The Knicks faced a disappointing Sunday, losing two significant things.
After their final regular-season game, which didn’t hold much meaning, they discovered they’d be going up against the Hawks in the first round, instead of the Raptors.
This matchup looks tougher for the Knicks. They managed to win two closely contested games against the Hawks during the regular season but also suffered a significant home loss. At points, they seemed to struggle against Atlanta’s defense.
In contrast, the Knicks have been dominant against the Raptors, sweeping them with a 4-0 record this season. It seemed likely they could finish off Toronto in five games.
Finishing the season with a 53-29 record after their 110-96 loss to the Hornets, the Knicks still hold a favored position against the Hawks, though this series will be more challenging.
Interestingly, the Hawks appeared eager for this matchup, resting their key players during their blowout loss to the Heat. Had they defeated Miami, they would have faced the Cavaliers instead.
At least one thing’s clear: the Hawks aren’t intimidated by the Knicks.
The upcoming Atlanta-New York series harks back to their 2021 first-round meeting and required some unexpected outcomes elsewhere in the league.
The Celtics, secure in their No. 2 seed, narrowly beat the Magic 113-108. As a result, both teams ended up tied for fifth in the Eastern Conference, with the Raptors claiming that position in the tiebreaker based on head-to-head performance.
This might give the Celtics an edge, especially if the Knicks find themselves in a more difficult first-round matchup. These two teams could easily meet in the second round.
Before the Sunday results, the Knicks knew they were locked into the No. 3 seed, prompting them to rest most of their playoff rotation. Mikal Bridges was the only regular starter on the floor, keeping up his streak for 23 seconds.
On the court, Deuce McBride managed to score 21 points, and Jordan Clarkson added 2 points in his 15 minutes of play.
But for the Knicks, the more pressing concern was what was happening beyond Madison Square Garden.
Coach Mike Brown opted to wait for news about their playoff opponent rather than obsess over score updates.
“Just wait. You might hear something after all,” Brown remarked. “In the end, I firmly believe you shouldn’t try to manipulate the basketball gods. Whatever’s meant to happen will happen.”
Regardless, the Knicks are already preparing by evaluating potential playoff opponents.
“Our staff has done an excellent job throughout the year,” Brown noted. “We’ve assigned players on both sides to scout, and our senior scouts are doing a commendable job as well.”
