Hawks’ Quin Snyder dishes on unique challenge Knicks present in first round

NEW YORK – The Atlanta Hawks were playing with house money in Game 4 against the New York Knicks. They had a 2-1 series lead over a group with championship-level expectations, and their turn with home-court advantage wasn’t over.

The Knicks had the awareness that a loss would, by most mathematical measures, effectively begin the end of their season. They played like it.

Karl-Anthony Towns became the fourth player in New York franchise history to record a triple-double in the postseason. Jalen Brunson struggled with turnovers, logging six in comparison to just three assists. But the point guard was also instrumental to the execution of the “flex” action that Atlanta’s defense couldn’t stop all night. OG Anunoby and, to a smaller extent, Mikal Bridges had efficient scoring nights.

The Knicks looked like the deep, versatile, and ultimately threatening playoff team they were assembled to be. Ahead of Game 5 at Madison Square Garden, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder told reporters New York “raised their level” on Saturday night.

“I thought the screens were more physical, and they were further out on the floor. … With this team, I think they’re so good offensively, that you have to be prepared, even within a certain game, to adjust to the game. Because, something you do, you may feel good about in the second quarter. By the end of the third, it’s not working. They can make anything look like it’s not working,” Snyder explained.

New York had to power through several rough patches over the course of the regular season. Their strong finish to the season defensively helped them land the NBA’s seventh-best defensive rating. They have the fourth-best thus far in the postseason.

Punishing teams for taking something away from them offensively and responding accordingly to their adjustments is how they can score regardless of the opponent.

Even after a troublesome start, the Knicks might have a deep run in them after all – if the offense can hold up its end of the bargain.

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