The hypothetical 2011-12 Atlanta Hawks schedule is now out. Go look at it! It's like you can actually SEE professional basketball games being played.
The good guys begin their defense of the No. 5 Eastern Conference playoff spot with an inspiring home stand against ... well, they're tipping off the season on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves, which might literally be the lowest honor any team in the NBA could be granted. Home opener: Nov. 4 against the Boston Celtics.
First game against the Chicago Bulls, who knocked Atlanta out of the playoffs, comes right after that. Mid-November sees a run of the presumably Dwight Howard-less Orlando Magic and back-to-back games against the conference champ Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat.
The team's first game against former Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets guard Iman Shumpert's New York Knicks comes right after that Bulls game, while Atlanta's first game against the Los Angeles Georgia Bulldogs: Feb. 11 at the Highlight Factory.
No, the Hawks aren't playing on Christmas this year. Nobody is.