Knicks Rd1 - Playoffs Series 2021

[NBASupes]

My final review for the series. I had this series being Hawks in 5 but the media for NY didn't just put up bulletin board material, they wrote a damn book of bullshit underselling the f**k out of us. I have Hawks in 4 in my final installment of my prediction.

 

Why?

 

1. Offensively, Atlanta had nine players who can legit go off (All starters and four 2nd stringers (Lou, Kev, Gallo, and Big O) Snell being more of a role player who and score but doesn't really take a lot of shots ever. NY has only six (R.J., Randle, Rose, IQ, Burks, Bullock).

 

2. Offensively, you need a superstar on that end, Atlanta has Trae, I don't consider Randle to be one at all. He's averaging 23.1 per36. That's not really impressive. JC was averaging 23.4 for us per36 last year. While he has went off on the Hawks in the last couple of years, we never really went out of our way to gameplan for him if at all. We just make slight in game adjustments. He's not Trae where he's averaging 27/10 per36 where you gotta double team and triple team him but you can't with Bogi in the lineup without paying for it.

 

3. Defensively, the Knicks don't have no real studs. Noel is their best defender and a damn good one but he's not special and he's food against Capela. Atlanta has Capela and Hunter is special too when healthy. The Knicks remind me of a homeless man's version of my 60 win Hawks. We play a lot more mins than most times in terms of key players, we play harder and execute better than most but in reality, we aren't that good at all. We literally looked weak against Brooklyn who won less than 50% of their games by a lot. We could have lost the series against the Wizards and we got beat down by LeBron without Love or Kyrie in the WOAT fashion in NBA ECF history. This Knick team reminds me of them so much, it's insane but they are WAY worse than those Hawks. The Knicks play excellent team defense but a lot of that is due to rotating, size, and communication, not talent. In the NBA playoffs, you need talent, you want to stop teams' horsepower.

 

4. Knicks fans love dogging out Nate and it makes sense, he hasn't won a series since Seattle. He hasn't had a team overwhelming better than his opponent since 2009 POR/HOU and when he has outside of that series, he's won the matchups you expect him to win. That said, Nate hasn't been outcoached much with the Hawks, he has to keep it that way against Thibs who while not having the best history either always has gotten his teams when they fit his MO to play the right way.

 

5. Last the matchup overwhelming favor Atlanta.

 

Quote

 

Position Matchups. Agree or Disagree? Discuss.

 

Hawks point guards: Trae Young, Lou Williams

Knicks point guards: Elfrid Payton, Derrick Rose, Frank Ntilikina

Advantage: Hawks

 

Young is one of the best players in the league and arguably the best player in the series. That alone gives them the advantage here, but the Knicks do have the better bench at the point guard position with Rose, a finalist for Sixth Man of the Year.

 

Hawks shooting guards: Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kevin Huerter

Knicks shooting guards: Reggie Bullock, Immanuel Quickley

Advantage: Hawks

 

Bogdanovic turned into one of the NBA’s best shooters in the second half of the season with the Hawks implementing more off-ball movement in their offense. He also has the ability to create for others with the ball in his hands. Bullock shot 40 percent from 3 and is a good defender, so he’s no slouch and will have to be taken seriously as an offensive threat for the Knicks. While Quickley has impressed in his rookie season, I trust Huerter more than him coming off the bench.

 

Hawks small forwards: De’Andre Hunter, Tony Snell, Solomon Hill

Knicks small forwards: RJ Barrett, Alec Burks

Advantage: Hawks

 

If Hunter is fully healthy and playing like he was before he partially tore his meniscus, he could be the player who swings the series completely in favor of the Hawks. That’s how valuable he is. Barrett also showed considerable growth in his sophomore season, shooting 40 percent from 3 and being a solid defender. I do think Burks is a more valuable player than Snell, as Burks has shown the ability to take over for the Knicks in stretches.

 

Hawks power forwards: John Collins, Danilo Gallinari

Knicks power forwards: Julius Randle, Obi Toppin

Advantage: Knicks

 

Randle will get some top-five votes for MVP this season. While I don’t think he was one of the five best players, he clearly was one of the top 10/15 players this season and is the biggest reason the Knicks are the No. 4 seed. For that reason alone, the Knicks have to have the advantage here, even though Collins also is having a good season.

 

Hawks centers: Clint Capela, Onyeka Okongwu

Knicks centers: Nerlens Noel, Taj Gibson

Advantage: Hawks

 

Capela has completely transformed the Hawks’ defense and almost singlehandedly made them a competent unit on that end of the floor. His defense took a sizable leap from his Houston days, and that trade between the Rockets and Hawks continues to look like one of the most lopsided trades in recent history. Noel has done a good job stepping in for Mitchell Robinson, but he’s nowhere close to being as impactful as Capela. This position is arguably the biggest gap in talent for both teams.

