Setting the tone has been a major point of emphasis for the Atlanta Hawks as they've climbed up the Eastern Conference standings, and now that they're in the postseason, they understand its importance more than ever. Unfortunately for them, though, Game One in New York saw a familiar foe making an early mark. Jalen Brunson could not be contained.
If it wasn't for his early heater, who knows? Maybe the Hawks would've been able to get out to an early advantage and secure a victory. His first quarter dominance wasn't sustainable, and it was evident as New York had to rely on others as the night progressed. It didn't matter in the long run, but the defense played on their lead guard over the course of the game was encouraging.
Dyson Daniels had a great defensive game despite shooting struggles
He was able to do what Atlanta needed most: slow Jalen Brunson down. His first quarter performance was remarkable, and it was clear they needed to adjust to his dominant efforts. He's been in this situation before, and keeping him stabilized was going to be difficult for a young opposing guard.
No task is too large for Daniels, though. After Brunson's 19-point first quarter outburst, he scored nine points on 1/11 from the field. A complete turnaround from his efficient early attack. It wasn't because of lessened volume, but because of an uptick in defensive intensity from not just Daniels, but all of Atlanta's guard depth.
In fact, Brunson only scored one basket all night with Dyson Daniels as his primary defender. Daniels has taken pride in being one of the league's most elite Brunson-defenders, and his prowess was on full display in the first game of the highly-anticipated series.
Per Second Spectrum data, Jalen Brunson scored 2 points in Game 1 when Dyson Daniels was tracked as the primary defender. https://t.co/GNDllMjbm7
— Brad Rowland (@BTRowland) April 19, 2026
The full team's buy-in on the defensive end was the driving force behind their late-season run. Never having a liability on the floor allowed for much more creativity and breathing room to take gambles.
Atlanta's defensive versatility separates them from most of the league
Of course, CJ McCollum isn't known to be an elite defender by any means, but he's done just enough when called upon. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is special on that end, and so is Gabe Vincent. Coach Snyder was aware of the amount of defensive weapons on his roster and used them to his advantage.
The majority of Brunson's first quarter points were a direct result of various screens and switches. While it's an easy way to get hot for a select period of time, the success it brings often isn't sustainable. To no surprise, it wasn't.
Atlanta should look to capitalize off of their impressive defensive performance in Game One. Yes, they lost, but there were too many positive developments to warrant any sort of panic within the organization or fanbase.
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