Knicks vs. Hawks

Christmas in New York is supposed to be magical, right? Not for basketball fans. Unless you’re a Brooklyn Nets fan, this holiday season has been anything but pleasant. The New York Knicks currently rank 12th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 14-17. On Christmas day they face the Atlanta Hawks who are currently ranked 11th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 14-15 Last year, this was the match-up of the first round of the playoffs where, unfortunately, the Hawks got the last laugh. This year, however, the Knicks were able to beat the Hawks with their most impressive defensive performance of the season, but will it be enough for another Christmas miracle? 

The Hawks can’t handle Julius Randle— or maybe they can considering his inconsistent shooting and short temper. Last year Randle received the award for Most Improved Player as he led a young Knick team to the playoffs for the first time since 2013. In order to show that they can beat this Hawks team, Randle needs to step it up and be more consistent because sleeping in the paint isn’t going to cut it. As the leader of the team, he cannot continue to fall short offensively, especially late in the 4th quarter. Although we love our king, R.J. Barrett, he needs to hit his shots. While his defense is impeccable, the Hawks are a high-scoring team and the Knicks need Barrett to be an efficient scorer to win. Knicks small forward, Evan Fournier also has similar struggles and must be cautious of his shot selections. Considering he was brought onto the team as an offensive weapon, we know he is capable of taking over the game. As per usual, Alec Burks will need to start over Kemba Walker and play a significant role in the rotation as the facilitator of the offense.

In order to stop Trae Young, the defense also needs to be locked in with the help of Immanuel Quickley. During their last match-up on November 27, Trae Young scored 33 points and although the Knicks were able to win, they cannot afford for Young to get hot. Speaking of defense, let’s not forget that no one’s stopping Obi Toppin. Head coach Tom Thibodeau needs to play Toppin more throughout the season, and especially this game, because of the fire he brings to the court. Mitchell Robinson preventing Clint Capela from scoring in the paint and getting rebounds will also be an important factor, considering Capela had 22 rebounds last game. 

While the individual roles of these players are important, the team needs to start playing like a cohesive group. Their chemistry has been jeopardized with squabbles between players like Fournier and Randle in the middle of the court. The Knicks also find themselves trailing very early in the games, causing them to waste too much energy in playing catch-up. Starting the game off strong to set the tone against an explosive Atlanta team will give them the momentum and spark they need to win, especially with a home-court advantage. However, this year the Knicks have not been playing well in the Garden with a record of 5-to-10 as opposed to their away record of 8-to-6. Veterans like former MVP Derrick Rose and Taj Gibson need to bring unity to this young team in order to guide them out of this early-season slump.

Our Wish: 

Over the years, we’ve received a lot of great Christmas gifts, but it would take a true Christmas miracle for a Knicks win. From there, hopefully, they can turn the season around and start a winning streak. #BINGBONG.

UPDATE: The following players are in health and safety protocols: R.J. Barrett (Knicks), Immanuel Quickley (Knicks), Clint Capela (Hawks), and Trae Young (Hawks). Their status for the game has yet to be determined.