That is the sort of sport you pay shut consideration to: an elimination sport with raised NBA Cup stakes. A win-or-go-home alternative for the Knicks not solely to earn a some bonus money, however win the In-Season Event within the second season of its inception. A shot to do one thing the crew hasn’t accomplished since 1973: cling a banner from the Madison Sq. Backyard rafters.
None of these issues will occur — and after the Knicks coughed up a 12-point result in lose to the Atlanta Hawks 108-100 at dwelling on Wednesday, it’s clear there stays rather more work to be accomplished if this crew goes to have a shot at profitable an actual championship.
BRUNSON’S STRUGGLES
The matchup was by no means between the pair of All-Star guards, Jalen Brunson and Trae Younger. Not often if ever do the pair defend one another. The actual matchup was between Brunson and Hawks defensive stopper Dyson Daniels.
Daniels obtained the higher of Brunson within the first matchup between the 2 groups this season — a Hawks win — holding the All-Star guard to simply 21 factors on 8-of-18 capturing from the sphere. He one-upped himself on Wednesday, holding Brunson to simply 14 factors on a depressing 5-of-15 capturing night time from the sphere.
How Brunson navigates bodily, stingy opposing defenses this season shall be essential within the Knicks’ pursuit of an elusive NBA title. He is without doubt one of the highest-IQ basketball gamers the NBA options on the level guard place, however listed at 6-1, opposing defenses use dimension and physicality to throw him out of a scoring rhythm.
It labored on Wednesday, and regardless of Brunson’s eight assists, the Knicks go as their chief goes, and towards the Hawks, they went down.
Daniels received the matchup, ending with 9 factors, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks — plus lockdown protection on the Knicks’ star guard.
KNICKS DEFENSIVE STRUGGLES
The Knicks’ pursuit of an NBA title may also be depending on their potential to defend the purpose of assault.
That duty has largely fallen on Mikal Bridges, the participant the entrance workplace traded 5 first-round draft picks plus a decide swap to the Nets to accumulate through the offseason.
Bridges has struggled on this function, and his woes continued on Wednesday regardless that Younger completed with simply 22 factors on 22 shot makes an attempt with 11 assists on the night time. Younger simply blew by Bridges with regularity and compelled his means into the paint, the place he sprayed the ball out to a number of Hawks’ three-point shooters.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau touched on his impression forward of tipoff.
“[We need to be] disciplined because he’s clever. He’s shifty. Can shoot it deep,” he mentioned. “Can get to the middle of the floor. Great vision, play-making ability. What it leads to — even if you’re — you’re concerned obviously pocket three is a big thing. Then when he gets into the paint, he gets it up on the board, the offensive rebounding. There’s a lot to it. Great pick and roll player, can put pressure on the rim. So we have to have an awareness of ball, paint, react out, cover the line. You get pulled off a body, the ball goes up on the board, the offensive rebound is a big concern as well.”
Bridges completed with 19 factors on 9-of-17 capturing from the sphere, however his greatest impression would be the potential to thrive in his function as a fringe defensive stopper.
KNICKS STILL MISS MITCHELL ROBINSON
Thibodeau was proper in regards to the offensive rebounding. It’s one of many greatest areas the Knicks miss Mitchell Robinson, who stays sidelined recovering from ankle surgical procedure.
Atlanta solely made 9 of their 31 threes on the night time, however the misses created second-chance alternatives on the offensive glass: The Hawks out-rebounded the Knicks, 58-49, and 22 offensive rebounds to simply 12 from the Knicks.
Three Hawks gamers logged double-digit rebounds, together with Jalen Johnson, who completed with 21 factors, 15 rebounds and 7 assists, and Onyeka Okongwu, who grabbed 11 rebounds off the bench.
“I think the versatility, the length, and [Johnson] and [Deandre] Hunter are very similar, and that’s one of the things as they’ve gotten healthier: their bench, it’s basically starters that are coming off the bench. And so we have to be prepared for that,” mentioned Thibodeau. “Johnson has really developed, he does everything the length, and Hunter the same thing. The ability to put it on the floor, shoot the 3, move without the ball, run the floor, their athleticism, and then [Zaccharie] Risacher, same thing, he made 3s against us in that first game. but he’s another long wing. And I think Daniels has been a really good fit for them, as well.”
Karl-Anthony Cities completed with 19 factors, 19 rebounds and 5 assists, and Josh Hart logged eight rebounds, however the Hawks’ dimension benefit on the wing was obvious.
NEXT UP
With a visit to Las Vegas now out of the query, the Knicks can have three days to evaluation movie and collect themselves earlier than Sunday’s matchup towards the Orlando Magic. After that, they are going to journey to Minnesota to face the Timberwolves, one other sport the place feelings are certain to run excessive, and the Knicks shall be examined underneath stress.
