EC | Rd. 1| (4) Knicks vs (5) Hawks [1-4]

[gavran]

I feel like Knicks fans are in for a rude awakening. Their team has been playing over their heads for too long while the Hawks have been slowly getting healthier and adjusting to new roles. Just hope there are no more injuries.

So let me get this straight. The Knicks were 21-45 last season, but they have been playing over their head for far too long this season, as they have finished 41-31, but the Hawks, who were 20-47 last season and also finished 41-31 are a team are somewhat in a different position?

You know what do we call teams that play way over their head for far too long? Good teams.

[Nbabrothers]

I feel like Knicks fans are in for a rude awakening. Their team has been playing over their heads for too long while the Hawks have been slowly getting healthier and adjusting to new roles. Just hope there are no more injuries.

So let me get this straight. The Knicks were 21-45 last season, but they have been playing over their head for far too long this season, as they have finished 41-31, but the Hawks, who were 20-47 last season and also finished 41-31 are a team are somewhat in a different position?

You know what do we call teams that play way over their head for far too long? Good teams.

[Nbabrothers]

I feel like Knicks fans are in for a rude awakening. Their team has been playing over their heads for too long while the Hawks have been slowly getting healthier and adjusting to new roles. Just hope there are no more injuries.

So let me get this straight. The Knicks were 21-45 last season, but they have been playing over their head for far too long this season, as they have finished 41-31, but the Hawks, who were 20-47 last season and also finished 41-31 are a team are somewhat in a different position?

You know what do we call teams that play way over their head for far too long? Good teams.

I am so tired of other teams getting a pass when they lose to the Knicks because they weren’t in full strength because of injuries but you NEVER hear or read that the Knicks lost because they weren’t in full strength! We lost our good starting center in Mitchell Robinson for darn sake! He just led the league in fg% and is a force and rim protector/shot blocker extraordinaire!
Only hard and tough minded players can handle the stresses of playing in NYC when the fans and media can turn on you immediately from one game to the next. That’s one of the reasons why winning a championship in New York is the equivalent of winning THREE championshipS ELsewhere.
Soft players like Durant, Kyrie and Hsrden can’t handle that pressure so they went to NY’s B team.
Yes they are favored but I will give you this, if we win any playoff games against I don’t want to hear that the Nets were depleted because X player was injured or playing with an injury.

[kg01]

Probably should check out which teams lost the most games to injury among their rotation players. Then come back and marvel at the Hawks' record in spite of that.

[Nbabrothers]

Probably should check out which teams lost the most games to injury among their rotation players. Then come back and marvel at the Hawks' record in spite of that.

It’s just that I’m so fed up with the excuses from other teams when they face us and lose. It would be great if Mitch could come back for the playoffs and have him come off the bench to slowly get him back to his rhythm. We really could use him against the Hawks starting center Clint Capella who led the league in rebounding I believe.

[kg01]

Probably should check out which teams lost the most games to injury among their rotation players. Then come back and marvel at the Hawks' record in spite of that.

It’s just that I’m so fed up with the excuses from other teams when they face us and lose. It would be great if Mitch could come back for the playoffs and have him come off the bench to slowly get him back to his rhythm. We really could use him against the Hawks starting center Clint Capella who led the league in rebounding I believe.

I hear you. It's definitely frustrating to see the 'yeah buts' every time you beat a team. I don't think we've gotten as much of that since we've been so banged up all year.

ETA: Actually, I take that back. Whenever we beat a team, it's always 'but all Trae does is hunt for fouls'. Meanwhile their primary guy does the same thing but no one says anything about it.

Absolutely agree Robinson would be a difference maker in this series. Maybe Gibson can give you some of what he would've?

I still say Rose scares the shat outta me.

[Zenzibar]

Probably should check out which teams lost the most games to injury among their rotation players. Then come back and marvel at the Hawks' record in spite of that.

It’s just that I’m so fed up with the excuses from other teams when they face us and lose. It would be great if Mitch could come back for the playoffs and have him come off the bench to slowly get him back to his rhythm. We really could use him against the Hawks starting center Clint Capella who led the league in rebounding I believe.

I hear you. It's definitely frustrating to see the 'yeah buts' every time you beat a team. I don't think we've gotten as much of that since we've been so banged up all year.

ETA: Actually, I take that back. Whenever we beat a team, it's always 'but all Trae does is hunt for fouls'. Meanwhile their primary guy does the same thing but no one says anything about it.

Absolutely agree Robinson would be a difference maker in this series. Maybe Gibson can give you some of what he would've?

I still say Rose scares the shat outta me.

Hawks during the last 3 months having been ballin and if they win the series, it won't be a shocker.

My x-factor is along your lines, DRose. During the last month very few, if any, teams have been able to shut down Derrick Rose.

If Rose can match 2 Hawks players totals from the Hawks bench by himself, we have a great shot.

[F N 11]

What the hawks gunna do when we dont allow Trae to create for others?

[BowlRips]

The key to the series to me is simply..

How are the refs going to officiate Trae? Will they allow NYK to be physical with him? If they do, then I can see the Knicks neutralizing Trae using a combo of Elf, Frank and D-Rose on him. If they won't then the Knicks are going to have problems.

[jayu70]

What the hawks gunna do when we dont allow Trae to create for others?

when teams have been trapping Trae the minute he crosses half court, Bogi has been the primary ball handler and offensive initiator bringing the ball up court. He has adequately run the PnR with Collins and Capela, with Trae off ball. It has actually been something Nate has been doing the 2nd half of some our games, having Bogi bring the ball upcourt and initiate the offense. With Hunter also back, we now have another ball handler and another guy that create for himself or someone else.

