Although the Atlanta Hawks lost Game 4 of their first-round series against the New York Knicks, they left State Farm Arena Saturday night with a moral victory. They know exactly what to do in the second half of the series to defeat their conference rivals, and it starts with Jalen Johnson being the best player on the floor.
A series-altering key for Johnson and the Hawks
It’s evident that the national media were wrong about the series, as both teams have two wins apiece. Even though both teams have defeated each other, NY’s recent victory was the most impressive to date, defeating Atlanta 114-98.
Fans witnessed their beloved Hawks shoot a combined 34-of-83 from the field and commit 18 turnovers. Of course, the final score was devastating for the fans in the arena, but the most disappointing part of the 16-point loss was the performance of Hawks centerpiece Jalen Johnson.
He finished the game with 14 points, three rebounds, and five assists. The most alarming factor, other than his game low -19 +/-, was his abysmal shot diet. Johnson only took 12 shots and made four of them, compared to CJ McCullom, who had 15 shot attempts.
For the third game in a row, McCullom tried to lead his new team to victory as their grizzled veteran. Alas, the 34-year-old emptied the clip, but by the end of the fourth quarter, he was out of ammo, finishing the game with 17 points.
He surely did his part, but if they’re serious about chasing a championship, Johnson must become the best player on the floor. The All-Star has been extremely hesitant all series, and his stats have reflected his underwhelming performance.
Johnson faces significant pressure
Averaging 19.5 points, seven rebounds, and 4.8 assists is certainly a healthy stat line. However, it will not be enough to defeat Jalen Brunson and Karl Anthony Towns. The two superstars have done their part to even the series 2-2, and they will defeat the Hawks if Johnson doesn’t break through.
Knicks Head Coach Mike Brown devised an excellent game plan to stifle Johnson. OG Anunoby and Josh Hart have made Johnson very uncomfortable with physicality. He must match their aggression with his own.
Everything else will fall into place if he’s able to get into a rhythm. His defensive gravity and playmaking ability are major parts of the Hawks' offense. Out of four games, the 24-year-old point forward has only had one game with over five assists.
A simple, strong drive will create opportunities for his teammates and also draw more fouls. He’s only had one game this series with over five free throw attempts, compared to other stars like Jamal Murray and Cade Cunningham, who’ve used the charity stripe multiple times in their 30-point postseason performances.
Johnson's lack of aggression is the only common denominator of their losses to New York. The supporting cast has played their roles, with Jonathan Kuminga averaging 14.5 points and McCullom averaging 24.5 points.
Now, it falls on their young leader to take over in a pivotal Game 5. The national media have hailed Jalen Johnson as an All-NBA caliber talent after dominating the regular season, but now he has to perform when it literally matters the most.
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