Tony Bradley didn’t see much playing time for the Pacers in last year’s playoffs, only stepping onto the court in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Still, he watched Tyrese Haliburton make a jaw-dropping last-second shot that forced overtime in Game 1 against the Knicks. It was, you know, quite something to see how the Knicks let a double-digit lead slip away and how that momentum impacted the following game, which Indiana ended up winning.
So, now as the backup center for the Hawks, Bradley understands the significance of taking the first game to set the tone. Atlanta will get that chance at Madison Square Garden when the series kicks off on Saturday.
“I think it’s really crucial to come out strong,” he told reporters in Atlanta on Thursday. He also noted that Haliburton’s shot “definitely” took the wind out of the Knicks’ sails.
Bradley, who was a first-round draft pick by the Lakers in 2017, was released by the Pacers in January before finishing his contract. The Hawks picked him up this month after a couple of 10-day contracts with Indiana, following an injury to backup center Jock Landale.
Landale is out for at least the opening game due to a sprained right ankle, which leaves some uncertainty about how much Bradley will be involved against the Knicks. In the three regular season matchups against Atlanta, he averaged 11.3 minutes, 3.7 points, and 3 rebounds. Overall, this season, he’s been averaging 4.0 points and 2.8 rebounds over 10.9 minutes per game.
But Bradley knows firsthand what it takes to get a win against the Knicks. He’s aware of the home crowd’s intensity, particularly at the start of a playoff series. “Their fans can be quite intimidating,” he mentioned, “but it’s also a lot of fun.”
On another note, Josh Hart had a clear stance when asked about the lessons from their third regular-season game against the Hawks. “Nothing,” he stated outright, noting that they were missing key players like Karl-Anthony Towns, and he himself sat out part of the season.
“Honestly, regular-season games don’t carry weight in this context,” Hart explained. He emphasized the unpredictability of lineups and schedules during the season, suggesting that they focus more on the current team’s strengths.
Meanwhile, Knicks head coach Mike Brown is gearing up for a strategic battle against Hawks coach Quin Snyder, who used to be part of Brown’s staff with the Lakers back in 2011-12. Brown isn’t rushing to make plans too far in advance. “It’s just one day at a time,” he said. His priority is to maintain focus and reinforce team strengths without getting sidetracked by hypothetical scenarios.
