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!

#1 vs LA Lakers, Wed. Mar. 31, 2010

Playing the champs. That’s a big game no matter who the other team is. But when it’s the Lakers, well, it’s something special. I respect the Lakers. They have a Hall of Fame coach in Phil Jackson, one of the greatest players of all-time in Kobe Bryant, and tons of talent surrounding him with guys like Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol, and Ron Artest. They deserve all the plaudits they receive.

At the same time, I loathe them. There is no team in the league I want to beat more badly at Philips Arena than the Lakers. All the Kobe fans who come out of the woodwork to proclaim him G.O.A.T., who whine when anything doesn’t go his way, and who have the audacity to try to turn the arena into a home game for the Purple and Gold, it all just sticks in my craw.

And that is what makes beating them at home soooooooo sweet, like we did last year in an 86-76 win on March 29. I want that feeling again, and I guarantee the team does too. There is nothing like the sound of a thousand Kobe-ites shutting up.

Match-ups to watch: Joe Johnson vs Kobe is as good as it gets. JJ is one of the smoothest operators in the NBA, and rarely looks like he is breaking a sweat on the court. But not against Kobe. KB is just about the only person in the league that makes Joe appear to work overtime, and it is awesome to watch. Another great match-up will be with Artest, who has a history of taking it to the Hawks. Marvin Williams and Mo Evans will make sure to eat their wheaties on game day for that one.

What do you think?

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?

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!

#3 vs Orlando Magic, Wed. Mar. 24, 2010

Staying in the Southeast Division for #3, we come to a home game against last year’s NBA runners-up the Orlando Magic. Last season’s series with the Magic was interesting – we surprised them in Orlando to open the season, then watched them take it to us the next three meetings, including the worst loss of the season 121-87 at the Amway Center on Jan. 9.

Just as Cleveland went out and got Shaq to try to help deal with Dwight Howard, I think the Hawks padded the frontcourt this offseason with a similar goal in mind. Hawks fans out there may have different ideas on how new guys Joe Smith and Jason Collins should be used, but I think we can all agree the 6 fouls apiece they bring to the table will be put into play when the Magic are the opposition.

Like Boston, I’m not entirely convinced Orlando made progress towards getting better this offseason. Yes they added Vinsanity, but even with him they’ve become a much more traditional looking team than they were with Hedo Turkoglu creating match-up problems on the perimeter. They’ll still be a handful for any team, and a definite threat to repeat as Eastern Conference champs, but I say the difference in team wins this season gets smaller.

Match-ups to watch: Al Horford/Zaza Pachulia/Joe Smith/Jason Collins/Randolph Morris vs Dwight Howard. Make him earn those points at the charity stripe boys!

What do you think?

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.

#4 at Washington Wizards, Sat. Apr. 10, 2010

The Hawks and Wizards haven’t played many meaningful games over the past two years with Washington struggling to deal with injuries, but I say that changes this season. As much as people have talked about the moves Boston and Orlando made, it’s possible no team improved more in the offseason than did the Wizards, who added Randy Foye and Mike Miller from Minnesota. If Gilbert Arenas is finally healthy, the Wizards could be one of the highest scoring teams in the league (frankly, they could do that even without Arenas) and a real playoff contender.

That being the case, the Hawks-Wizards tilt on April 10, the third-to-last game of the season, feels like a matchup that could have some serious postseason implications.

Match-ups to watch: There are lots of good ones in this series. Josh Smith‘s athleticism vs. Antawn Jamison‘s craftiness and Caron Butler vs Marvin Williams should both be intriguing, but something tells me that watching Jamal Crawford and Gilbert Arenas go head-to-head will be the most fun.

What do you think?

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!

#5 vs Miami Heat, Wed. Nov. 18, 2009

The Heat are perhaps Atlanta’s most bitter rival in the Southeast Division thanks to last year’s 7-game playoff series and fun times like the infamous re-do game.  The intensity between these two squads always seems to ratchet up a level when they face off (though the closeness of the results may not reflect it), and I don’t anticipate that being any different this season. And with improvements in Washington and Charlotte, division wins will be of optimum importance. Miami doesn’t look altogether different now than they did at the end of last season, but if an oft-rumored deal for Utah’s Carlos Boozer ever goes through it could change things for them immensely.

Match-ups to watch: Joe Johnson vs Dwyane Wade. Was there any doubt?

What do you think?

I’m on vacation this week, but since the pre-sale is on, I thought I’d pre-load some content as we begin the lead-up to the start of training camp by counting down the “Ten Games To Watch” for 2009-10.

#6 at Boston Celtics, Fri. Nov. 13, 2009

The narrative going into this season in the Eastern Conference seems to be that there is a Big Three of Boston, Cleveland, and Orlando, and then The Rest, featuring the Hawks and 11 others fighting for one homecourt spot and some scraps.

Well guess what – I’m here to tell you that I don’t see it, and I think of the three top dogs, Boston is most likely to drop.

Don’t get me wrong. Boston is blessed with a wealth of talent. Paul Pierce is great, Ray Allen is great, Rasheed Wallace is great, and Kevin Garnett is great. But they are also all old, by NBA standards anyway, and as you age you become more susceptible to injuries and wear and tear. I’m not saying they won’t make the playoffs by any means, I just wouldn’t be at all surprised to see them finish the season with less than 50 wins.

