Hawks (5) @ Knicks (4) - Playoffs Round 1 - Game 1 - SUNDAY May 23 - 7:00pm

[DOT]

He was -13 last game vs the Hawks per nba.com. With a -34.2 Net Rating.

Really? Thanks for the correction; espn had him as -11 both times

I saw it was -13 on basketball reference too. Guess either way still pretty bad for his 17 min or whatever.

I dont even pay too much attention to +/- or small sample sizes but with Payton its just hard to ignore how we are always worse with him on the floor. Last game is the one I can remember, and from what I recall he seemed to be constantly losing Trae around the floor.

I think individual game +/- is a pretty useless stat, and a lot of advanced stats don't work over a 3 game sample, either

But talking about +/-, Elfrid was by far the worst on the team with -98 total (which was 446th in the NBA)

Next worse was Frank at -34, and our only other starter in the negatives was Noel, at -2

Every other starter (Bullock, RJ, and Randle), as well as Burks, Rose, Taj, and Quick (who actually led the team with +182), were all at least +107. Even Obi was overall a +25. Elfrid (-98), Mitch (-17), and Noel (-2) were the only 3 players with more than 500 minutes played this year to have less than a +25.

[blueNorange]

knicks gotta be careful, don't think for a second the hawks team haven't been hearing for weeks how the knicks want them in the playoffs because they view them as an easier road to the next round.

they'll coming out inspired and guns blazing, i trust thibs will have them prepared.

the hawks are good, it feels like we're not acknowledging it.

[blueNorange]

maybe i sais this already, idgaf.

i think this week off and playoffs coming up gives thibs the best excuse to not start payton and chalk it up to "matchups" for the specific series.

[DaGawd]

Not that I planned on going but the ticket prices to catch a playoff game at MSG are nuts

[3toheadmelo]

Read on Twitter

[omerome]

knicks gotta be careful, don't think for a second the hawks team haven't been hearing for weeks how the knicks want them in the playoffs because they view them as an easier road to the next round.

they'll coming out inspired and guns blazing, i trust thibs will have them prepared.

the hawks are good, it feels like we're not acknowledging it.

That's exactly how I feel. I hope it's just us fans saying this and not the team thinking it. The Hawks are not a team we can take lightly and even though we were 3-0 against them, regular-season matchups should be thrown out the window in the playoffs.

The Knicks go through phases where they can't put the ball in the basket or struggle to secure rebounds - and that can be where ATL gains an upper hand. We have to put pressure on them and make them defend. Get guys like Young, Collins, and Bogdan in foul trouble and not give them open looks. Or it will be short and painful for us.

But this team has shown they are not going to lay down for anyone and will play hard. I just hope they will truly be ready because the last two games in the regular season were a little shaky.

[Kampuchea]

https://www.ticketmaster.com/east-conf-qtrs-new-york-knicks-atlanta-georgia/event/0E005AA69C0B44D8

tickets as low as $185

[Kampuchea]

https://www.vividseats.com/nba-basketball/new-york-knicks-tickets/knicks-5-22-3614673.html

Knicks for only $781

[blueNorange]

knicks gotta be careful, don't think for a second the hawks team haven't been hearing for weeks how the knicks want them in the playoffs because they view them as an easier road to the next round.

they'll coming out inspired and guns blazing, i trust thibs will have them prepared.

the hawks are good, it feels like we're not acknowledging it.

That's exactly how I feel. I hope it's just us fans saying this and not the team thinking it. The Hawks are not a team we can take lightly and even though we were 3-0 against them, regular-season matchups should be thrown out the window in the playoffs.

The Knicks go through phases where they can't put the ball in the basket or struggle to secure rebounds - and that will be where ATL can gain an upper hand. We have to put pressure on them and make them defend. Get guys like Young, Collins, and Bogdan in foul trouble and not give them open looks. Or it will be short and painful for us.

But this team has shown they are not going to lay down for anyone and will play hard. I just hope they will truly be ready because the last two games in the regular season were a little shaky.

bogdan is the person i fear a lot, he always kills the knicks and capela always gets 30 rebounds over noel and gibson

young is going to get his, especially in the playoffs the refs will make sure he looks great with it being a national televised game.

collins is going to get his too, and i think he has a personal feud with randle cooking him all year.

it's gallinari, lou, and heurter ... you gotta make sure those guys don't kill you because they can get hot.

[mpharris36]

Really? Thanks for the correction; espn had him as -11 both times

I saw it was -13 on basketball reference too. Guess either way still pretty bad for his 17 min or whatever.

I dont even pay too much attention to +/- or small sample sizes but with Payton its just hard to ignore how we are always worse with him on the floor. Last game is the one I can remember, and from what I recall he seemed to be constantly losing Trae around the floor.

I think individual game +/- is a pretty useless stat, and a lot of advanced stats don't work over a 3 game sample, either

But talking about +/-, Elfrid was by far the worst on the team with -98 total (which was 446th in the NBA)

Next worse was Frank at -34, and our only other starter in the negatives was Noel, at -2

Every other starter (Bullock, RJ, and Randle), as well as Burks, Rose, Taj, and Quick (who actually led the team with +182), were all at least +107. Even Obi was overall a +25. Elfrid (-98), Mitch (-17), and Noel (-2) were the only 3 players with more than 500 minutes played this year to have less than a +25.

