Atlanta Hawks: Which potential matchup would be better in round one.
Atlanta Hawks more preferred opponent: The New York Knicks
Despite losing the season series, the Hawks would much prefer to come up against the New York Knicks. The thing is that playoff basketball is different from regular season basketball, you see it every year.
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The pressure each player is put under is from the opposition, from the coaching staff, and from themselves is intense. It is pressure like no other. You do not know how you are going to respond until you experience it. This is why the Hawks would prefer to play the Knicks.
The Knicks are reasonably reliant on Julius Randle for their offense. The thing is that Randle has never played a postseason minute. There is no telling how his game will translate in the playoffs. R.J. Barrett is only a rookie so he is in the same position.
Derrick Rose has played in nine postseason’s and is yet to make it out of the first round. The Hawks have a number of veterans who have played a lot of postseason basketball. Danilo Gallinari, Clint Capela, Solomon Hill, and Lou Williams can help lead the Hawks’ younger stars through the highs and lows of playoff basketball.
dark. Next. Revisiting the Luka Doncic/Trae Young trade
Doing this against a team who is also finding their way in the postseason should be easier than the battle-hardened Heat.