Struggles Continue for Hawks’ Jalen Johnson Against Knicks

The ongoing challenges the Knicks face in guarding Hawks guard CJ McCollum have grabbed headlines, but not much attention has been directed toward Atlanta’s standout player, Jalen Johnson.

Why? Well, he seems to be flying under the radar.

At 6-foot-8, Johnson had an impressive season, leading the Hawks with averages of 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists. For a 24-year-old, this was a significant breakthrough.

However, that momentum hasn’t quite translated into the playoffs. So far, he’s been limited by the Knicks’ defense, putting up just 19.5 points, 7 rebounds, and 4.8 assists across the first four games of the series.

His shooting has been less than stellar, hitting only 41.9 percent from the field and a disappointing 28.6 percent from beyond the arc.

In Game 5, the Knicks secured a decisive 126-97 victory, putting them ahead 3-2 in the series. Unfortunately for Johnson, his struggles persisted; he managed 18 points but shot 7-of-15.

Johnson reflected, saying, “It’s a lot more physical. They let more go. You don’t get called as often, so you just have to adjust and keep pushing through the intensity.” It’s a learning curve, especially when you’re going the full 48 minutes on the court.

The Knicks effectively neutralized him during their Game 4 dominance, restricting Johnson to just 14 points on 4-of-12 shooting. This performance was crucial in keeping the Hawks at their lowest output of the series, with only 98 points—something that hadn’t happened since late March.

After that crushing defeat, Johnson candidly admitted, “I think they just punked us. We couldn’t match their energy right from the start. We need to step it up and match their intensity.” He pointed to teammate Josh Hart’s energy as being particularly vital in that fight.

This is uncharted territory for Johnson, as it marks his first playoff start.

“The hurdles he faced throughout the season are why he has made it this far,” Hawks head coach Quin Snyder remarked. “The playoffs are just a continuation. It’s about not focusing on whether shots go in or not. He was taking good shots—some hit, others missed. The key is to keep attacking.”