[ IMAGES: Images ON turn off | ACCOUNT: User Status is LOCKED why? ]

GameThread: Knicks-Atlanta playoffs!!!! 4/18 6pm on Prime
Author Thread
martin
Posts: 79760
Alba Posts: 108
Joined: 7/24/2001
Member: #2
USA
4/15/2026  10:10 AM    LAST EDITED: 4/15/2026  10:14 AM

Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
AUTOADVERT
martin
Posts: 79760
Alba Posts: 108
Joined: 7/24/2001
Member: #2
USA
4/15/2026  10:10 AM
Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
martin
Posts: 79760
Alba Posts: 108
Joined: 7/24/2001
Member: #2
USA
4/15/2026  10:12 AM
Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
martin
Posts: 79760
Alba Posts: 108
Joined: 7/24/2001
Member: #2
USA
4/15/2026  10:13 AM
Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
martin
Posts: 79760
Alba Posts: 108
Joined: 7/24/2001
Member: #2
USA
4/15/2026  10:14 AM    LAST EDITED: 4/15/2026  10:15 AM

Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
martin
Posts: 79760
Alba Posts: 108
Joined: 7/24/2001
Member: #2
USA
4/15/2026  10:47 AM
https://sny.tv/articles/knicks-playoff-mailbag-begley-hawks-041426

Hart to the bench is a no-brainer. Would rather see Mo or Mitch start, plus they would show more life at the jump. -- @bobtabaske

I’ve been asking people both around the Knicks and with other teams about the Knicks starting lineup, specifically about Josh Hart’s role in it. Based on those conversations and based on what I’ve seen since Hart has been in New York, my answer to the question above is: the Knicks are at their best with Hart in the starting lineup.

Here are some points made by people in the league whose eye/evaluation I trust:

BALL-HANDLING: If you take Hart out of the starting lineup, who is the secondary ball-handler in the starting lineup? Unless you put Jose Alvarado or Tyler Kolek in the starting lineup, you are taking the best secondary ball-handler out of the unit and replacing him with someone who is less adept at operating as a dribbler. Maybe you argue that Miles McBride can adequately replace Hart as a ball-handler while also improving the starting five.

SHOT DISTRIBUTION: Hart doesn’t need to score to impact the game. This is one of the reasons why he’s a good fit for the lineup. If you replace him with McBride or Landry Shamet, how many shot attempts will either player get? Are you hurting yourself by taking shots away from a player who gives you scoring off the bench? That’s the way I see it playing out.

SCREENING: Hart is the best screener in the starting lineup. That is an overlooked part of the game that is pivotal in today’s NBA. As noted above, he doesn’t need the ball to be effective. He doesn’t want the ball, so his play won’t be impacted by his own field-goal attempts. It’s obvious to say that the lineup works well when Hart is hitting his threes (he’s been hitting them at a high level this season). But even if Hart isn’t knocking down threes at a high level, the Knicks can take advantage of defenders playing off Hart by having him set screens when he’s not being guarded. Hart setting a screen in that scenario forces his defender to scramble and can give the Knicks distinct advantages in the half-court.

Maybe I’m wrong, but that’s why I believe Hart should remain in the lineup. As Mike Brown noted in a recent news conference, he did consider changing the lineup at some point later in the season. But he ultimately decided against it. I think it was the right call. If I end up being wrong, feel free to call me out on it.

Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
SergioNYK
Posts: 22901
Alba Posts: 0
Joined: 10/8/2002
Member: #333
USA
4/15/2026  11:58 AM
Anyone going to the game?
SergioNYK
Posts: 22901
Alba Posts: 0
Joined: 10/8/2002
Member: #333
USA
4/15/2026  12:04 PM
G1 vs Hawks L
G2 vs Hawks W
G3 at Hawks W
G4 at Hawks L
G5 vs Hawks W
G6 at Hawks L
G7 vs Hawks W

Knicks in 7

jskinny35
Posts: 21637
Alba Posts: 0
Joined: 6/27/2005
Member: #928
USA
4/15/2026  12:33 PM
I agree a split at MSG for the first two games and likely a split on the road. Series will start in game 5 and whoever takes that one should win the series. I do think the Knicks will figure it out if Brunson moves toward facilitating more when Daniels tries to smother him (vs hero ball). Now if/when they play the Celtics in the next round I think Brunson will likc his chops and do his thing!
martin
Posts: 79760
Alba Posts: 108
Joined: 7/24/2001
Member: #2
USA
4/16/2026  9:54 AM    LAST EDITED: 4/16/2026  9:55 AM
SergioNYK wrote:G1 vs Hawks L
G2 vs Hawks W
G3 at Hawks W
G4 at Hawks L
G5 vs Hawks W
G6 at Hawks L
G7 vs Hawks W

Knicks in 7

Reverse jinx for game 1 and a 4 game sweep, that's what I see

Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
martin
Posts: 79760
Alba Posts: 108
Joined: 7/24/2001
Member: #2
USA
4/16/2026  9:55 AM
Prediction time: Knicks in 5
Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
SergioNYK
Posts: 22901
Alba Posts: 0
Joined: 10/8/2002
Member: #333
USA
4/16/2026  10:07 AM
martin wrote:Prediction time: Knicks in 5

Hope you're right but I don't see how this will be a short series. Hawks had the 3rd best record since the All-Star break (20-6) and were the 6th best three point shooting team (made and percentage) in that span and defending the three is one of our biggest weakness. And it took two Josh Hart threes to beat them last week. Not to mention this Knicks team has not yet proven they can be trusted. I fully expect to win this series but it's not going to be easy.

martin
Posts: 79760
Alba Posts: 108
Joined: 7/24/2001
Member: #2
USA
4/16/2026  10:18 AM
Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
SergioNYK
Posts: 22901
Alba Posts: 0
Joined: 10/8/2002
Member: #333
USA
4/16/2026  10:25 AM
martin wrote:

That's a big bonus for us! Tony Bradley is awful!

martin
Posts: 79760
Alba Posts: 108
Joined: 7/24/2001
Member: #2
USA
4/16/2026  3:11 PM
Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
martin
Posts: 79760
Alba Posts: 108
Joined: 7/24/2001
Member: #2
USA
4/16/2026  3:15 PM
Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
martin
Posts: 79760
Alba Posts: 108
Joined: 7/24/2001
Member: #2
USA
4/16/2026  3:18 PM
Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
ramtour420
Posts: 26757
Alba Posts: 1
Joined: 3/19/2007
Member: #1388
Russian Federation
4/16/2026  6:02 PM
I am Soo pumped for this!!
Everything you have ever wanted is on the other side of fear- George Adair
martin
Posts: 79760
Alba Posts: 108
Joined: 7/24/2001
Member: #2
USA
4/16/2026  7:08 PM
Official sponsor of the PURE KNICKS LOVE Program
ramtour420
Posts: 26757
Alba Posts: 1
Joined: 3/19/2007
Member: #1388
Russian Federation
4/16/2026  7:39 PM
martin wrote:

What is this man doing on those rocks with those ankles of his...smh. Shouldn't he be in a gym somewhere shooting free throws?

Everything you have ever wanted is on the other side of fear- George Adair
GameThread: Knicks-Atlanta playoffs!!!! 4/18 6pm on Prime

©2001-2025 ultimateknicks.comm All rights reserved. About Us.
This site is not affiliated with the NY Knicks or the National Basketball Association in any way.
You may visit the official NY Knicks web site by clicking here.

All times (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time.

Terms of Use and Privacy Policy