When the NBA schedule was released, you can bet that players immediately studied the dates carefully, eager to see things like homestands, roadtrips, and other interesting quirks. Knowing these key dates will help them with their travel preparations.
Let us now focus our eyes on teams from the Southeast Division and see if anything unusual stands out from their schedules.
Atlanta Hawks
Trae Young, who torched the New York Knicks during the playoffs a few seasons ago, has become a villain of some sort in the Big Apple. Just imagine his surprise when he found out that he will be in New York for almost a week this season. Around the first week of March, the Hawks will be playing the Brooklyn Nets twice and the Knicks once in a span of six days.
Washington Wizards
Washington’s players and family members can’t complain as the team will be home for the holidays. A four-game home-stand will see the team stay in the Washington area from Christmas Eve all the way to New Year’s Day. The Wizards will also be home for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and Easter Sunday. That is a lot of family time right there.
Charlotte Hornets
The NBA schedule-makers really did LaMelo Ball a favor this year. The Hornets, somehow, will be in Los Angeles for around four to five days when they face the Clippers and the Lakers. This will give Ball, who is from nearby Chino Hills, a chance to be home for Christmas. Should the schedule-makers expect Christmas gifts from the Ball family?
Miami Heat
The first roadtrip for the team will be filled with revenge. First up is a game in Boston and you know that the Celtics, who were eliminated by the Heat in the playoffs, will be aiming for a win. Next in line is a game in Minnesota where Jimmy Butler used to play. Lastly, the team will be playing in Milwaukee, where the Bucks have a flashy new weapon in Damian Lillard. Lillard, of course, wanted to play for Miami until the Bucks intervened.
Orlando Magic
This will be quick. The Magic will finish their season series against the Lakers six games into the year. The team’s early four-game road trip to the west coast will include a stop in Crypto.com Arena to face both L.A. teams. When that road trip ends, they will be heading home to host the Lakers back in Amway Center.
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