Knicks Regular Season Performance and Playoff Expectations
The Knicks had a decent regular season, but it didn’t exactly carry weight. Now, the real challenge begins, as the team’s ownership has set a clear standard for what constitutes success.
Josh Hart is on the same page.
“Honestly, I didn’t have expectations coming in. We made the playoffs and won 50 games, which is great. But we’re aware that we’ll be assessed on our future performance, so we kept our expectations in check,” Hart mentioned, emphasizing his primary goal was just to reach the playoffs.
With the playoffs underway, the Knicks are gearing up to compete against the surging Hawks in the first round of the Eastern Conference, starting with Game 1 at Madison Square Garden on Saturday. Hart is hopeful that the home-court advantage will play a role.
“The atmosphere during the regular season is awesome, but playoff energy? That’s a whole other level,” he shared. “Fans are really excited, and the weather is nice, which adds to the enthusiasm. Everyone wants to come out and support us, and we definitely need that right now.”
Facing one of the league’s hottest teams, Hart is preparing for a tough matchup. Atlanta, despite being the No. 6 seed, enters the series with an impressive 19-5 record.
Jalen Johnson from the Hawks has made quite an impact this season, averaging 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists. While OG Anunoby typically guards the wings, Hart took on much of Johnson’s challenge in their last encounter, which resulted in a Knicks victory back on April 6 in Atlanta.
“Jalen is a fantastic player and has earned a lot of accolades this year. He has played a key role in their late-season surge,” said coach Mike Brown. “In the last game, Josh matched up with him more than OG did. It’s really a team effort at the end of the day.”
Hart was effective defensively, limiting Johnson to just 2-of-7 shooting when he was matched up with him. Overall, Johnson went 8-of-19 with five turnovers in that game.
As for Saturday’s game, there’s some uncertainty about how much defensive responsibility Hart will carry. However, he knows how critical it is to stay engaged on that end of the court.
“What I’m most proud of this season is my improved focus on the next play. If your shot isn’t falling, what else can you do for the team?” Hart reflected. “We need to find ways to energize the game and help our teammates succeed.”
“By doing that, we can recover from a bad play or quarter, bounce back a bit better. So yeah, we’ve had a solid season, but it’s just the beginning.”
