record but Detroit has lost five of six and is anything but a lock to reach the Eastern Conference Playoffs. The difficult portion of the schedule really kicks up beginning on Sunday but, in short, the Hawks won’t be favored to beat Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond and company in this spot.
The West Coast Trip
Hawks at Lakers (Nov. 11)
Hawks at Warriors (Nov. 13)
Hawks at Nuggets (Nov. 15)
Hawks at Pacers (Nov. 17)
Here is where things could fly off the rails. As noted above, Collins could conceivably return during this four-game trip but, even if he does, Atlanta projects as a sizable underdog in every game. The Lakers feel “beatable” in the early going but, on the road against playoff-level teams, the going is tough for the Hawks, and that is doubly so given the magnitude of this road Trip. Even stealing one game would feel like a victory.
A Holiday Homestand
Hawks vs. Clippers (Nov. 19)
Hawks vs. Raptors (Nov. 21)
Hawks vs. Celtics (Nov. 23)
Hawks vs. Hornets (Nov. 25)
The Hawks do return home for Thanksgiving week and four consecutive games in State Farm Arena could be nice for the home team. With that said, this is a very difficult slate, with the Clippers playing quite well in the early going, both Toronto and Boston poised for a run at the NBA Finals, and Charlotte at the end of the line. Young teams often fare better at home but it isn’t as if there are any projected wins here.
^^^That stretch should get us back in contention for a #1 pick.
...and I'm ok with that . As long as we play well and not a game like the Bucks stinker.
You and me both. This season is about our young guys developing, not letting people develop bad habits, and adding more young talent to the roster. It is not about seeing how many games we can win.
. As long as we play well and not a game like the Bucks stinker.