Atlanta faces a critical Game Two. Can they adjust defensively and contain New York's star power to avoid a daunting 0-2 deficit?
The Atlanta Hawks lost game one in the first round of the NBA playoffs to the New York Knicks, 113-102. Atlanta is now down 1-0 in the best-of-seven series, and will look to steal a game on the road at Madison Square Garden on Monday, April 20.
Quin Snyder's team needs to clean up some things if the Hawks want to even this series and one a piece Monday night. First, Atlanta needs to have a better effort guarding Jalen Brunson, especially early in the game. It's clear that the Hawks game plan is to foul Mitchell Robinson frequently and force him to make two free throws at the stripe, but the Hawks need to be a little smarter in game two on when they foul.
The official injury report hasn't been submitted at the time of writing this (5:15 p.m.), but Onyeka Okongwu popped up on Sunday afternoon with right knee inflammation.
If he's unable to play, that's a huge blow for the Hawks' depth at center and overall size.
As for the Hawks' offense, 102 points in game one is below their season average, but of course, it's the NBA playoffs, and scoring is hard to come by. It wasn't hard for CJ McCollum in game one, as he led the team in scoring with 26.
Jalen Johnson added 23 points, but conversely, for the Knicks, Jalen Brunson and Karl Anthony-Towns combined for 53 points.
A seven-game series is long, and if the Hawks can take game two, all of a sudden they might have a slight advantage with the series, then shifting to State Farm Arena for games 3 & 4.