[CP War Hawks]

Hawks team is just too deep to be denied in a 1st round series, it's simple as that. They are nearly all healthy sans Reddish who has an outside chance to be back later if it goes deep.

[cgf]

Hawks team is just too deep to be denied in a 1st round series, it's simple as that. They are nearly all healthy sans Reddish who has an outside chance to be back later if it goes deep.

Not sure I buy that depth will tip this either way unless you mean one of the "supporting pieces" on either team playing like a star for the whole series. Capela worries me greatly & Trae can be lethal, but the supporting casts on both teams are flush with guys who can win games for their teams.

Hawks may have one more of those guys if hunter is back to 100%, but Barrett, Rose, Quickley, Burks & Bullock have all won games for us this season & can go off for 20+ in any game...especially when Julius is cooking & teams have to start doubling him on every iso or post-up.

[kg01]

The key to the series to me is simply..

How are the refs going to officiate Trae? Will they allow NYK to be physical with him? If they do, then I can see the Knicks neutralizing Trae using a combo of Elf, Frank and D-Rose on him. If they won't then the Knicks are going to have problems.

It's an interesting dynamic, for sure.

First, folks need to recognize that the refs changed the way they officiated Trae around the first month or so of the season. He's not hunting for contact nearly as much as he gets credit (or blame?) for.

The league is allowing teams to be physical with him. He happens to be a guard looking to get into the paint, not just to jack up 3's, so he gets a lot of foul calls.

I hope (for our sake ) this has prepared him for the 'playoff whistle'. The same contact he's gotten won't necessarily result in foul calls, so he'll have to play through and not get bogged down in going at the refs.

Kemba is a guy with playoff experience but seemed to struggle with it in the 1st half of their game last night. He seemed to acclimate himself in the 2nd half. The Hawks may not be able to survive Trae being mentally out of it for a half.

[Spud2nique]

Nathan Knight and Taj Gibson might fight, I feel like the likelihood is high.

[CP War Hawks]

Hawks team is just too deep to be denied in a 1st round series, it's simple as that. They are nearly all healthy sans Reddish who has an outside chance to be back later if it goes deep.

Not sure I buy that depth will tip this either way unless you mean one of the "supporting pieces" on either team playing like a star for the whole series. Capela worries me greatly & Trae can be lethal, but the supporting casts on both teams are flush with guys who can win games for their teams.

Hawks may have one more of those guys if hunter is back to 100%, but Barrett, Rose, Quickley, Burks & Bullock have all won games for us this season & can go off for 20+ in any game...especially when Julius is cooking & teams have to start doubling him on every iso or post-up.

You shouldn't expect guys that never produced in a playoff series to do so just cause they did in regular season, see Charlotte. Rose is a vet and should be expected to produce as should Randle cause he's really good... Rooks should not be expected to do much.

[NewKnicks]

I went way against the grain and picked a Hawks sweep. I think they shock the NBA and the Knicks; while coming out firing on all cylinders.

This is easily the best offensive team McMillan has ever had. Its also his healthiest going into the playoffs in a very long time. I like the Thibs vs McMillan coaching match up. But I think the Hawks talent overtakes them. I am not expecting a lot of blowouts. But I do think the Hawks close out and win every 4th quarter.

No bias at all here..

[KnicksGadfly]

Expecting the refs to clamp down on Trae, considering Harden doesn’t get calls as much during the playoffs...then again, who can tell with refs?

[Buzzard]

I went way against the grain and picked a Hawks sweep. I think they shock the NBA and the Knicks; while coming out firing on all cylinders.

This is easily the best offensive team McMillan has ever had. Its also his healthiest going into the playoffs in a very long time. I like the Thibs vs McMillan coaching match up. But I think the Hawks talent overtakes them. I am not expecting a lot of blowouts. But I do think the Hawks close out and win every 4th quarter.

No bias at all here..

Of course there is a bias.

[Sixerscan]

Feel like people are underplaying how much offense Atlanta has besides Young. The Knicks can't approach this like a Harden Rockets team or whatever, if you shut down Young there's still other guys that can hurt you.

Expect this to be a longer series and with that you tend to lean towards the teams that can play different ways. If Hunter is close to 100% I think that tips it in the Hawks favor. They can go big and small and play through different people. The Knicks are good and know who they are but if the Hawks figure out an adjustment I'm not sure if the Knicks can reinvent themselves mid-series the way you sometimes need to playing a team over and over. So I'd go Hawks in 6.

Knicks can win though.

[CP War Hawks]

Feel like people are underplaying how much offense Atlanta has besides Young. The Knicks can't approach this like a Harden Rockets team or whatever, if you shut down Young there's still other guys that can hurt you.

Expect this to be a longer series and with that you tend to lean towards the teams that can play different ways. If Hunter is close to 100% I think that tips it in the Hawks favor. They can go big and small and play through different people. The Knicks are good and know who they are but if the Hawks figure out an adjustment I'm not sure if the Knicks can reinvent themselves mid-series the way you sometimes need to playing a team over and over. So I'd go Hawks in 6.

Knicks can win though.

Try explaining that to NYK fans. Randle will be good for 25-30, Rose for 20. They'll need minimum 60 more to account for. I'd like to see who can fill the scoring void.

For the Hawks, it's Trae for 25-30, Collins for 15-20, Capela for 10-15, Gallo for 15-20, Bogi for 20, etc. Then it's several other guys that are good for double digit points any given game.

It's going to be a hard fought series, but the smart money should be Atl in 6-7.