The Knicks’ first-round series against the Hawks shifted after Josh Hart decided he’d seen enough.
According to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post, Hart pushed for the full-time defensive assignment on CJ McCollum after Game 3, even confronting a coach about it.
“I cursed out one of our defensive [coaches] for taking me off him,” Hart said. “I said, ‘I’m on him. Don’t take me off him.’”
The results followed. McCollum averaged 27 points on 51 percent shooting over the first three games. Over the final three, that dropped to 11.3 points on 39.5 percent shooting, including just 10 percent from deep.
“At a certain point, it’s just pride,” Hart said. “Go out there and get stops.”
There’s more out of New York …
Additions Jordan Clarkson and Jose Alvarado have helped stabilize the second unit, as noted by Howie Kussoy of the Post. Along with Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride, they’ve given New York more depth than it had late in the season.
Clarkson said staying ready was key after falling out of the rotation.
“I’ve been in the league 12 years,” he said. “Just wait for my opportunity.”
Meanwhile, Karl-Anthony Towns delivered one of his strongest stretches under coach Mike Brown, finishing with a plus-62 over the final three games, per Ian Begley of SNY.
“I never doubted my ability,” Towns said. “You gotta adjust.”
As James L. Edwards of The Athletic noted, the Knicks are starting to look like a legitimate contender in the East.
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