During his first month on the job, new Atlanta Hawks General Manager Danny Ferry was able to trade away two cumbersome contracts and gain some flexibility for Atlanta's future. Ferry traded All-Star guard Joe Johnson and his albatross of a contract to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Jordan Farmar (who signed with a Turkish team after the Hawks bought him out), Anthony Morrow, Johan Petro, DeShawn Stevenson, Jordan Williams (who was waived) and a future second-round draft pick. He also traded forward Marvin Williams to the Utah Jazz for point guard Devin Harris. The Hawks also picked up combo guard Lou Williams in the free-agent market.
With Al Horford, Ivan Johnson, Zaza Pachulia, Josh Smith and Jeff Teague the only holdovers from last season's squad, the Hawks will have a completely new look for the 2012-2013 campaign.
Although it may take some time for the new pieces to fit into Atlanta's jigsaw puzzle, the Hawks acquired more than enough talent to help them make their sixth straight playoff appearance. Morrow is an excellent shooter and led the NBA in three-point shooting accuracy as a rookie in 2009. Stevenson is a solid perimeter defender. Harris is a former All-Star (2009) and Lou Williams, who finished second to James Harden for the 2012 Sixth Man of the Year Award, is a proven scorer.
Atlanta has playoff talent, but not enough to advance beyond the second round of the playoffs as currently constructed. However, without Joe Johnson's contract hanging around their necks any longer, the Hawks now have the flexibility to make future moves that may help them make deeper playoff runs in future seasons.
Here are game-by-game predictions for the 2012-2013 Atlanta Hawks:
Game 1, Friday, November 2 versus Houston Rockets- Hawks beat the Rockets to win their sixth straight season opener (Record 1-0).
Game 2, Sunday, November 4 at Oklahoma City Thunder- Hawks fall to the Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena (Record 1-1).
Game 3, Wednesday, November 7 versus Indiana Pacers- Hawks rebound with a home win over the visiting Pacers (Record 2-1).
Game 4, Friday, November 9 versus Miami Heat- Hawks drop a home game to LeBron James and the Heat (Record 2-2).
Game 5, Sunday, November 11 at Los Angeles Clippers- Hawks lose to the Clippers and fall below .500 for the first time since finishing the 2007-2008 season at 37-45 (Record 2-3).
Game 6, Monday, November 12 at Portland Trail Blazers- Hawks drop the second half of a back-to-back to the Trail Blazers (Record 2-4).
Game 7, Wednesday, November 14 at Golden State Warriors- Hawks play their third road game in four nights and fall to the Warriors (Record 2-5).
Game 8, Friday, November 16 at Sacramento Kings- Hawks get a win over the Kings to avoid a winless road trip (Record 3-5).
Game 9, Monday, November 19 versus Orlando Magic- Hawks open a brief two-game homestand with a victory over the Magic (Record 4-5).
Game 10, Wednesday, November 21 versus Washington Wizards- Hawks defeat John Wall and the Wizards (Record 5-5).
Game 11, Friday, November 23 at Charlotte Bobcats- Hawks climb above .500 with a victory over the Bobcats (Record 6-5).
Game 12, Saturday, November 24 versus Los Angeles Clippers- Hawks successfully complete a back-to-back with a home win over Chris Paul and the Clippers (Record 7-5).
Game 13, Wednesday, November 28 versus Charlotte Bobcats- Hawks beat the Bobcats for the sixth straight time (Record 8-5).
Game 14, Friday, November 30 versus Cleveland Cavaliers- Hawks close November with a victory over the Cavaliers (Record 9-5).
Game 15, Wednesday, December 5 versus Denver Nuggets- Hawks drop a home game to the Nuggets (Record 9-6).
Game 16, Friday, December 7 versus Washington Wizards- Hawks beat the Wizards to close a solid 4-1 homestand (Record 10-6).
Game 17, Saturday, December 8 at Memphis Grizzlies- Hawks fall to the Grizzlies in the second half of a back-to-back (Record 10-7).
Game 18, Monday, December 10 at Miami Heat- Hawks play for the third time in four nights and drop a road game to the Heat (Record 10-8).
Game 19, Wednesday, December 12 at Orlando Magic- Hawks finish a horrible 0-3 road trip by losing to the Magic at the Amway Center (Record 10-9).
Game 20, Thursday, December 13 versus Charlotte Bobcats- Hawks get a feel-good win over the Bobcats (Record 11-9).
Game 21, Saturday, December 15 versus Golden State Warriors- Hawks close a brief two-game homestand with a victory over the Warriors (Record 12-9).
Game 22, Tuesday, December 18 at Washington Wizards- Hawks defeat the Wizards for the third time in less than a month (Record 13-9).
Game 23, Wednesday, December 19 versus Oklahoma City Thunder- Hawks lose to the Thunder in the second half of a back-to-back (Record 13-10).