The Celtics are still the team I think the Hawks measure themselves by in many ways, and a Friday night date on ESPN will give a national audience a chance to take stock of the two franchises and assess their potential for 09-10.

Match-ups to watch: Al Horford vs Kendrick Perkins always amuses me – I don’t think there’s much love lost there. Really every match-up in this rivalry could be summed up that way – especially this one.

What do you think?

I’m on vacation this week, but since the pre-sale is on, I thought I’d pre-load some content as we begin the lead-up to the start of training camp by counting down the “Ten Games To Watch” for 2009-10.

#7 vs Chicago Bulls, Wed. Dec. 9, 2009

Atlanta won 47 games last year. Chicago won 41. The Hawks made it to the second round of the playoffs. The Bulls lost in the first – and before you start talking about what an amazing series they had against Boston (which they of course did), remember the Hawks have been there, done that. So when it came time to put the two teams on TNT this season, the Hawks got one game while the Bulls garnered 9. Eh?

Yes, I realize I’m being petty, but it makes me mad that a team we beat 3-0 in last year’s season series gets more pub than we do. Yes, Derrick Rose is amazing and fun to watch, but I wager if you ask which team plays a more exciting brand of basketball, more often than not you’ll hear it’s the one that plays its home games at the Highlight Factory.

Therefore I am definitely circling this game, the first of 4 meetings between two squads who, if pundits are correct, will be jockeying all season for playoff positioning.

Match-ups to watch: Jamal Crawford began his NBA career with the Bulls, so I imagine he’ll be pumped for this one. Al Horford dominated the Bulls in the post last year going against his former Florida teammate in Joakim Noah, while Joe Johnson will try to match a season-high 41 in Chicago last December.

What do you think?

I’m on vacation this week, but since the pre-sale is on, I thought I’d pre-load some content as we begin the lead-up to the start of training camp by counting down the “Ten Games To Watch” for 2009-10.

#8 vs Oklahoma City Thunder, Mon. Jan. 18, 2010

The Hawks host the Thunder on for the traditional Martin Luther King, Jr matinee in what should be a very entertaining game between two of the youngest and most entertaining teams in the league. Don’t let the Thunder’s lack of success the last few years fool you. They’re basically where the Hawks were 2-3 years ago, blessed with a great deal of talent but still trying to figure out how to put that talent to best use and get some wins. Kevin Durant has had some success at Philips Arena, hitting a 30-foot buzzer beater to beat the Hawks as a Sonic two years ago. Translation: this won’t be the walkover you might think.

Match-ups to watch: For my money, the attention will be on Durant and Al Horford. They won’t be matched against each other per se, but I for one still hold a grudge that Big Al didn’t win Rookie of the Year in 2008 and will be interested to see how each player has developed through 2 1/2 seasons in the League.

What do you think?

I’m on vacation this week, but since the pre-sale is on, I thought I’d pre-load some content as we begin the lead-up to the start of training camp by counting down the “Ten Games To Watch” for 2009-10.

#9 at Golden State Warriors, Sun. Feb. 21, 2010

An uncertain offseason for Atlanta got off to a tremendous start on the morning of the 2009 NBA Draft when the Hawks traded Speedy Claxton and Acie Law to the Warriors in exchange for Jamal Crawford. Instantly, what had been two players making limited contributions (for a variety of reasons) to the squad became one with the potential to make a large one.

Slights, whether real or imagined, are a huge motivator in the NBA, and for most players, the chance to go up against your former team is a date you circle on the calendar. Hence, the meeting on Feb. 21 in Golden State (scheduled for a national TV audience on ESPN) should be an interesting one as I’m sure all three players will be out to show their former teams what they are missing. In addition, new Hawk Joe Smith makes his return to face the franchise that made him the #1 overall selection in the 1995 NBA draft.

Match-ups to watch: Anthony Randolph has been compared a bit to Josh Smith because of his youthful exuberance and freakish athleticism. Atlanta’s veteran backcourt duo of Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson will provide a sharp contrast to the Warriors’ young but talented Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry.

What do you think?

I’m on vacation this week, but since the pre-sale is on, I thought I’d pre-load some content as we begin the lead-up to the start of training camp by counting down the “Ten Games To Watch” for 2009-10.

#10 Opening Night vs Indiana Pacers, Oct. 28, 2009

The opener seems like as good a place as any to start a list of games to look forward to this upcoming season. For only the third time this decade, the Hawks open at home* as they host Danny Granger and the Indiana Pacers.

* I noted this before, but the Hawks open with two straight at home for the first time since 1998-99, when they started the year by beating Cleveland and New Jersey)

I like this match-up for the opener, because the Pacers play an up-tempo game that plays right into the Hawks’ strengths, as seen in last year’s meetings – a 3-1 series win for Atlanta in which they averaged 107.3 ppg. The crowd on opening night should be frenetic, and I think they’ll get a treat with an energetic performance from both teams.

Match-ups to watch: The biggest is definitely Joe Johnson vs Danny Granger. Granger is a very similar player to JJ – both are incredibly smooth on the court, and both can hurt you in a variety of ways inside and out. If Tyler Hansbrough is healthy enough, watching him bang down low against Al Horford will be a good one as well. Also, it’s the return to Atlanta for Solomon Jones, who signed with Indy as a free agent this summer after 3 years with the Hawks.

What do you think?