Hawks vs Knicks, Fri. Nov 3 Unlike the past two years where the Hawks started the season on a West Coast road trip, this year Atlanta plays at Philly before taking on New York at Philips for the home opener on a Friday night. The Knicks always bring out the fans, and for an opener that should especially be the case. The Knicks were the worst team in the conference last season, giving the Hawks a pretty good shot to win their first home opener since beating the Jazz on Halloween, 2002. Hawks vs. Heat, Sat. Nov 18 The Heat trudged through last season, trying to find the right balance between all their new players plus their established stars Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal. They found that chemistry as the postseason began, and rode it all the way to an NBA title. And by chemistry, I mean they found the right people to sit around and watch Dwyane Wade destroy everyone in his path, adding a three-pointer or rebound here and there on the way. LeBron James may be regarded as the best player on the planet, but there may not be a more dominant force in the NBA right now than #3 for Miami. Hawks vs. Cavaliers, Fri. Dec 1 The Cavs finally made the playoffs last season in year three in the reign of King James, making it to the second round and leading the Pistons 3-2 before losing in seven games. Can they take the next step this season? With LeBron staking his claim as perhaps the game's greatest player, anything seems possible. Atlanta fans will get their first of two looks at Cleveland on Dec. 1, with a return date right after Christmas on Dec. 27. Hawks at Lakers, Fri. Dec 8 Several moments last year showed the promise of things to come for the young Hawks. One moment in particular was their 114-110 victory over the Lakers in LA right before the All-Star break, a game which saw the team snap a 23-game road losing streak to Western Conference opponents. The team returns to the scene of the crime on Dec. 8 as part of one of the most brutal stretches of the season - a five-game road swing through the West (in the midst of seven-of-eight on the road through early December). If last year's win showed a glimpse of the future, hopefully a win this time around will be something even better - expected. Hawks vs. Pistons, Fri. Jan 12 Though the Pistons fell short of the NBA Finals for the first time in three seasons, for much of last year's regular season they were looked at as a threat to win 70 games. However, the Hawks played a role in keeping them from that plateau, winning a thriller 99-98 at Philips Arena on Feb. 7. Joe Johnson led the way for Atlanta, scoring on a runner with 7.6 seconds left to give the team perhaps their biggest win of the season. Without Ben Wallace in the middle, Detroit may not be as fearsome this season than in years past, but the atmosphere in the arena should still be electric when Flip Saunders' charges come to town. Hawks at Bobcats, Sat. Jan 20 The Bobcats have largely floundered in their two seasons in the league, much as you would expect from an expansion team. Maddeningly, they have managed to handle the Hawks though, winning the season series in both years of their existence. The division opponents will meet on back-to-back nights in January, with the Hawks trying to gain the upper-hand in the burgeoning rivalry. In year three, Charlotte hopes their newest addition, the mustachioed Adam Morrison, will help lead the team closer to prominence. Second-year pro Marvin Williams will be reunited once again with two of his UNC teammates, PG Raymond Felton and PF Sean May. Hawks vs Magic, Mon. Jan 29The Southeast Division is on the rise, with tons of young talent on each team aside from Miami (aside from Dwyane Wade). One team in particular that began rounding into form towards the end of last season is the Orlando Magic. With the addition of Darko Milicic to a frontcourt that already features NBA manchild Dwight Howard, the Magic may be set to contend for the next decade. College basketball fans may loathe their new draft pick, but JJ Redick is the perfect outside complement to the team's potential inside dominance. The four meetings between the two squads this season should all be very exciting, closely-contested affairs. Hawks vs. Suns, Sun. Feb 25 The Hawks owe a great deal to the Suns. Not only for trading Joe Johnson to them, but also for opening the door to a new era of offensive basketball. Their wide open style makes for the kinds of offensive creativity that has been missing from the league since the late 80's, and their success has convinced other teams that smaller, more athletic lineups can still have success. The Hawks fit that bill, and hope to show that their brand of up-tempo basketball can match the Suns tit for tat. Expect this one to be one of the highest scoring games of the entire season. Hawks vs. Timberwolves, Sat. Mar 10 Two years ago Minnesota came to Philips on playoff life support, only to lose to the Hawks on a late basket by Tyronn Lue. Last year, the Hawks won late again on perhaps the play of the year, a coast-to-coast layup by Josh Childress at the buzzer. Who knows what is in store for the Timberwolves this year, but as long as they have Kevin Garnett, its hard to imagine them not being in the mix. If history is any precedent, this game should be a barn-burner. Hawks vs Pacers, Tue. Apr 17 The Hawks were a better team than their record last year, and nothing proves that like their sweep of the playoff-bound Indiana Pacers in four meetings. This season the rivalry should resume with much gusto, as not only will the Hawks want to continue their winning streak, but they will also face their second-leading scorer from the last two seasons, Al Harrington, whom they dealt along with John Edwards to Indy in the offseason. In this, the final game of the season, the two teams could end up squaring off with much on the line - hopefully for playoff seeding.nba.com baby!
