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

[3JS]

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

How much?

[makeitstop]

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.

They mentioned it on the Kay show, Bet MGM has ATL at 59%.

We'll be underdogs until the very end. So be it.

[cgmw]

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.

I’m really hoping sanity takes over this week and Thibs sits down Elf for a talk about his “sore ankle” that will keep him out but available.

And then my god just play the French defensive freak 6 minutes vs Trae to start the game. He should get at least one open corner 3, and if he hits it, the entire game (and potentially series) changes.

[stuporman]

I like the Knicks being doubted and the underdogs, it would rub me rough more if they all of a sudden jumped on the bandwagon now after being haters all along.

[snadler]

Not one Knicks player or member of their front office has ever said they want ATL, sure the fans yes. The knicks players and coaches only emphasized and rightfully so wanted to get homecourt. Also, I much rather media, vegas, fans, etc think the knicks are going to lose, why would they stop now?

[delvec19]

Can't believe were here. Still surreal to me. But LFGK!!!

I don't think this will be as easy as most, my prediction is Knicks in 6.

[snadler]

Can't believe were here. Still surreal to me. But LFGK!!!

I don't think this will be as easy as most, my prediction is Knicks in 6.

Easy? nothing has come easy for this franchise in 40 years

[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.

They mentioned it on the Kay show, Bet MGM has ATL at 59%.

We'll be underdogs until the very end. So be it.

I feel like fans need to understand this point...

Atlanta is not just the favorite, but a pretty big favorite to win this series.

[The Lamma]

Already jonesin' to get this fckin party started

[Nbabrothers]

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.

I’m really hoping sanity takes over this week and Thibs sits down Elf for a talk about his “sore ankle” that will keep him out but available.

And then my god just play the French defensive freak 6 minutes vs Trae to start the game. He should get at least one open corner 3, and if he hits it, the entire game (and potentially series) changes.

You are right in point! If they start Payton then the garden crowd should shout out “Nitlikina! Nitlikina!”

We start off slow then play catch-up when Rose and Quickley come in then we lose our lead in the first few minutes of the third to just have the same thing happen again.
I mean, man, does Payton even practice on his game on his own during free time? Seriously!? Quickley and other Knicks do after game late evening workouts at their gym. Does Payton go to those? Does he even care?

[RShahNyC89]

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

How much?

a G to get in the door it looks like


anyone see dates?

[delvec19]

Can't believe were here. Still surreal to me. But LFGK!!!

I don't think this will be as easy as most, my prediction is Knicks in 6.

Easy? nothing has come easy for this franchise in 40 years

I said most people I see posting think this will be an easy W for the Knicks. They must be new fans. Trust me I've never thought any win let alone series was a foregone conclusion in favor the NYK.

[EnigmatiC]

This is going to be a very tough series. I'm hoping the combination of our defense, our style of play being more playoff suited, and home court will be enough for us to win but I don't see this going less than 6 games.

[nyknicks8016]

How much?

a G to get in the door it looks like


anyone see dates?

Tickets havnt even gone on sale yet, tuesday for season ticket holders and wednesday for general public

[stuporman]

There is a big difference between suggesting in comparison to other possible first round match ups of MIL or MIA saying the Hawks would be the 'easier' one for the Knicks to go against instead of saying they would be 'easy'.

I don't see many saying they'd be 'easy', just in comparison to other possible match ups they'd be 'easier' but trolls or fools who don't understand context or the English language probably don't have the ability to discern the difference.

[Kampuchea]

https://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/knicks-nets-fans-madison-square-garden-barclays-center-1.50249473

In time for the playoffs beginning this weekend, the Knicks and Nets have been freed up to drastically increase arena capacity at Madison Square Garden and Barclays Center, respectively.

In a news conference at Radio City Music Hall, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that with 50% of the arenas being set aside for fully vaccinated fans with no need for social distancing. Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan estimated that the Knicks would be able to bring approximately 13,000 fans into the arena.

[Kampuchea]

Tonight 7PM on MSG - Knicks Playoff Preview

https://www.msgnetworks.com/schedule/

[stuporman]

Awwww yea, MSG will be rocking even at half full. One of the best advertising tools for the franchise to FAs is the playoff atmosphere at the Mecca....

[BKlutch]

Underrated storyline:

RJ gets his first taste of the playoffs at 20.
IQ gets his first taste of the playoffs at 21.
Obi gets his first taste of the playoffs at 23.
Knicks fans get their first taste of the playoffs at age 8.

Mitch is unfortunately injured, but for those of us (like me) who always wanted to build through the draft, this is huge.

FIFY

[3toheadmelo]

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