Game 24, Friday, December 21 at Philadelphia 76ers- Hawks play their third game in four nights and fall to the 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center (Record 13-11).
Game 25, Saturday, December 22 versus Chicago Bulls- Hawks play for the fourth time in five nights and drop a home game to the Derrick Rose-less Bulls (Record 13-12).
Game 26, Wednesday, December 26 versus Detroit Pistons- Hawks defeat the Pistons and get their 11th home win of the season (Record 14-12).
Game 27, Friday, December 28 at Cleveland Cavaliers- Hawks beat the Cavaliers for the ninth straight time (Record 15-12).
Game 28, Saturday, December 29 versus Indiana Pacers- Hawks defeat the Pacers at Philips Arena for the 11th consecutive time (Record 16-12).
Game 29, Monday, December 31 at Houston Rockets- Hawks fall to the Rockets in the first half of a back-to-back (Record 16-13).
Game 30, Tuesday, January 1 at New Orleans Hornets- Hawks open the New Year with a road win over the Hornets (Record 17-13).
Game 31, Friday, January 4 at Detroit Pistons- Hawks close out a 2-1 road trip with a victory over the Pistons (Record 18-13).
Game 32, Saturday, January 5 versus Boston Celtics- Hawks beat the Celtics and successfully complete both halves of a back-to-back (Record 19-13).
Game 33, Tuesday, January 8 at Minnesota Timberwolves- Hawks get their 20th win of the season with a victory over the Timberwolves at the Target Center and (Record 20-13).
Game 34, Wednesday, January 9 at Cleveland Cavaliers- Hawks fall to the Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena (Record 20-14).
Game 35, Friday, January 11 versus Utah Jazz- Hawks drop a home game to the Jazz (Record 20-15).
Game 36, Saturday, January 12 at Washington Wizards- Hawks visit the Nation's Capital and lose to the Wizards at the Verizon Center (Record 20-16).
Game 37, Monday, January 14 at Chicago Bulls- Hawks play for the third time in four nights and fall to the Bulls (Record 20-17).
Game 38, Wednesday, January 16 versus Brooklyn Nets- Hawks beat the Nets for the sixth straight time (Record 21-17).
Game 39, Friday, January 18 at Brooklyn Nets- Hawks make their first trip to the Barclays Center and lose to the Nets (Record 21-18).
Game 40, Saturday, January 19 versus San Antonio Spurs- Hawks get an impressive home win over the Spurs (Record 22-18).
Game 41, Monday, January 21 versus Minnesota Timberwolves- Hawks play for the third time in four nights and drop a home game to Kevin Love and the Timberwolves (Record 22-19).
Game 42, Wednesday, January 23 at Charlotte Bobcats- Hawks get a road win over the Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena (Record 23-19).
Game 43, Friday, January 25 versus Boston Celtics- Hawks beat the Celtics at Philips Arena (Record 24-19).
Game 44, Sunday, January 27 at New York Knicks- Hawks earn their 25th victory of the season by beating Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks at Madison Square Garden (Record 25-19).
Game 45, Wednesday, January 30 versus Toronto Raptors- Hawks open a brief two-game homestand with a victory over the Raptors (Record 26-19).
Game 46, Saturday, February 2 versus Chicago Bulls- Hawks defeat the Bulls and pick up their fifth straight win (Record 27-19).
Game 47, Tuesday, February 5 at Indiana Pacers- Hawks fall to the Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Record 27-20).
Game 48, Wednesday, February 6 versus Memphis Grizzlies- Hawks beat the Grizzlies and capture the second half of a back-to-back (Record 28-20).
Game 49, Friday, February 8 versus New Orleans Hornets- Hawks get stung by the Hornets (Record 28-21).
Game 50, Monday, February 11 at Dallas Mavericks- Hawks drop a road game to Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks (Record 28-22).
Game 51, Wednesday, February 13 at Orlando Magic- Hawks head into the All-Star break with a victory over the Magic (Record 29-22).
Game 52, Wednesday, February 20 versus Miami Heat- Hawks open the second half of the season with a close home win over the Heat (Record 30-22).
Game 53, Friday, February 22 versus Sacramento Kings- Hawks defeat the Kings for the 10th straight time (Record 31-22).
Game 54, Saturday, February 23 at Milwaukee Bucks- Hawks fall to the Bucks at the Bradley Center (Record 31-23).
Game 55, Monday, February 25 at Detroit Pistons- Hawks rebound with a road win over the Pistons (Record 32-23).
Game 56, Wednesday, February 27 at Utah Jazz- Hawks fall to the Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena (Record 32-24).
Game 57, Friday, March 1 at Phoenix Suns- Hawks open March with a road win over the Suns (Record 33-24).
Game 58, Sunday, March 3 at Los Angeles Lakers- Hawks fall to Dwight Howard and the Lakers at the Staples Center (Record 33-25).
