I'm back with another one of these posts, collecting my thoughts and ponderings through the NBA Playoffs. For this one, we'll stick to just the 1st Round vs. the Atlanta Hawks.
I'm already nervous.
Last year's opening round series vs. the Detroit Pistons added gray hairs to my beard. And the year before? That opening playoff series vs. the Philadelphia 76ers likely took some years off my life.
So yeah, here we go again...
Some quick thoughts before the series begins from this fan:
The Atlanta Hawks were NOT my top pick for matchups in the first round. They definitely picked us. But the Playoffs are the Playoffs - everyone is good! I'm concerned about this...I really am.
- My Key Matchup: Dyson Daniels on Jalen Brunson
- My Key Stats:
- The Knicks led the NBA in 4th Quarter Net Rating - That is an attribute that is vastly being overlooked in this series. The Knicks are very good in the closing quarter - they have been all year. It's an identity that will surely help in the Playoffs.
- Hawks Pace of Play - While the Knicks were 7th in defensive rating all season, the Hawks' style of play is athletic, long, and fast. They were fifth in pace of play all year. That pace in the regular season gave the Knicks some trouble, especially when the Hawks are knocking down the three, particularly Nickeil Alexander-Walker
- My Key Player: Karl-Anthony Towns
- The Hawks don't have much size and don't feature athletic bigs. Towns has feasted on Onyeka Okungwu for his career, with some big numbers recently. KAT has to assert himself early in this series. Especially if the Knicks continue to unveil their (intentional hidden secret?) new two-man game sets with Brunson and KAT.
Ugh, the NBA playoffs are here. I won't be able to sleep.
We'll see...
#LGK
---
Game 1
Knicks d. Hawks, 113-102
(Knicks lead series, 1-0)
Wheeewww!
What a way to get the playoff jitters out! In many ways, it felt close; in others, it just felt like we had to get it together. Far from over.
Quick Thoughts:
- #11 was phenomenal tonight. Especially in that first quarter. Unreal.
- Yet, never would have thought he finished 9-22.
- He was only a +4 in +/-, but each of Josh Hart's 14 boards was key throughout the game.
- As stated, Karl-Anthony Towns is the biggest factor. If he's playing well, this is going to be tough for the Hawks. That was on display in the second half.
- However, KAT has stretches where they switch guards on him out on the elbow, and it is extremely frustrating to watch. Take him in the post!!!
- CJ McCollum dropped 26 points and was 11-20 from the field. It felt like he was perfect up until the fourth quarter.
- Jalen Johnson is going to be some player once he figures a few things out.
- Mitch Robinson is one of my favorite Knicks of all time. He has these amazing defensive stretches.
- I forgot Zaccharie Risacher is a former #1 pick.
- I expect a plethora of adjustments for Game 2, especially from the Hawks' defensive coverage on Brunson. I expect a lot of blitzes to get the ball out of his hands. I'm sure Mike Brown and the Knicks do to. More Bridges minutes as the primary ball handler? Brunson, in off-ball action? Or maybe, a big-time feature of KAT to get him going much earlier? Should be interesting to see.
---
Hawks d. Knicks, 107-106
(Series Tied)
What. Just. Happened?
I'm genuinely stunned. The Knicks, like game one, felt like they were in total control of this game. Then, contrary to their character of a league-leading fourth-quarter net rating, we simply let this go.
Ugh.
Ugh.
Quick Thoughts:
- I love Brunson. But his process down the stretch felt too ball-dominant.
- Again, I need more from Karl-Anthony Towns. In many ways, this game, he needed more touches.
- CJ McCollum absolutely balled out. Anyone could have had this dude at the trade deadline. The Hawks are going to need him to have games like that all series - does he have that in his bag, consistently?
- I am so over the media and broadcasts trying to install a "new villain" for the Knicks come playoff time. That dude, that villain, typically emerges organically. McCollum is not there yet.
- OG had a solid game.
- I am not a fan of the rotations we saw tonight, especially the stints without Brunson and/or KAT. I haven't jumped into the numbers yet, but those lineups felt like game-changers and were so unusual all season. Especially with a twelve-point lead and under seven minutes to go.
- I enjoy Alvarado's energy. Not in love with his ball-handling.
- Those weird, funky, head-scratching lineups.
- Mike Brown outcoached himself here...
Edit Update: I looked into the data...
WHYYYYYYYY???? Ugh.
Onto Atlanta for Game 3.
