Is tonight’s game against the Hawks a must-see? Conventionally speaking, far from it.

The Knicks found it difficult to maintain consistency early on. Some nights they appeared impressive and unified, while other nights they were disheveled, stagnant and defensively weak. But everyone, at least the patient fans, knew this would be a work in progress, and it was only six games in. A Wednesday night game in early November shouldn’t carry that much weight. But look at the schedule.

Waiting for the Knicks are the Bucks, Pacers and Sixers. And yes, we are aware that these three teams have a combined record of 5-15. However, this record is not an indication of how good any of these teams can be on any given night.

The Bucks recently lost to the undefeated Cavaliers by just two points despite missing Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Pacers just beat last season’s final two teams, the Celtics and Mavericks, within three games and will likely look to avenge their embarrassing loss to the Knicks a few weeks ago. And the Sixers, seeking revenge themselves, just brought back Paul George and could very well welcome back Joel Embiid when they play the Knicks in their NBA Cup opener.

Additionally, even when the “difficult” stretch of the schedule is over, the Knicks will face a Bulls team followed by back-to-back games against the Nets. Neither team scares anyone, but both have performed above average so far this season, and there’s no guarantee the Knicks will win all of these games.

New York could emerge tested and better in the upcoming phase given their recent success against most of these teams. But it would be their job to take care of business tonight against a rebuilding 3-5 Hawks team. Fortunately for the Knicks, the numbers and matchup suggest they have a good chance of doing so.

Atlanta has had major defensive issues and is coming into the rankings tonight 28 in the league in points given up per game with a whopping 121.9 PPG, and also last in the league in the opponent’s three-point percentage at 39.8%. However, they were much better offensively. They rank in the top 10 in points per game, free throws made per game and assist percentage, but much of that seems to be fueled somewhat by their fast pace (third fastest in the league) as they rank in the bottom Half rank overall offensive rating.

That bodes well for a Knicks team that is the slowest team in the league. If they can control the pace of the game, stay out of foul trouble (something they have been good at) and take advantage of the Hawks’ poor defense, New York should be able to win this game comfortably.

Planned starters

All eyes will be on the point guard matchup as Jalen Brunson takes on Trae Young. The latter produced some decent counting statistics, averaging 23.9 PPG and a league-leading APG of 11. However, he struggled with efficiency, shooting just 39.2% from the field and 30.7% from three.

Joining Young is third-year standout Dyson Daniels, who has made a big jump in his first season as a Hawk. Despite appearing in just 27 games in his first two seasons as a Pelican, the 6-foot-1 guard has become a near-ideal backcourt mate for Young with his tireless defense and ability to block the ball. He is currently averaging 12.5 PPG and 4 RPG and will guard Brunson most of the night.

Starting at small forward will be Jalen Johnson, who, as many expected, has taken another step this season. So far he has recorded career highs across the board, averaging 18.4 PPG, 10 RPG and 5.1 APG while shooting 43% from the field.

Rookie Zaccharie Risacher, the No. 1 pick last summer, has started six of his eight games and expects to do so again tonight. Like most rookies, the France international has had his fair share of ups and downs, scoring fewer than eight points while barely scoring in four of his eight games 35.4% from the field on the season. However, he is coming off two straight games with double-digit points.

Clint Capela, who has seemingly been on the market forever, remains a Hawk and the starter. But he’s not even the center who averages the most minutes per game on this team. That honor goes to 23-year-old Onyeka Okongwu, who averages 1.7 minutes more per game than veteran Capela.

Injury report

Atlanta: Trae Young (ribs) probable, De’Andre Hunter (knee) questionable, David Roddy (illness) questionable, Cody Zeller (personal) out, Seth Lundy (ankle) out

New York: Cameron Payne (hamstring injury) is doubtful; Mitchell Robinson (foot), Precious Achiuwa (hamstring injury) and Kevin McCullar Jr. (knee) are all out

forecast

Even though they’re just 3-5, the Hawks are doing a few things well. They play fast, are adept at drawing fouls, and are led by a point guard who can single-handedly take over the game and win on any given night. Meanwhile, New York is still trying to solidify its identity by trying to solidify itself over time, and that has left them struggling to consistently look like the best version of themselves. But the Knicks simply have a lot more talent and experience. Additionally, the Hawks tend to play in drop coverage, which the Pacers, Heat and Pistons all did against the Knicks with limited success. If New York can attack that deficit with better play from Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, they should be able to take advantage of the Hawks’ terrible three-point defense and end their road trip with a comfortable win, moving to 4-3 to improve .

Game details

WHO: New York Knicks at Atlanta Hawks

When: Wednesday, November 6, 2024, 7:30 p.m. ET

Where: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA

Regard: MSG Network, NBA League Pass

Consequences: @ptknicksblog