Game 59, Monday, March 4 at Denver Nuggets- Hawks close a disappointing 2-4 road trip with a loss to the Nuggets (Record 33-26).
Game 60, Wednesday, March 6 versus Philadelphia 76ers- Hawks get back on track with a home win over Andrew Bynum and the 76ers (Record 34-26).
Game 61, Friday, March 8 at Boston Celtics- Hawks defeat the Celtics in the first half of a back-to-back (Record 35-26).
Game 62, Saturday, March 9 versus Brooklyn Nets- Hawks play for the third time in four nights and drop a home game to Deron Williams and the Nets (Record 35-27).
Game 63, Tuesday, March 12 at Miami Heat- Hawks lose to Dwyane Wade and the Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena (Record 35-28).
Game 64, Wednesday, March 13 versus Los Angeles Lakers- Hawks rebound with an impressive home win over Kobe Bryant and the Lakers (Record 36-28).
Game 65, Friday, March 15 versus Phoenix Suns- Hawks close a brief two-game homestand with a victory over the Suns (Record 37-28).
Game 66, Sunday, March 17 at Brooklyn Nets- Hawks drop a road game to the Nets (Record 37-29).
Game 67, Monday, March 18 versus Dallas Mavericks- Hawks beat the Mavericks in the second half of a back-to-back (Record 38-29).
Game 68, Wednesday, March 20 versus Milwaukee Bucks- Hawks get a home win over Brandon Jennings and the Bucks (Record 39-29).
Game 69, Friday, March 22 versus Portland Trail Blazers- Hawks close a perfect 3-0 homestand with a victory over the Trail Blazers (Record 40-29).
Game 70, Sunday, March 24 at Milwaukee Bucks- Hawks drop a road game to the Bucks in the first half of a back-to-back (Record 40-30).
Game 71, Monday, March 25 at Indiana Pacers- Hawks fall to the Pacers (Record 40-31).
Game 72, Wednesday, March 27 at Toronto Raptors- Hawks play for the third time in four nights and lose a road game to the Raptors (Record 40-32).
Game 73, Friday, March 29 at Boston Celtics- Hawks get a solid road win over the Celtics at the TD Garden (Record 41-32).
Game 74, Saturday, March 30 versus Orlando Magic- Hawks open a four-game homestand with a victory over the Magic (Record 42-32).
Game 75, Monday, April 1 versus Cleveland Cavaliers- Hawks win an April Fool's Day matchup with Kyrie Irving and the Cavaliers (Record 43-32).
Game 76, Wednesday, April 3 versus New York Knicks- Hawks get a home win over the visiting Knicks (Record 44-32).
Game 77, Friday, April 5 versus Philadelphia 76ers- Hawks fall to the 76ers in the first half of a back-to-back (Record 44-33).
Game 78, Saturday, April 6 at San Antonio Spurs- Hawks lose to the Spurs in San Antonio for the 15th straight time (Record 44-34).
Game 79, Wednesday, April 10 at Philadelphia 76ers- Hawks get a road win over the 76ers and tie the season series at two games apiece (Record 45-34).
Game 80, Friday, April 12 versus Milwaukee Bucks- Hawks defeat the Bucks in their penultimate home game of the season (Record 46-34).
Game 81, Tuesday, April 16 versus Toronto Raptors- Hawks beat the Raptors in the first half of their final back-to-back (Record 47-34).
Game 82, Wednesday, April 17 at New York Knicks- Hawks lose their season finale to the Knicks (Record 47-35).
Prediction: The new-look Atlanta Hawks will make their sixth straight playoff appearance, but Atlanta will remain a tier below the Eastern Conference's upper-echelon teams.
Mark is a lifelong fan of the NBA who has loved the game of basketball ever since his first trip to an NBA arena. Mark has watched more basketball games than anyone can count and has hundreds of articles about the NBA published on the internet. Mark also shares his random NBA musings and game-by-game predictions on RandomNBAFan.com.
More 2012-2013 game-by-game predictions
Chicago Bulls 2012-2013 Game-by-Game Predictions: One NBA Fan's Outlook
San Antonio Spurs 2012-2013 Game-by-Game Predictions: One NBA Fan's Outlook
Indiana Pacers 2012-2013 Game-by-Game Predictions: One NBA Fan's Outlook
Los Angeles Lakers 2012-2013 Game-by-Game Predictions: One NBA Fan's Outlook
Boston Celtics 2012-2013 Game-by-Game Predictions: One NBA Fan's Outlook
Information from NBA.com's Transactions: 2012-13 season,Thunder's James Harden wins Kia Sixth Man Award; Basketball-Reference.com's Anthony Morrow NBA Statistics, Devin Harris NBA Statistics and ESPN.com's Atlanta Hawks 2013 Schedule was used for this article.
