To the naked eye, Atlanta's sitting pretty with the third best record in the East, but they're really only 3 games ahead of the Raptors and 4.5 games ahead of the Bulls in the 7 and 9 spots respectively. All this with Horford and Teague playing every game this season, and Millsap only missing one.
Their January schedule looks potentially rough, especially if Brooklyn can get their act together and the Bulls can get healthy.....
Fri 3 vs Golden State
Sat 4 @ Chicago
Mon 6 @ Brooklyn
Wed 8 vs Indiana
Fri 10 vs Houston
Sun 12 @ Memphis
Thu 16 vs Brooklyn
Mon 20 vs Miami
Wed 22 @ Orlando
Fri 24 vs San Antonio
Sat 25 @ Milwaukee
Mon 27 @ Oklahoma City
Wed 29 vs Detroit
Fri 31 @ Philadelphia
When also considering Washington has Beal back(and to a lesser extent Porter), Detroit has looked better lately, and Toronto's addition by subtraction in jettisoning Gay, I'm hopeful the Hawks start sliding down the standings rapidly. That way, when people still don't grasp that we get the lesser of the Nets/Hawks pick to my amazement, the difference in draft position will be minute to the point of it not really mattering.
