NBA Playoff preview: NYK/ATL, TOR/CLE
It ain't cold outside anymore, indoor sports heating up.
NO. 3 VS. NO. 6
NEW YORK KNICKS
No. 3 seed, 53-29, fifth in Net Rating, fourth-slowest pace, No. 3 in offense, No. 7 in defense.
C: Karl-Anthony Towns – outclassing an Atlanta upstart in five games wouldn't stop the Shaqtractors, but it would be a nice start to a long run. The Hawks want to steal the ball and KAT recognized as much the last time the teams played, he can score if he's patient and he can find scores for teammates if he's not too patient.
F: Josh Hart – 11 fewer contests in 2025-26, 900 fewer minutes. Opponents caught up to the Knicks in the playoffs in previous seasons, it might be the other way around in 2026, my goodness, imagine Josh Hart with fresh legs. Limited travel, proper space between performances, better basketball, Shaq-a-Roni.
F/G: OG Anunoby – depending on how tall you think Amen Thompson is, OG is the shortest guy among this year's top 20 dunkers (OG is No. 9). Jumper looks smoother, less aimed, although that's probably some inevitability bias because it goes in a tiny bit more (38 percent from deep, a few ticks up on free throws, 44 percent from the corners). So the stats don't bear it out, and I probably based it off watching him hit some lone long two-pointer which impressed me. At least I'm overrating a nice thing.
F/G: Mikal Bridges – has 554 consecutive games to go to beat A.C. Green's NBA record and, trust me, the Knicks will do everything they can to make sure Mikal Bridges appears in every one of them. This plan goes back 30 years.
Allegedly. Admittedly, what follows are theories.
