This post will analyze this year's schedule vs. last year's schedule. I will focus on b2b's and 4 game in 5 night stretches. The Hawks were thoroughly screwed by the NBA with their schedule last year and their schedule seems to be much more favorable this season. I believe that the difference in ease of schedule will amount to 3-5 wins added for the Hawks this season.
Last year's schedule included 21 sets of back2back games with 12 of these coming against an opponent who did not play the day before. It also included 5 4game/5night stretches. In late November, the NBA really screwed the Hawks with a 4game/5night stretch, two days off, then another 4game/5night stretch. The results of these games make it clear that this stretch really wore down the team.
Here's the list of 4game/5night stretches from last year
11/19-11/23 - @ Mia, vs Det, off, @ Det, vs Bos
11/26-11/30 - vs Orl, @ Hou, off, vs Dal, @ Wash
2/18-2/22 - @ Indy, vs Wash, off, @ Det, vs NYK
3/23-3/27 - @ Tor, vs Phx, off, @ Minn, vs Port
4/8-4/12 - vs Det, vs Bos, off, @ Brk, vs Mia
You will notice that the majority of these stretches were loaded with playoff teams and alternated home and away and included lots of travel.
This year's schedule includes19 back2backs with 9 games against opponents who had the previous day off. It also only includes 3 stretches of 4games/5nights.
This year's 4game/5night stretches.
11/25-11/29 - @ Wash, vs Tor, off, vs N.O.P., vs Char
1/13-1/17 - @ Phi, @ Bos, off, @ Tor, @ Chi
3/27-3/31 - vs Mia, @ Char, off, vs Milw, @ Det
You will notice that the 1/13-1/17 stretch is the only one that includes a lot of travel and it features two of the worst teams in the league on the first half of it. On the third leg, Charlotte is basically next door to Atlanta and they have the following day off. There's basically no travel involved until they go to Detroit for the last game of the stretch.