Josh Hart took a extra aggressive position within the New York Knicks’ sequence in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks, insisting on guarding CJ McCollum full-time after the Hawks took management early.
Following a Recreation 3 loss determined by McCollum, Hart made it clear to the teaching workers that he needed the defensive task and wasn’t prepared to offer it up.
“I cursed out one in every of our defensive [coaches] for taking me off him on the finish of Recreation 3,” stated Hart, who additionally walked into the coaches’ room at halftime of Recreation 4 to verify it didn’t occur once more.
“I stated, ‘I’m on him. Don’t take me off him. I’m guarding him. And that was the problem I needed.”
The influence was rapid, as McCollum’s manufacturing dropped considerably over the ultimate three video games after a powerful begin to the sequence.
Hart emphasised that his motivation got here right down to competitiveness and wanting to reply after these early performances.
“At a sure level, it’s simply pleasure,” Hart stated.
“It’s desirous to clearly attempt to cease him, to restrict him. Video games 1 and a couple of, he had (about) 30 (per sport). It was only a pleasure factor. Go on the market and get stops.”
Knicks Notes: Hart, Clarkson, Alvarado, Cities https://t.co/1c1Q1lGUq0
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) May 2, 2026
