The Knicks’ tactical control against the Hawks

Someone said the Knicks were “exactly where they wanted to be” after stealing back home-court advantage and tying the series in Atlanta against the Hawks. The outcome of the pivotal Game 5 seemed to confirm it.

To understand whether the series is headed toward a closeout in the next game in Georgia – or whether Quin Snyder’s group still has a path to force Game 7 at Madison Square Garden – it’s necessary to look at the successful adjustments made by coach Brown for New York, along with the trends this matchup has revealed.

OG Anunoby has been essential

With a struggling Bridges and several teammates potentially neutralized by Atlanta’s defensive personnel, OG Anunoby has emerged as the most important player of the series for New York for two reasons.

The first is his offensive consistency, which, paired with his well-known defensive reliability, has made him a steady anchor during the ups and downs experienced by Jalen Brunson and company.

The second is rebounding. If OG averaged around five boards during the regular season, he has doubled that number in this first-round matchup. A critical factor in slowing down Atlanta’s offense, which thrives in transition.

Over the last two games of the series, the Hawks have struggled to generate second-chance points and fast-break opportunities, in large part because of Anunoby’s presence on the glass.

The impact of Jalen Brunson

Another reason for New York’s advantage has been ball security, limiting the turnover opportunities created by Atlanta’s elite point-of-attack defenders.

To make that happen, coach Brown had to reshuffle the offense with the goal of making Brunson sustainable. He remains the most important player on the roster, but had been bottled up by the rotating guard tandem of Daniels and Alexander-Walker.

Starting in Game 3, the former Maverick was progressively moved farther away from the ball, often using screening action and Karl-Anthony Towns as a facilitator – a shift highlighted by Towns’ triple-double in Game 4.

In Game 5, the increased number of off-ball actions got Brunson into rhythm early and kept him there, resulting in an efficient and highly productive performance. His 39 points suggest Quin Snyder may need more adjustments – or the series could end in Atlanta.

The Hawks’ starting five isn’t working

One of the expected advantages entering the series was Atlanta’s projected net rating edge with its starting lineup of Alexander-Walker, McCollum, Daniels, Johnson, and Okongwu compared to New York’s unit.

Instead, through the first five games, the Hawks’ top lineup has posted a negative net rating, and Game 5 clearly exposed the structural issues.

Atlanta has been unable to contain Towns when he attacks with the ball from beyond the arc (even after assigning Daniels to him in Game 5). On the other end, Johnson has been neutralized by Hart and by the limited transition chances New York has allowed.

Not coincidentally, the inconsistent impact of Kuminga off the bench has mirrored the results: when he has played well, the Hawks have won; when he hasn’t, victories have gone to the Knicks.

What can the Hawks do?

To force Game 7, Atlanta must fix both the recent and long-term issues exposed in the series.

Recovering the scoring of Jalen Johnson and his ability to get to the rim appears to be the first priority, allowing the Hawks to run again and attack before the Knicks’ defense gets set.

Limiting McBride (who in Game 5 also limited himself) and keeping Bridges out of offensive rhythm as much as possible could help Snyder reduce the rebounding deficit.

Atlanta also needs more consistency from Kuminga, who has been asked to provide stability despite his naturally streaky game.