---
Game 3
Hawks d. Knicks, 109-108
(Hawks lead series, 2-1)
Welp. It's time to panic.
If you've been around these parts, you know I don't go there often, but I think the red light is on. You HAVE TO WIN game four. Have to. A Game 5 back in the Garden seems all too necessary.
Even with that said, this one hurts. It hurts a lot.
I found myself frustrated for the entire game. But it was the bucket and foul in the fourth quarter by Brunson that put us up by three points that changed things. That thought crept in...
Oh my gosh! We can really win this!
And then yeah...the rest of the game played out.
Disappointment. Frustrated. Shocked. Confused. And, disappointed.
Quick Thoughts:
- The Hawks now believe, don't they? Like, really believe.
- Someone call the authorities! Mikal Bridges has been missing for over a week.
- Bridges is sure to catch the wrath of the Knicks fanbase until Saturday. And for a market that sometimes can be too intense, it is hard for me to defend the criticism. He HAS to be better. Offensively. Defensively. Be present. Everything!
- Despite all of the Bridges' madness, kudos to Duece McBride on stepping up and stepping big time.
- Karl-Anthony Towns needs more touches! He finished with 21 points and 17 rebounds for a +22 on the night...tough to blame the big fella on this one.
- I didn't understand Mike Brown's rotations tonight. Shamet wasn't good enough to play tonight? No Mitch Robinson on that much-needed stop in the fourth quarter? For a period, he went to no Brunson and KAT for a few minutes. And while the game was still there, you have to wonder if it should be that close?
- The whispers are louder now - Coach Thibs would've pushed that top eight for 39-40 minutes tonight. No questions about his rotations, because it was pretty clear.
- I thought Blake Griffin's analysis at halftime was spot on - how do we let Jonathan Kuminga have a great offensive and defensive game? No pressure on him at all to defend KAT?
- OG balled. Super clutch. Big-time defensive moments.
- CJ McCollum, man. That last possession was so pretty. Simply got to his spot and knocked it down. Wasteless. Pure. Hooper.
CJ MCCOLLUM. DAGGER. 🥶
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 24, 2026
HAWKS TAKE GAME 3 IN ATLANTA 😤
(via @NBA)pic.twitter.com/e06jwVhnRj - Jalen Johnson is going to be great. I would definitely build around that guy over Trae Young.
- Speaking of, the ball just bounced right all night for the Hawks. Johnson just happened to have the KAT block fall right back into his lap for a layup. If that ends up in a Knicks player's hands, the outcome might be different.
- As I type this, this thought came to my mind, and it could be true: we easily could be up 3-0 in this series as well.
- I hate that last possession. Hated it. What's wrong with a clearout for Brunson at the top of the key?
- I love Jalen Brunson.
- But.
- This series, he's been terrific and questionable, all at the same time.
- A search party has been deployed to locate Mikal Bridges.
Wake up, fellas. Let's get Game 4. #LGK
---
Game 4
Knicks d. Hawks, 114-98
(Series Tied, 2-2)
They were focused, huh? It was very obvious the urgency they played with tonight. They weer physical. Everyone had a level of intensity that was just a notch higher.
I'm glad they found it. And there is a small piece of me that is wondering - what took you so long?
Nonetheless, this was a dominating win tonight, sending the series back to MSG for Game 5. Most importantly, with some momentum after two devastating losses.
Quick Thoughts:
- Josh Hart set the tone tonight. His stat line won't jump out at you; however, it was the toughness and overall defensive performance - guarding just about everybody! - which was the baseline for the night.
- KAT was my guy in the series to watch. A triple-double is a good indicator of that! KAT felt very playmaker-esque tonight (obvious statement with the 10 assists), but he was also very motivated to dominate the paint, which is also a battle they won collectively as a team.
- I still would like to see more shots from KAT.
- We found Mikal Bridges. He seems saved, but shaken. Still some spotty minutes, especially due to the rise of Duece McBride and the matchups that he provides and creates. But it was an okay return for Bridges.
- Something still seems very off with Bridges. I wonder if Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker create issues...could this just be a matchup problem?
- The Captain was gutsy tonight. I hope the ankle is okay.
- By the way, did Brunson really just pass Willis Reed on the all-time playoff points list?! Like, what?!! It's been some ride with Brunson, but those top two names...those are Knicks legends. IF he gets there...
- OG continues to just ball.
- Alavarado and Clarkson - each found themselves out of the rotation at specific times of the season. It's a long year...Both have been very vital to the Knicks bench.
