Believe it or not, the Hawks and Knicks were in an intense series battle just a few days ago. Atlanta actually led 2-1 before New York flipped a switch, emerging victorious in three straight. It didn't just come out of nowhere, either. That switch they flipped had everything to do with their reformed attack.
It's a bit surprising it even took this long for them to realize they needed to run their offense through their bigs. Atlanta was shorthanded in the frontcourt entering this series, but even if they weren't, New York had the clear paint advantage. Once they came to this realization, there wasn't much the Hawks could counter with.
The battle of the bigs couldn't have been more lopsided
Onyeka Okongwu and Mo Gueye vs. Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson. Atlanta was fighting an uphill battle all series. Stealing those two games might've been a miracle, all things considered. Not only was New York's center room greater in size, but they each possess unique skillsets, forcing the underdogs to stay loose.
They had to be prepared for anything, because they have so many ways they can attack. Yes, they can go through their bigs and be incredibly effective, but they also have one of the most dangerous guard and wing rooms in the league. They truly have a contending roster from front to back.
Snyder: "I thought [New York's] physicality made it hard for us ... even as the series progressed, you could see what a really good team they are."
— Zach Langley (@ZachLangleyNBA) May 1, 2026
That was on full display early in the series. They weren't going through their bigs as much, but they were still operating just fine. Atlanta picked up two wins, of course, but they were as narrow as they could be. The adjustment took them to the next level.
In a pivotal Game Four in Atlanta, New York ran away with the win, and Karl-Anthony Towns recorded an impressive triple-double. It was no coincidence, either. Head Coach Mike Brown didn't hint at it much, but it was clear from the moment the game started that they'd be running much of their offense through KAT. The gamble paid off.
Atlanta will need to get bigger in whatever moves they make this summer
The good thing about being eliminated is that it opens up a world of possibilities for what the roster could look like the next time they hit the floor. It could be close to the same, or it could be completely different. Fans won't know until the first move is made.
One thing's for sure, though. They don't ever need to get bullied like they did in the Knicks series again. They were outmanned on a national stage. Sometimes, that's all a general manager needs to see before making the changes fans have been clamoring for since the start of an era.
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