Training camp begins next week! We continue to build towards the beginning of the season by counting down the “Ten Games To Watch” for 2009-10. Single game tickets are on sale now!

#2 vs Cleveland Cavaliers, Tue. Dec. 29, 2009/Wed. Dec. 30, 2009

I suppose it’s no surprise to be looking at a schedule for the upcoming season and circle a game against LeBron James and the Cavaliers. After all, King James and his cronies swept us out of the playoffs a year ago, and generally speaking the fans are going to get excited any time they get to see the best basketball player in the world up close and personal.

Having said that, the Hawks and Cavs have a pretty interesting tête-à-tête right before the new year, as the teams play each other in their respective cities (first in Atlanta, then in Cleveland) on back-to-back nights Dec. 29-30. It’s a rare sight, the miniseries, happening perhaps once a year (last year the Hawks and Nets did it up on Nov. 14-15).

I have a feeling Atlanta will be primed for this series this year – not to say that they wouldn’t otherwise, but I think there is a feeling amongst the troops that last year’s playoff series could have been different if the team had been healthy, and they want to prove as much to Cleveland. Sure, the horses have changed slightly, but the cores of the teams are still the same.

Match-ups to watch: Marvin Williams does about as good a job on LBJ as any small forward in the league. Al Horford and crew will have to deal with Shaq in the middle, while Joe Smith gets a crack at his former mates as well.

What do you think?