 

What I will say is just because the Hawks have a 4-1 position advantage, at least in my estimation, that DOES NOT mean the series will be easy. Basketball goes much deeper than one-on-one positional matchups.

 

 

 

 

 

What the Knicks have in their favor is their physical play which has impacted us during the season when we don't bring it and the Knicks are best at it in the NBA by a mile, the media which is actually harming them right now, the NBA which wants the Knicks here but that doesn't mean much if you can't play, and bragging rights of winning the RS series 3-0.

 

I am expecting this to be a tough, physical, and fun to watch series regardless if you are not a fan of either fan. That said, I originally had Hawks with a gentlemen sweep in 5 games but the media unfortunately talked too much shit in favor for NY, Hawks in 4. I don't expect to see any major blowouts but I don't expect any really close games either.

 

Knicks media will push for a superstar and an upgrade at the 1 and 5 at the end of the series. I can't wait for this series to get started.

Edited May 23, 2021 by NBASupes

[Thomas]

On 5/21/2021 at 6:11 PM, Gray Mule said:

But, with everything pointing their way, should the NY team blow it, watch out! 

That is when there most consistent fans will be heard. NY Knick fans and complaining at the top of ytheir lungs go hand in hand.

[Gray Mule]

NY will attempt to take Trae out of the game and series.  How easy will it be for NY to injure or foul out our own star?  Deliberately injure?  No.  But, be aware.  Playing rough will be allowed and, just saying .....

If Trae plays his usual good defense, how easy will it be for him to draw a foul?  Depends, doesn't it....

GO ATL HAWKS !!

WHATEVER YOU FEAR MOST, THAT YOU TRY TO ELIMINATE.

[marco102]

After watching yesterday's games, the difference between playoff basketball and regular season basketball is so stark.  The refs let  every team play physical.  I like it.  

With the Hawks vs. Knicks, the Knicks were more physical during the regular season, but the Hawks will be allowed to be much more physical too.  I think the Hawks offensive talent will be able to handle the physicality a bit better.  I'm really nervous, but I'm going Hawks in six. I want them to wrap up in front of the Home crowd!  I'd also like a sweep, but I don't know if that's realistic.  I hope it happens though.

Edited May 23, 2021 by marco102

[Thomas]

8 minutes ago, marco102 said:

The refs let  every team play physical.

Am counting on that, with us being involved that is. As others have mentioned, we will see how the last two minutes will be called.

[Lurker]

If the Hawks can split these first two in MSG, I like them in 6 based off recent play at home.

I don't think a sweep is realistic...either way. Losing 7 in a row to the same team would be very disappointing, and in the case of the Hawks winning, based off what I've seen before (even if it's been with different players and different coaches), I'd be surprised if the Hawks swept.

Heck it's tough to win 4 or 5 in a row generally (although I do not think that last game would have been a loss if Trae didn't sprain his ankle), which is why I'd be looking to get 1 at MSG. 

[marco102]

 

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[JayBirdHawk]

I can't wait for @lethalweapon3 game thread. It's game day. GO HAWKS!!!

[Carmine]

In a guard driven league, i'll take Trae+Bogi over Barrett/Rose any day. Hawks in 6.

[lethalweapon3]

Over at the AJC, Joe Johnson's #1 fan is still alive!

Down the road at NBATV, Smitch has seen enough of the Hawks to bet on them, too. At least for this round!

 

~lw3

[NBASupes]

So far, my predictions looking solid

I have:

Every series with the exception of Bos/Brooklyn and NYC/ATL going 7. I have Brooklyn and the Hawks sweeping their opponents. Every other series will be a fight to the end. 

[marco102]

3 hours ago, NBASupes said:

So far, my predictions looking solid

I have:

Every series with the exception of Bos/Brooklyn and NYC/ATL going 7. I have Brooklyn and the Hawks sweeping their opponents. Every other series will be a fight to the end. 

Lakers going down in 6 or less. You heard it here first! Book it!

[GameTime]

LOL @ Knicks fans hating Trae. Atlanta team hasn't had this much swagger since Deion.

[macdaddy]

I hope Trae sticks with Atlanta.  Honestly it feels like he can end up in the top-10 Atlanta athletes of all time if things go right.  He'd be even higher if Mr. Aaron didn't occupy the 1,2 and 3.  

[RedDawg#8]

Great clips from the game 

 

[sturt]

 

[JeffS17]

56 minutes ago, sturt said:

 

An unacknowledged fact of that game 1 was how many wide open shots we missed.  I gotta believe the guys will come out with less nerves in game 2 and start knocking down open looks.  Heurter had some bad bricked shots and we all have ragged on Gallo's shooting.  Hunter can easily hit a rhythm as well and go off.  He's only going to get more comfortable every game, and he was clearly on a minutes restriction Sunday -- only 22 minutes.  I hope his knee is doing O.K.

[JayBirdHawk]

 

lol 

[JayBirdHawk]