Detroit Pistons vs. Atlanta Hawks 2019-20 preview

Predicting the series

Game 1: Oct. 24, 7 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena
Game 2: Nov. 22, 7 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena
Game 3: Jan. 18, 7:30 p.m. at State Farm Arena
Game 4: April 7, 7:30 p.m. at State Farm Arena

Detroit will face the Hawks twice in the middle of a three games in four days stretch, including the home opener in October and in November. The first meeting is the second game of a back-to-back, when the Pistons will be traveling in from Indianapolis. The other home game is the first game of a back-to-back but there is an off day upon returning from Boston.

Travel and condensed games is always an interesting component in the NBA and has been a point of emphasis in scheduling over the past few years. Even still, the Pistons were granted no favors early on against the Hawks, who finished 27-55 last season. That was good for the fifth-worst record in the league.

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It’s imperative that the Pistons take care of business early in the season with the easiest pre-All-Star break schedule in the league and the most difficult March. The latter could cause a slip up in late April, when Detroit finishes with six of its last eight games on the road.

Prediction: Pistons win series 3-1

Any worse and the Pistons will be in a tough spot. Granted, this is a prediction based off fully-healthy rosters on both ends and doesn’t account for potential moves before the trade deadline. Things can change but in the growing theme of “load management,” this isn’t a series key Pistons players should be taking off intentionally.

This is the first preview in a Piston Powered series that will take a look at how the Pistons stack up against 29 teams in the NBA. It will include roster changes for the opponent, matchups on offense and defense and the final schedule and series prediction.

Stay tuned for the next preview.

What are your keys to beating the Hawks? Let us know in the comments section or join the conversation on the Piston Powered Facebook page and on Twitter @PistonPowered.