The stage is set for the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, and the Atlanta Hawks will be on the biggest stage of them all. Next Saturday, they will fly to New York City to face the Knicks in the legendary Madison Square Garden. Their X-factors for the series are clear.
Opening preview for Knicks vs. HawksÂ
Both teams have developed a rivalry over the last few years, in large part due to Trae Young’s antics in the 2021 Playoffs. Now with new characters on both sides, the fiery rivalry between North & South will be reignited in front of the world.Â
For the Knicks, the game plan is rather simple: Let Jalen Brunson and Karl Anthony Towns work their magic in the pick-and-roll while center Mitchell Robinson uses his size to dominate the post. We saw a similar approach in their last regular-season matchup against the Hawks, where New York won 108-105.
To avoid another loss to their arch nemesis, Quin Snyder must look to Zaccharie Risacher and Jonathan Kuminga to level the playing field with more physicality. New York's stars will be handled by Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander Walker, leaving Atlanta's two international wings to defend New York's snipers from the bench unit. The Knicks have two 3-point marksmen in Miles McBride and Landry Shamet.
Both are shooting around 40 percent from beyond the arc, but Atlanta's athletic wings will offer resistance all series. The pair has formed an excellent tandem in the Hawks' second unit, and Risacher’s shooting, along with Kuminga’s slashing, makes their pairing effective on offense.
Although the young forwards have struggled throughout the season, they’re two of the most athletic players on the roster, and Atlanta will need all hands on deck to advance to the second round.
Atlanta’s X-factors can swing the first round
Having the two international products in the second unit adds more defensive versatility to use against New York. They guarantee 48 minutes of quality defense, and both will play massive roles in nullifying New York’s bench.
The Hawks’ wings will be entrusted to offer resistance all series, climbing over screens and closing out on switches with havoc creation. Not only will they use their wingspans on the perimeter, but also their verticals in the post.Â
With 6-foot-11 Jock Landale suffering a right high ankle sprain against the Orlando Magic on April 1, Kuminga and Risacher will have to crash the glass more than ever. Both have shown the tendency over the last few months of the regular season, so applying more intensity will feel natural to the young Hawks.
Risacher has worked hard to re-establish himself off the bench, while Kuminga continues to find himself after getting traded mid-season. Fans have been highly critical of both players, so this is their chance to prove their value to the city of Atlanta.
It’s an opportunity to lock up their matchups on defense while also outperforming them on the other end. For a team like the Hawks, who’ve adopted a new defense-first playstyle, both players have the potential to be perfect fits long-term. They’ve needed moments like this to prove why, but only time will tell if this is true.Â
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