- Jonathan Kuminga and Onyeka Okungwu had less of an imprint on this game. That said a lot about this game.
- CJ McCollum seemed really bothered by Josh Hart all night. Do we switch that up in Game 5? Run it back? Varied looks?
- I think the Knicks just ran another backdoor cut action with JB and OG. All night they ran that...All night. And it worked!
Relief all around for a tied series. Relief all around for signs of urgency. It's now a best-of-three series.
#LGK
---
Knicks d. Hawks, 126-97
(Knicks lead series, 3-2)
That might have been as good as the Knicks looked all year.
This team has had various extreme versions of itself this year. This game ranks in the bucket of causing complete optimism, bordering on delusion.
Mannnnnnnnn, this might just be the year!
I know, I know...
Regardless, Brunson was on one tonight. And everyone else followed.
Quick thoughts:
- Continuing on the captain, he was outright showing off tonight, right?
- The footwork, the ease, and the overall flow of his game tonight felt very vintage Brunson.
- Is it too soon to use that reference? Vintage Brunson!
- Coach Quinn Snyder obviously decided to place his best defender, Dyson Daniels, on KAT tonight, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker on Brunson as an adjustment from KAT's triple-double in Game 5. It's the kind of result that Snyder should thank his stars he's not in this market. ooof!
- Many still haven't forgiven Coach Brown for Game 2. And 3.
- KAT continued in his playmaker mode tonight. Even in the win, I would still like him to be more active on the offensive end with more shots. 5-7 is efficient, but also feels like it's not enough.
- There were a few buckets by KAT that felt cathartic - yes, big guy! That's what we've been asking from you!
- By the way...KAT scored on Johnson, Kuminga, Bradley, Daniels, and Okungwu for his five buckets.
- OG Anunoby continues to be the Knicks' MVP (thus far) in this series.
- One more thought on Brunson - the series isn't over, but there was serious discussion on CJ McCollum being a better player than him. Legit takes on this topic in this direction. The hate on Brunson is unreal.
- Back to McCollum - 6pts (3-10 FG), and -14 is pretty much guaranteeing a Knicks win.
- The Knicks have settled on letting Dyson Daniels beat them, if he wants to. And I'm not sure Atlanta has figured out a counter scheme.
- In this series, the Hawks have played well...as Kuminga has played well.
- Mikal Bridges feels like he's battling himself...or something.
Go finish this thing in Atlanta.
#LGK
---
Game 6
Knicks d. Hawks, 140-89
(Knicks win series, 4-2)
Now, that...that was beautiful!
And fun. And remarkable. And in many ways, it's outright scary how well this team has pulled it together after that Game 3 loss.
There was a lot of talk about the Hawks ruining the Knicks' season, and after Game 3, that noise got louder. In many ways, it seems those two losses were exactly what this team needed, as they were pushed into an urgency mode we saw the rest of the way.
Again, this was absolutely insane to watch! And considering Hawks fans - and the media - still bring up that loss to the Hawks in the first round six years ago, especially for a Knicks team that significantly overachieved - I'm going to enjoy this tonight.
And maybe the day after. And the day after that.
Oh, look! The Knicks just scored again.
Yeah, I'm feeling good.
Other Thoughts:
- OG Anunoby was the MVP of this series. My guy balled out again tonight for 29 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals, and a block. And oh yeah, a whopping +42 on the court tonight. He's been so good.
- KAT, another triple-double. Like, when did he start channeling Magic Johnson? And he did so, shooting 1-4 from the field. The big guy got the calls tonight, 10-10 FT.
- It should be said - the Knicks' defense would have made Thomas Thibodeau Jr. proud.
- A 47-point halftime lead (a new NBA playoff record) is insane.
- A 43-6 run in the playoffs might be...more insane!
- Or...a 67-13 run! What is beyond insane?!
- The CJ McCollum hype surely dissipated fast.
- I'm a fan of the dude - but the "Villain" talk was too much.
- What did the Hawks even talk about at Halftime?
- I hope Mitch is okay. I hope he's not suspended for that whole ordeal.
- Gotta give Mike Brown his due... he deserves it after Games 2 and 3. We all killed him. Rightfully so, but he responded, and his strategies worked.
- The Hawks are a couple of pieces away. A big, solid wing, and this experience...they'll be back.
- Well, we can sit back and wait until Monday. Sixers just beat the Celtics - there will be a Game 7. hmmm, very interesting...
So long, Hawks.
Second round, here we come.