Comments on: 2025-26 Game Thread: Knicks @ Hawks

By: Z-man

Z-man — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 04:02:08 +0000

Director, I agree that Brunson is a great closer, and as good or better than anyone in the EC in that specific regard. But it’s not always the closer that wins those games, and not always those games that turn a series.

In general, it takes a lot more than having the best closer to win a 7-game series, especially when said closer is a detriment on the defensive end.

We won tonight because Atlanta just isn’t that good, even beyond the “no closer” issue. I don’t think Quin Snyder is a particularly good coach either. For example, a smaller team like theirs should definitely have gone to hack-a-Mitch, at least rather than letting him score in the paint.

By: Director NYC

Director NYC — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 03:28:26 +0000

Tonight was a perfect example of the difference between a team that has a closer and a team that doesn’t. No amount of analytics can help you.

In every playoff series, there will be 2-4 games that come down to executing in the last 5 minutes. There is no one employed in eastern conference with a demonstrated record of excellence in these situations better than Jalen Brunson.

This is why the expectation of finals or bust is perfectly reasonable goal setting by guitar Jimmy.

By: Knicks 2025

Knicks 2025 — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 03:00:30 +0000

Yeah. Even if we wanted to lose a game to get a more preferred first-round opponent, it looks like it would be difficult to do based on that logjam. We can almost assume that it’s going to come down to what happens on the last day of the regular season, when every team in the NBA plays, including the followng:

Orlando @ Boston
Washington @ Cleveland
Detroit @ Indiana
Atlanta @ Miami
Charlotte @ New York
Milwaukee @ Philadelphia
Brooklyn @ Toronto

By: BigBlueAL

BigBlueAL — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 02:55:53 +0000

At this point best case realistic scenario would be Knicks vs Raptors in the 3/6 matchup and Boston having to play winner of 76ers Hornets in the 7/8 play-in game.

By: Z-man

Z-man — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 02:46:45 +0000

The race for the 5-9 spots in the EC is insane.

By: BigBlueAL

BigBlueAL — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 02:24:37 +0000

According to the Knicks PR Twitter account Mike Brown tied Pat Riley for most wins in 1st season as Knicks head coach with 51. Here’s hoping Brown breaks the record…

By: ess-dog

ess-dog — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 01:57:14 +0000

Mitch with 5 stocks (Towns with 3!)

By: johnlocke

johnlocke — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 01:52:39 +0000

One of the best regulation games of the year in the association!

By: SoNiceWeShowItTwice

SoNiceWeShowItTwice — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 01:44:21 +0000

Impressive win. Every time I count out the captain, he takes command and grabs us from the clutches of defeat.

Hawks are much better without Trae but who’s their go-to down the stretch? They seem confused and hesitant and that was the difference.

By: TNFH

TNFH — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 01:40:36 +0000

That is legitimately the first time in my life one of those freakishly close calls has gone our way.