Atlanta Hawks Have Massive Opportunity In Front Of Them Against Marquee Opponents This Week

The Hawks face some of the NBA's best teams this week, with three of the games being at home

Nov 29, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) celebrates shot against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images / Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images

The Atlanta Hawks have been an inconsistent team to start the season, but we are a quarter of the way through and there is a chance the Hawks are starting to turn a corner. After a baffling loss to the Mavericks, Atlanta found a way to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers twice and then on the second night of a back-to-back, they found a way to get a gutsy win over the Charlotte Hornets in a game that they have typically lost in the past. We need to see more from them before getting carried away, but the Hawks are playing well, especially on defense, and they are in 7th place in the Eastern Conference and only two games out of fourth place.

This week has a chance to be huge for the Hawks and it begins tomorrow with a game against former Hawks Dejounte Murray and the New Orleans Pelicans. The Hawks face the Pelicans tomorrow, then head to Milwaukee on Wednesday, host the Lakers on Friday, and then host the Nuggets on Sunday. These are games against marquee opponents and if the Hawks can have a good week, it could say a lot about the direction that their season is headed.

Beating the Pelicans feels like a must-win in a lot of ways, but it is a game that the Hawks have lost before this year. They are going to be on a back-to-back (they play the Knicks tonight) and it will be the return of Murray to Atlanta for the first time since being traded this summer. The Pelicans have been a very injured team this year and the Hawks are going to be rested for the game.

On Wednesday, the Hawks travel to Milwaukee to face a Bucks team that appears to have righted the ship after a really bad start to the season. Giannis Antetokounmpo is still one of the best players in the league and playing at an MVP level right now. Milwaukee has won six in a row and eight of their last ten and are one game ahead of Atlanta in the standings.

On Friday, LeBron James and the Lakers come to town. That is always a marquee game, but there is an interesting subplot. While it would only be one loss, the Lakers owe their pick to the Hawks in the 2025 draft and the Hawks are hoping that falls in the lottery. A loss to the Hawks on Friday would help that and anytime you beat the Lakers, you get attention from around the league.

Atlanta's week concludes next Sunday vs MVP front-runner Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. Denver has been up and down to start the year, but Jokic is having an incredible season again. Getting a win over him and his team would be huge.

This is not a make or break week by any means for the Hawks, but there are opportunities in front of them against some marquee teams. If the Hawks could go 3-1 or even 4-0 this week, watch out.

Additional Links:

Updated Eastern Conference Standings: Hawks Winning Streak Has Them in Striking Distance Of Top Four Seed