2014-15 NBA Standings: Big week coming up for the Atlanta Hawks

We are closing in on the final week of November and the end of the first complete month of the NBA season. Its a bit early to draw a lot of narratives from the standings but some teams are tightly bunched into the action while a few others are digging themselves a big early hole.

After a 1-1 week, the Atlanta Hawks actually moved up a spot to fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 6-5 record. They are four back of first-place Toronto and 2.5 behind second-place Washington. They will face both in a back-to-back starting Tuesday in Washington.

Its still early but Cleveland's struggles and subsequent 5-7 record are the biggest surprise in the East. The Hawks witnessed just how explosive that team can be when everything clicks but they have had a difficult time finding consistency and have lost four straight. Charlotte was a trendy pick coming into the season but they too have struggled to find consistency and are 4-9 and also riding a four-game losing streak.

Here is a look at the rest of the Eastern Conference Standings:

The Wizards lead the Southeast Division by 2.5 games over Atlanta. They just got Bradley Beal back and have avoided the slow start that has plagued them in recent seasons. Miami has a season very reminiscent of Atlanta's so far. Not too far up and not too far down as they continue to slide along at around the .500 mark. Orlando has gone 5-5 over their last 10 and have for the moment jumped ahead of the Hornets in the standings.

Here is a look at the Southeast Division standings as they stand entering Sunday:

It is a big week for the Hawks coming up as they will play a four-game in five days stretch this week starting with matchups against the two best teams in the conference. Atlanta opens a back-to-back on Tuesday in Washington against the Wizards for their only road game of the week. They return to Philips Arena on Wednesday to take on the East leading Raptors. After a day off on Thanksgiving, Atlanta has another back-to-back starting with Anthony Davis and the Pelicans on Friday and finishes with a matchup against the Hornets on Saturday.

Out west, things have gotten even tighter if that is possible. The top five teams are all separated by just 1.5 games while 3.5 games separates the Top 10. Portland is the hottest team out west with a six-game winning streak while the Warriors, Spurs and Suns have all won four straight. San Antonio's winning streak has erased their somewhat slow start. Still strange to see Oklahoma City at the bottom of the standings at 3-11 after a five-game losing streak. They are going to have their work cut out for them when both Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant return to the lineup.