FIVE KEY GAMES
Here is a look at several key games the Hawks face in the stretch run of the regular season:
Warriors, Feb. 22 – The NBA's best team comes to town as part of the Hawks' five-game homestand. They still have a game in Oakland eight games later where the Warriors just don't lose. Starting the second half with a solid performance at home could help right the Hawks.
Raptors, March 10 – The Hawks play at the Raptors to end a five-game road trip. The Raptors are a top team in the East. It's not easy to win in Toronto but the Hawks have something to prove after blowing a 17-point lead in a loss in Atlanta earlier this season.
Wizards, March 21 – The Wizards are not in currently in playoff position but they are a team with a dangerous backcourt. This game starts a home-road back-to-back against the Wizards. These are the types of games the Hawks need to win to move forward.
Cavaliers, April 1 – The Cavaliers already own a blow-out win over the Hawks early in the season. This will be LeBron James and Co.'s only trip to Atlanta. While the Hawks may not be able to catch the Cavaliers in the standings, this could be a statement game.
Cavaliers, April 11 – The second-to-last game of the regular season is in Cleveland. It will be the second game against the powerful Cavaliers in 11 days. Statement game. Momentum. You name it. The Hawks need to be playing well at this point.
The Hawks have a couple days of relaxation remaining in the All-Star break.
They better rest up because it will be busy and difficult stretch run to end the season.
The Hawks have 27 regular-season games remaining – 15 at home and 12 on the road. There are 18 games remaining against Eastern Conference teams of which the Hawks have a 19-15 mark. There are nine games remaining against Western Conference of which the Hawks have a 12-9 record. Two of those games are against the NBA-best Warriors.
The Hawks (31-24) are fourth in the East, in position to host a first-round playoff series. They trail the Cavaliers by 8-1/2 games, the Raptors by 5-1/2 games and the Celtics by one game. There is room to move up. They also lead the Hornets by three games for the eighth and final playoff space and are separated by three other teams. There is also room to move down.
These aren’t the same Hawks from a season ago. However, they are still right in the middle of the playoff race and in position to extend their consecutive postseason streak to nine, the longest active run in the East. They will need a more consistent effort in the final month and a half of the regular season to set up for a deep playoff run.
The players know it.
“There has been enough talking,” forward Thabo Sefolosha said after the Hawks defeated the Bulls before heading into the All-Star break. “We came as a group and spoke weeks ago, or whatever. Now it’s time to look at yourself in the mirror, everybody, see what you can do to help the team win and just do it. … Over the course of the last few weeks there has been a lot of talking amongst the group. I think right now there is really no need to keep talking anymore. It’s just about playing.”
The Hawks come out of the break with a five-game homestand over 11 days as they host the Heat, Bucks, Warriors, Bulls and Hornets. That is followed by a five-game road trip over 11 days to play at the Warriors, Lakers, Clippers, Jazz and Raptors.
Of the Hawks remaining games, 18 are against teams currently with a record of .500 or better. That leaves just nine games against sub-.500 teams. Of those 18 games, 16 are against opponents currently in playoff position in their conference. It will take a better effort from the entire roster to have success down the stretch.
The coaches know it.
“We need the whole group,” head coach Mike Budenholzer said. “It can’t be Paul (Millsap) one night, Al (Horford) one night, Jeff (Teague) one night, Kyle (Korver). We need everybody to play well.”
The Hawks are first in the Southeast Division at the break. They have a one-game lead over the Heat and the three-game lead over the Hornets. Winning the division is no longer important to playoff seeding. The NBA adjusted its playoff procedure this summer that puts the top eight teams in seeded order according to record. The Hawks have two games remaining against the Wizards, one game remaining against the Heat and Hornets and are finished with the Magic.
The Hawks have an optional practice scheduled for Tuesday with the full team returning on Wednesday. The roster could look different with the NBA trade deadline Thursday at 3 p.m. The NBA resumes play on Thursday and the Hawks’ first game will be Friday when they host the Heat.
There is much to play for and much to leave behind.
“This win settles our stomach a little bit,” Millsap said following the victory over the Bulls that came after two bitter losses to the Magic. “I think we are very hopeful and we can’t wait to get back and have a better second half. I think the first half was a little letdown, disappointing. I think we are disappointed in ourselves in how the first half happened. But it happened and we have to get over it. We are ready to get going in the second half.”
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