<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Though last season began promisingly enough with a 4-1 start, a hail of injuries cast a pall over the entire campaign and kept the team from its goal of competing for a playoff spot. This year the Hawks hope to reverse the curse, and with a healthy roster take care of the business left unfinished from a year ago. With the continued maturity of players like Josh Smith and Marvin Williams, the quiet leadership of All-Star Joe Johnson, and a new infusion of talent from draft picks Al Horford and Acie Law, the team hopes to get back to the postseason for the first time in nine years. There will be plenty of tests along the way though, that's for sure. Let's take a closer look at the Hawks schedule for 2007-08 season and see which match-ups Hawks fans should be circling on their calendars:</p><table border="0" width="550"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><font size="4">An Early Test (And A Big One At That)</font></td><td valign="top"></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" bgcolor="#c0c0c0"><font size="2">Hawks vs Mavericks, Fri. Nov 2</font></td><td rowspan="2" valign="top"></td></tr><tr><td height="110" valign="top"><font size="2">The schedule makers didn't do the Hawks any favors with the start of their season, but hey - you gotta play the big boys at some point, right? Atlanta opens the season at home for the first time in six years with Dallas, a team that despite a spectacular playoff flameout a year ago still won 67 games. The Mavs will be out to prove that the end of the season was the fluke, not their record. A win here would give the Hawks a ton of confidence to begin the season.</font></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"></td><td valign="top"></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"><font size="4">Gentlemen, Start Your Engines</font></td><td valign="top"></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" bgcolor="#c0c0c0"><font size="2">Hawks vs. Suns, Wed. Nov 7</font></td><td rowspan="2" valign="top"></td></tr><tr><td height="110" valign="top"><font size="2">Continuing the early onslaught, the high-flying Phoenix Suns come to town on Nov. 7 in what promises to be an incredibly entertaining game. The Hawks snapped a five-game losing streak to the Suns last year with an unexpected win on the road, while Phoenix returned the favor at Philips Arena. If the Hawks are going to emerge from this battle victorious, they'll have to do a better job against Suns big man Amare Stoudemire, who dropped 43 points and 16 rebounds on them in the last meeting.</font></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"></td><td valign="top"></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"><font size="4">Taking On The Champs</font></td><td valign="top"></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" bgcolor="#c0c0c0"><font size="2">Hawks vs. Spurs, Tue. Nov 20</font></td><td rowspan="2" valign="top"></td></tr><tr><td height="110" valign="top"><font size="2">The Spurs won their fourth title in nine years last season, and they continue to churn along with class and dignity. One reason the Spurs have done so well over the years? Continuity. They have had the same nucleus of players (and front office staff) for several years. The Hawks are trying to replicate that as well, and a win over the defending champs would go a long way towards showing the Atlanta youth movement is ready to step up to the next level. It's pick your poison with the Spurs top trio of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker, so expect the Hawks to have their hands full (and then some). </font></td></tr><tr><td valign="top"></td><td valign="top"></td></tr></tbody></table> </div></p> These all should be great games. I look forward to the Suns, Warriors and Magic games the most. I think with a healthy team this year, we can compete for 8th seed. We are young, but we can surprise teams. We some better defense we could become another up and coming team in the East</p> Source: Hawks.com</p>