Also I don't know if this has had any effect but being "mr situational" Frank really hasn't even gotten a chance to play offense the last 2 months. If you are just a defensive specialist its really tough to have a positive +/-...you either are either 0 or you are a minus if you are only playing one side of the ball.

If you are playing with the starters on a team that was #4 in the East...its pretty crazy to have such a negative impact over the curse of an entire season.

[shakes0]

Maybe because we've been out of the playoffs so long people aren't confident in our team, but we're playing a team we swept during the regular season, and we'll have home court advantage.

Knicks in 5.

Let's not forget that in the most recent game Hawks were up 8 and seemingly on their way to a double digit blowout until Trae turned an ankle in the 3rd quarter. I expect the games to follow the trend of the most recent matchup except the Trae getting hurt part.

[Slicin N Dicin]

Knicks in 5

Week of rest, Thibs Defense, Elf going to play way less minutes (hot take - Thibs will deviate from HIS noorm and Bench Elf) and Rose starts w/ Burks and IQ our bench backcout w/ Frank in there for his situational situations

[Deeeez Knicks]

Really? Thanks for the correction; espn had him as -11 both times

I saw it was -13 on basketball reference too. Guess either way still pretty bad for his 17 min or whatever.

I dont even pay too much attention to +/- or small sample sizes but with Payton its just hard to ignore how we are always worse with him on the floor. Last game is the one I can remember, and from what I recall he seemed to be constantly losing Trae around the floor.

I think individual game +/- is a pretty useless stat, and a lot of advanced stats don't work over a 3 game sample, either

But talking about +/-, Elfrid was by far the worst on the team with -98 total (which was 446th in the NBA)

Next worse was Frank at -34, and our only other starter in the negatives was Noel, at -2

Every other starter (Bullock, RJ, and Randle), as well as Burks, Rose, Taj, and Quick (who actually led the team with +182), were all at least +107. Even Obi was overall a +25. Elfrid (-98), Mitch (-17), and Noel (-2) were the only 3 players with more than 500 minutes played this year to have less than a +25.

Yea, +/- really isn't a good stat to use. But I also dont really think opponent shooting is a good stat to use either in a small game sample.

Trae shot poorly in the last game, but he still torched us overall. Think we will be disappointed if we expect Payton to lock him up.

[G_K_F]

I think this team is gassed. Been playing must win for a month and their stretch schedule was brutal. I submit that no team (other tha maybe Brooklyn) will benefit fro the week’s rest. I think a lot of the ragged edges have been from flat out exhaustion and nagging injuries. Knicks will be primed after the layoff. Enjoy the play ins. Our boys will be in suspended animation hyperbaric chambers.

Yeah the guys have been tired to end the season, but Capela does pose schematic challenges either way. Capela averaged 20 rebounds vs us this year and also led the league in offensive rebounds. With our c rotation, he’s going to be a problem

Yeah I'm very concerned about Capela...he obliterated us on the boards during the season. Noel is a twig and Taj just can't handle big minutes.

We really need to limit there second opportunities this series because Capela could be a reason we lose the series if we don't block him out...we can play initially great defense and still get f*cked because of a offensive rebound.

That's why we have Pellesanity to handle Capela!

[TKKnicks1]

You stop Trae, you stop the Hawks. Simple as that. He's their engine. Shut down the engine real quick in game 1. Send a statement.

I am hoping there is such a thing as a "playoff Payton" or things could go real south.

Imagine working your ass off to get homecourt to lose it in game 1. IMO, game 1 is the game that will set the tone for the rest of the series.

[stuporman]

These are some things I'm wondering....

How much longer before Luca clears protocols and can join the team?

Will Thibs get him practicing with the team this week off if he is available?

If he does practice and looks good will he get any time on the floor if Elf sucks bad and the Knicks need some PG play?

Is the ultra methodical Thibs even open to this possibility?

Can I make a jump out the window hope that Luca plays playoff mins and shows out enough in limited time like during a 3rd quarter stretch in a game 5 or 6 it gives Knicks fans hope for him next season?

[3JS]

Not that I planned on going but the ticket prices to catch a playoff game at MSG are nuts

How much?

Just read below. If it’s 187, then 120 is not that much cheaper if you still have to pay the flight tickets.

[cgmw]

knicks gotta be careful, don't think for a second the hawks team haven't been hearing for weeks how the knicks want them in the playoffs because they view them as an easier road to the next round.

they'll coming out inspired and guns blazing, i trust thibs will have them prepared.

the hawks are good, it feels like we're not acknowledging it.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but Hawks are the Vegas favorite to win the series. Something like 55% chance.

[cgmw]

Not that I planned on going but the ticket prices to catch a playoff game at MSG are nuts

How much?

Cheaper to fly to Atlanta and stay at the Ritz Carlton.

[gregzzy22]

Anybody a season ticket holder in here? When will they start selling tickets ?