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2026 NBA Playoffs Round 1: Knicks vs. Hawks Game 2 – “Hanging With” Doesn’t Mean BEATING

The Knicks host the Atlanta Hawks for Game 2 of their first round, best of seven series, and the media has been talking about how the Hawks were able to “hang with” the Knicks in Game 1.

And, to a certain extent, that’s true, but the fact of the matter is that the Hawks just don’t have enough talent. They need to have great games from Jalen Johnson, CJ McCollum AND Nickeil Alexander-Walker to have a chance in this one. If even ONE of them has an off game, they’re screwed. They have no real bench to speak of. Their best defender is so bad on offense that he legitimately airballed both a three pointer AND A FLOATER last night.

So yes, their starters are good enough that they can “hang” with the Knicks, but they can’t get over the hump when the Knicks are just way too talented and big for them.

The Hawks will have cap room and a lottery pick, so maybe they’ll be better next year, but they’re not ready for prime time yet.

Let’s go, Knicks!

88 replies on “2026 NBA Playoffs Round 1: Knicks vs. Hawks Game 2 – “Hanging With” Doesn’t Mean BEATING”

Deuce-Deuce!

I even found the game first time I looked. This streaming stuff is easy!

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Great start. Not at all on the regular season zombie state to start the games, it’s good to see.

Except for the wide open Okongwu 3pter Knicks defense has been excellent to start the game.

Brunson is drunk. They would be ahead by double digits if he was just being normal.

Having said that Daniels is fouling the shit out of Brunson on every possession he’s guarding him.

Noah Eagle referencing Mikal’s “aggressive nature” is a tell. Watching his first Knicks game.

Someone had a great line that Dyson Daniels three point attempts should be categorized as “turnovers.”

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By Post Author

Honestly felt like the Knicks should be up by more. But really nice quarter. The defense has been so good.

I was trying to get a 5th guy for my all nba “prick” team…alas…Dyson Daniels….comes to the rescue…to join Embiid…Bane…Draymond…and Dillon Brooks

Didn’t know you could get a T if the nuts don’t touch the head

T bagging is complicated

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Brown barely plays non-Brunson/non-KAT lineups the whole season, and decides to do it here. WTF, man.

Mike browns coaching like an idiot

And marechal he was doing this to end the season , but didn’t believe he would do this in the playoffs.

The non-Brunson/KAT lineup was actually pretty good for us in game 1. Clock seemed to strike midnight on it tonight.

Good D by KAT, but I have no idea what NAW was thinking there.

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Brunson had a free lane, and he kicked out to OG instead for the three. Weird choice.

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And why didn’t they challenge that call. Brunson was there first.

I think MB decided to keep the challenges, not that he wouldn’t think it’d be overturned.

I know it meant three fouls on Daniels, but come on, Snyder, how do you challenge that?

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NAW’s decision making has been TERRIBLE. I thought he was trying to get KAT to foul him, but he instead pulled back to take a fugly shot. So dumb.

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Yeah despite a pretty poor 2nd quarter it’s actually pretty nice to be up 7 at halftime.

Given how much better the Hawks are shooting from deep and from the line, having a 7 point lead here is a minor miracle.

I have always liked CJ so not going to kill him now. I like the way we have responded to every run.

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KAT only 3 shots, lousy half by Cap, yet still up 7. Have to get KAT more involved on offense. also 12-19 on FTs no bueno.

KAT with only 3 shots is a big problem. And he had the 5 on him most of the time.

KAT with only 3 shots is a big problem. And he had the 5 on him most of the time.</blockquote
It’s alarming especially when the team should know that’s an advantage for KAT. Hard to not be upset at times if you’re him

Heard the first quarter in the car on the way home and watched the second which was very poor. The lineup was weird, and Deuce can’t run the point. Period. The team got totally disorganized and hence the 11-2 Hawks run. Brown kept this going for way too long before putting Alvarado in. You can’t do that! It’s the f-g playoffs! Atlanta started believing and the Knicks never got into a good rhythm after that. Brunson did not have a good first half but I am not concerned. As long as he wakes up in the fourth.

I get that Brown changed the rotation to start the second with Mitch to avoid hack-a-Mitch. But if you are doing that, also take Brunson out of the game a little earlier so that he can play with Mitch. Basically Brunson should play the whole second quarter rather than the whole first quarter.

Deuce can’t run the point. Period.

That’s been known for years. Not sure why it’s even tried anymore.

Positives for us: we destroyed them on the boards, put up 8 more shots than them (unlike game 1), and shut down Jalen Johnson. We need to do the same to CJ McCollum in the second half.

One of those games where the Knicks do two incredibly stupid things, then two brilliant things. A bit exhausting.

This whole series KAT thinks he’s passing to Usain Bolt

He believes in his teammates 😉

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One of those games where the Knicks do two incredibly stupid things, then two brilliant things. A bit exhausting.

Who doesn’t like rollercoasters? 😀

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