{"id":811710,"date":"2026-08-14T16:57:14","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T16:57:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/811710\/"},"modified":"2026-08-14T16:57:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T16:57:14","slug":"hawks-simple-early-stretch-gives-incredible-opportunity-for-ascension","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/811710\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawks’ simple early stretch gives incredible opportunity for ascension"},"content":{"rendered":"

The NBA has released the full schedule<\/a> for the 2026-27 season, and amidst the most popular storylines heading into the year, there’s an overlooked one set to take place in Atlanta.<\/p>\n

The Atlanta Hawks – fresh off of an unexpected late-season surge in the previous campaign that led to them giving the eventual-champion New York Knicks a good scare – are looking to make some real noise, once again, in the Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n

While no NBA schedule is easy, and Atlanta’s certainly isn’t, they landed a pretty favorable drawing in the early portion of the year. Sometimes, that’s all a team needs to hit their stride and never lose a step.<\/p>\n

Hawks have a golden opportunity to start hot<\/p>\n

The first two matchups of their upcoming campaign are very winnable.<\/p>\n

Not that any team in this league should be taken lightly – because that’s when the best of the best suffer unanticipated defeats – but the Hawks should be favored in both matchups.<\/p>\n

They open their season against the Orlando Magic.<\/a> A tough team on paper, the Hawks simply had their number last season, sweeping them four games to none. Aside from a few changes that’ve gone under the radar, both squads look mostly similar to what they were last season.<\/p>\n

Maybe their recent coaching change will result in a culture shift, but things like that take time. The realisticness of Orlando suffering from a slow start gives Atlanta a huge chance to benefit.<\/p>\n

After they visit Orlando, they’ll remain on the road to face the Charlotte Hornets.<\/p>\n

While Charlotte had the upper-hand on Atlanta last season, they’re entering the new year without two of the players who’ve historically carved up the Hawks’ defense the most: LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges. They traded both away this summer as they look to fully commit to their young core.<\/p>\n

They’ll face quite the challenge after, but then back to an even more favorable stretch<\/p>\n

The four games that follow their initial two outings are difficult. A back-to-back against Houston, followed by home meeting with the Heat and Cavaliers – the Hawks will certainly be battle-tested early.<\/p>\n

It returns to normalcy after that four-game stretch, though, with New Orleans, Indiana, Washington (2x) and Brooklyn all on deck.<\/p>\n

A 9-2 start for the Hawks is well within reach, it’s just a matter of how they end up playing up or down to their competition.<\/p>\n

No team should be overlooked, but if Atlanta plays their cards right, they should be set up nicely<\/a> for an impressive season. It has to start somewhere.<\/p>\n

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