Game Thread: Hawks vs Knicks -- 2/15

[Jamaaliver]

Knicks Prepare for Slumping Trae Young and Hawks

The New York Knicks (13-15) are looking to continue their winning momentum against a team that’s in the middle of a slump.

The Knicks enter Monday with back-to-back wins over Washington and Houston. They’ll be hosting an Atlanta Hawks team looking to shake off their recent struggles.

February just hasn’t been the Hawks’ month. They lost six of their last seven games, including three straight, dropping them to an 11-15 record.

The two teams previously met on January 4th, with the Knicks enjoying a comeback victory to win 113-108 on the road.

The Knicks’ league-best three-point defense, which allows opponents to shoot just 31.4% from long range, will have to channel a strong performance on Monday.

Slowing down Young will be vital, as he’s their main catalyst, but keep an eye out for other shooters like Cam Reddish, Danilo Gallinari, and Kevin Huerter. Even big man John Collins is capable of pulling up from deep.

According to NBA.com, the Hawks shot 40.9% from long range throughout their 11 wins this season. However, that clip drops to an even worse 31.7% clip during their losses.

Preventing Young or those secondary scorers from finding a rhythm offensively will be important.

Immanuel Quickley, Derrick Rose, and Obi Toppin have been the main contributors off the bench, leading a secondary unit that put up 49 points in the win over Washington, followed by a 58-point showing in the victory over Houston.

It’s been a welcomed change of pace, especially since the Knicks’ bench was performing in the middle of the pack. The Knicks currently average 34.8 points per game (18th in the NBA).

Before, the bench was almost singlehandedly held together by Quickley, but more contributors provide some added relief when the starters need a break or the team needs a spark.

The Knick Wall

[DirtybirdGA]

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[HMFFL]

Hawks are favored by 2pts.

I like the Knicks to win. Trae Young said he doesn't think our team has been prepared.

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[ducler]

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[Jamaaliver]

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[graymule]

Hawks sailing a leaky ship into NY harbor. Our 4th quarter defense is non existent. Hawks can't get the barn door
closed and the horse always escapes. Watch LP pull our starting center and the lane becomes a layup drill.

Agent 0017, Bruno and Nathan need some few minutes while Capela rests and saves those foul call earlier in the
game. What we've been doing, moving Collins to center, isn't the answer.

GO ATL HAWKS !!

[Jamaaliver]

[Jamaaliver]

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[Jamaaliver]

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[Jamaaliver]

Tweet that sums up the Hawks 1st Half adequately:

Spoiler:

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[HMFFL]

Tweet that sums up the Hawks 1st Half adequately:

Spoiler:

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LOL
Wow

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[HMFFL]

Randle for NY get his season high tonight in points tonight.

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[Jamaaliver]

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[jayu70]

Reddish and Huerter 1 of 8 - can we get some offense from our starting wings?
Skylar Mays taking advantage of his minutes.

[D21]

After 3 quarters : 90-95, and just saying, +10pts without Gallo, -15pts with him in 19min
Everybody else has small negative or positive Plus/Minus, depending on if they played with him or not
He has 2/3 FG and 11pts, but the defense is once again ineffective with him

Huerter 1/9 at 3pts..., maybe it would be better with Bogi starting and him coming from the bench, but at this moment... pretty much the same thing for Reddish (2/8 at 3pts) with Hunter,but again...

[jayu70]

Reddish and Huerter 1 of 8 - can we get some offense from our starting wings?
Skylar Mays taking advantage of his minutes.

Our starting SG and SF:
6-24 with 3-17 from 3.
Trae and John had 5 shot attempts in the 4th for ZERO points.
Can't win like that.

[Jamaaliver]

Great fight to keep the game close.

We’ll get it next game...

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[Jamaaliver]

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[Spud2nique]

Tough game. I don’t know. I sound like a broken record but we are young and these are the growing pains? No, I’m starting to not believe we are on the right track sometimes.

A friend who is an avid NBA buddy of mine from back in the day, not a Hawks fan, actually he’s a Vancouver Grizz fan texted me to ask why Trae is trying to get his coach fired. I dunno what’s going on, maybe that’s not accurate but this isn’t the Trae from the previous couple of years. I mean he was even better as a rookie in terms of situational clutchness.

What’s up?

[tbhawksfan1]

Tough game. I don’t know. I sound like a broken record but we are young and these are the growing pains? No, I’m starting to not believe we are on the right track sometimes.

A friend who is an avid NBA buddy of mine from back in the day, not a Hawks fan, actually he’s a Vancouver Grizz fan texted me to ask why Trae is trying to get his coach fired. I dunno what’s going on, maybe that’s not accurate but this isn’t the Trae from the previous couple of years. I mean he was even better as a rookie in terms of situational clutchness.

What’s up?

I think the answer to that is obvious.