The Hawks beat the Knicks in Game Two. Here are three observations from their win.
The Atlanta Hawks are easy to root for. How could you not love this team? The Hawks traded their franchise player this year. For most teams, that means a few seasons in the doldrums. The Hawks were not supposed to be good again for a while, but they didn't care what they were supposed to do.
Now, we're here. The Hawks have tied their first-round series 1-1 against the New York Knicks at a game apiece. They have a real chance to pull off an upset.
Here are three observations from their Game 2 victory.
1. The Hawks need more Jalen Johnson
It was thrilling to see the Hawks win this game, but one wishes they'd leaned more on their franchise player to do it.
Johnson was relatively quiet. He finished with 17 points on 6-for-12 shooting and 3 assists, along with 3 turnovers. Johnson was not the high usage point forward that Hawks fans have fallen in love with throughout 2025-26.
That's fine - for a game. If anything, it's a credit to this roster that they can beat a talented Knicks team with a mediocre game from their best player. Still, the Hawks should be looking to win games while running the offense through the player they intend to build around:
Which feels like a perfect segue into the next observation.
2. CJ McCollum is underrated
Although don't get the wrong idea: There was nothing wrong with how much McCollum contributed to the Hawks on Monday.
The future only matters so much in the thick of the playoffs. Teams will win however they can. So, Hawks fans must appreciate the 32 points on 12-of-22 shooting that McCollum contributed in Atlanta's 107-106 victory.
It's not as if McCollum hasn't been performing. He averaged 18.7 points per game while shooting 37.5% from deep in 2025-26. McCollum has always been a certified bucket, and fans seemed to forget about him while he was stranded on a tanking Wizards team.
Now, he's making sure everyone remembers.
3. Zaccharie Risacher is trending down
The first point was neutral, and the second was positive. Now, it's time for a distinctly negative observation.
It would be impossible to discuss Risacher's game last night. He didn't play. Risacher received the dreaded Did Not Play - Coach's Decision.
Nobody should blame the coaching staff. Risacher has not contributed while on the floor. Unfortunately, it's hard to deny that he's trending towards being one of the very worst number one picks in NBA history.
Luckily, the Hawks have given their fans a lot to root for otherwise.