We’ve arrived.
The Atlanta Hawks begin their 82-game excursion on Wednesday evening and, while win-loss expectations are modest, there is a real level of excitement surrounding the team. Lloyd Pierce captains the ship for the first time and, of course, there is plenty of young talent to monitor, headlined by three first round picks (Trae Young, Kevin Huerter, Omari Spellman) and a pair of intriguing pieces in Taurean Prince and John Collins.
Atlanta’s season tips off in New York, as the Hawks face off against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. On paper, this is one of the more favorable match-ups of the season for the Hawks when it comes to road atmosphere, as the Knicks are without star big man Kristaps Porzingis and project as a team that could occupy a slot in the league’s bottom tier this season.