Game Day: Knicks @ Hawks, 1/4/21

The Knicks travel to Atlanta to face the revamped Hawks for the first time this season. Can New York claw their way over .500 for the first time in this young season? Or will Trae Young and the injury-depleted Hawks beat them up? Jon Schulman gets you ready for the game.

Rendezvous in Atlanta. Julius Randle and the Knicks set their sights on Trae Young’s Hawks. Sporting the second best offensive rating in the league at 116.7, according to NBA.com, the Knicks should have their work cut out for them on that end against Atlanta. The season is still fresh, but only the Bucks have a better ORTG. Ah yes, those Bucks.

Regretting not waiting for the 2021 free agency already https://t.co/Htrz10vlAh

— The Strickland (@TheStrickland) December 28, 2020

After a loss to the Cavs in a defensive gem on Saturday (ah yes, those Cavs), maybe Atlanta will be looking to take out their frustrations on the Knicks, currently sporting 105.5 Def Rtg, the eighth-best mark in the league, according to NBA Stats. Not quite as good as Cleveland (third at 101.8).

Matchups

In this year’s truncated offseason, Atlanta’s GM Travis Schlenk went on a mini spending spree. A bold attempt to add depth up and down the roster while pushing for the playoffs. The East is big, but there is certainly a shot to make some noise, and with any luck, the COVID vaccine will get them some gate receipts. Need that playoff Rooster in a Hawk outfit.

Signings be damned, the Hawks are mostly running with the players they had before the draft and free agency. Much like the Knicks, the injury list is pretty thick for Atlanta. Newbies Danilo Gallinari, Rajon Rondo, Tony Snell, and Onyeka Okongwu and oldie Kevin Huerter are either out or unlikley.

Meanwhile, the Knicks won’t have Frank Ntilikina, Alec Burks, or Obi Toppin, with Kevin Knox considered probable.

Quick study

I know this new and improved Julius Randle is an exciting menace, but is there anyone keeping you on the edge of your seat more than young Immanuel Quickley? Already galvanizing the second unit, it seems like it’s just a matter of time before he flexes his way into the starting lineup. Doing so many of the little things that make a pro’s pro, he is almost an essential player on the floor. He may even bare a certain kind of resemblance to one of his adversaries tonight.

Quickley has a 6.6% FFLD% (a measure of non-shooting fouls drawn per team play) per @cleantheglass.

He hasn't played enough minutes to qualify for the CTG leaderboard, but on that leaderboard, only Jokic - 9% - has a higher knack for foul drawing. Number 2 is at 4.8%. pic.twitter.com/31Kb9xgheK

— Big Apple Thibodalorians (@Knicks_Nuance) January 3, 2021

With no Ntilikina, it will be fun to see IQ get some reps on defense against an elite offensive generator. Trae Young is a significantly different bird to TJ McConnell. You can’t go under even if you see a screen coming 35 feet from the cup. The big question will be if Immanuel’s exuberance will work against him with Young’s cool, calm.

IQ floaters are so beautiful pic.twitter.com/1DI3BGARRz

— The Strickland (@TheStrickland) January 3, 2021

Good news, Strickerbockers. As much as I feel like this team has turned a corner, I don’t think they’ve gotten out of what has become a fairly rough NBA neighborhood. Gonna need more evidence!
Knicks by -4

Cold Down Music

Early returns on this year have been upsetting. Missing my friends, I love them very much. RIP, Jerry.