Nate McMillan took over for Lloyd Pierce just before the All-Star Break and immediately the team went on an eight-game winning streak.
One of the more notable victories was on Saturday as the Hawks beat the Lakers, partially because LeBron left in the first half with an ankle injury.
Despite riding high to begin a long West-Coast road trip, the team fell back to earth on Monday night in a loss to the Clipper in which they led by 22 points in the second half.
When the Hawks were about to enter this road trip there were only two teams they would be favored against and the Sacramento Kings are one of them.
Coming off one of the worst losses of the season, and the first bad loss for Nate McMillan, tonight's game against the Kings could shape how McMillan is viewed.
The Hawks currently occupy the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference and were the hottest team in the NBA until Monday night. How could so much change so quickly for them?
Fans were quick to point out the run the team went on as McMillan took over for Lloyd Pierce and pointed to things being different, until they weren't different.
The fourth quarter has been a problem for the team all season and it was again for the first time under McMillan.
So what makes this one game so special? The fact that it's a team the Hawks honestly should handle. It's a team they should beat, but coming off the disappointing finish in LA, will they?
If they beat the Kings and there is no Clippers hangover, we all move on to the rest of the road trip hoping for a successful close before returning home. But if they lose to the Kings, you have to ask some questions you wouldn't normally bring up.
Has the "new coach smell" worn off of McMillan? We'll find out tonight based on the performance of the team.
