This is the kind of game you pay close attention to: an elimination game with high NBA Cup stakes. A win-or-go-home opportunity for the Knicks to not only earn a cash bonus, but also win the in-season tournament in the second season of its inception. A chance to do something the team hasn’t done since 1973: hang a banner from the rafters of Madison Square Garden.
None of those things are going to happen — and after the Knicks blew a 12-point lead to lose to the Atlanta Hawks 108-100 at home on Wednesday, it’s clear there’s still plenty of work to be done if this team wants a chance to win a real championship.
BRUNSON’S STRUGGLES
The game never happened between the two All-Star guards, Jalen Brunson and Trae Young. Rarely, if ever, do the two men defend each other. The real matchup was between Brunson and Hawks defensive guard Dyson Daniels.
Daniels got the better of Brunson in the first meeting between the two teams this season – a Hawks victory – limiting the All-Star guard to just 21 points on 8-of-18 shooting from the field. He outdid himself Wednesday, limiting Brunson to just 14 points on a miserable night of 5-of-15 shooting from the field.
How Brunson handles physical and stingy opposing defenses this season will be crucial in the Knicks’ quest for an elusive NBA title. He’s one of the highest IQ basketball players the NBA features at the point guard position, but listed at 6-1, opposing defenses use size and physicality to knock him out of scoring rhythm.
It worked Wednesday, and despite Brunson’s eight assists, the Knicks kept pace with their leader, and against the Hawks, they fell.
Daniels won the game, finishing with nine points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks – plus some defense locked down on the Knicks’ star guard.
DEFENSIVE STRUGGLES OF THE KNICKS
The Knicks’ pursuit of the NBA title will also depend on their ability to defend the point of attack.
That responsibility largely falls on Mikal Bridges, the player the front office traded five first-round picks as well as a pick swap to the Nets to acquire during the offseason.
Bridges struggled in that role, and his woes continued Wednesday even though Young finished with just 22 points on 22 shot attempts with 11 assists on the night. Young easily passed Bridges with regularity and worked his way into the paint, where he fed the ball to a crowd of Hawks three-point shooters.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau spoke about his impact before the announcement.
“[We need to be] disciplined because he is intelligent. He’s sneaky. I can shoot deep,” he said. “Can reach the middle of the field. Great vision, playmaking ability. What that leads to – even if you are – worry, pocket three is obviously a big thing. Then when he gets into the paint, he puts it on the board, the offense rebounds. There are many things to do. Excellent pick and roll player, can put pressure on the rim. So we have to be aware of the ball, paint, react, cover the line. You get ripped off a body, the ball goes up the board, offensive rebounding is also a big concern.
Bridges finished with 19 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field, but his biggest impact will be his ability to thrive in his role as a defensive perimeter guard.
THE KNICKS STILL MISSING MITCHELL ROBINSON
Thibodeau was right on the offensive rebound. That’s one of the biggest areas the Knicks are missing, with Mitchell Robinson remaining sidelined recovering from ankle surgery.
Atlanta made just nine of its 31 threes on the night, but the misses created second-chance opportunities on the offensive glass: the Hawks outscored the Knicks, 58-49, and 22 offensive rebounds to just 12 of the Knicks.
Three Hawks players recorded double-digit rebounds, including Jalen Johnson, who finished with 21 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists, and Onyeka Okongwu, who grabbed 11 rebounds coming off the bench.
“I think the versatility, length and [Johnson] And [Deandre] Hunter is very similar, and that’s one of the things as they’ve gotten healthier: Their bench, they’re basically starters coming off the bench. So we have to prepare for it,” Thibodeau said. “Johnson has really developed, he does everything in length, and Hunter the same. 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 3 against us in this first match. but it’s another long wing. And I think Daniels is a great fit for them as well.
Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 19 points, 19 rebounds and five assists, and Josh Hart recorded eight rebounds, but the Hawks’ size advantage on the wing was evident.
FOLLOWING
With a trip to Las Vegas now out of the question, the Knicks will have three days to review film and regroup before Sunday’s game against the Orlando Magic. After that, they’ll travel to Minnesota to face the Timberwolves, another game where emotions are sure to be high, and the Knicks will be tested under pressure.
