Josh Hart pointed to missed alternatives and early offensive struggles after the New York Knicks fell 109-108 to the Atlanta Hawks in Game 3 of their first-round playoff sequence on Thursday night time at State Farm Area.
Hart acknowledged the gradual begin that put New York in a troublesome place. “Offensively, the group struggled early on,” he mentioned, noting that the group solely “picked it up a little bit bit extra” as the sport progressed.
The Knicks had been compelled right into a comeback effort after Atlanta constructed an 18-point first-half lead behind robust perimeter capturing and transition execution.
Hart pointed to execution and shot-making because the distinction within the opening levels. “I assumed we had good pictures and we didn’t make them,” he mentioned, stressing that early effectivity dictated the sport’s rhythm.
New York ultimately rallied late, briefly taking management within the closing minute earlier than CJ McCollum’s game-winning jumper with 12.5 seconds remaining flipped the result again to Atlanta.
Hart described the Knicks’ offensive stream as tied intently to defensive stops. “I really feel like we had been getting stops, getting some good pictures,” he mentioned. “However I really feel like we actually performed off our protection.”
He additionally credited the Hawks for his or her early separation, significantly their capturing within the first quarter. “The largest factor was that allowed them to create some separation early on within the sport,” Hart mentioned.
New York’s perimeter protection tightened in stretches, however McCollum’s shot creation and Atlanta’s bench manufacturing stored stress on the Knicks all through.
Hart additionally emphasised particular person defensive duty, significantly within the second half. “Within the second half, I simply tried to make it powerful for him, make him take powerful pictures,” he mentioned.
Regardless of the loss, Hart shifted focus shortly to the turnaround forward within the sequence. The Knicks now face Sport 4 in Atlanta on Saturday with a 2-1 sequence deficit.
“There is no such thing as a room to really feel sorry for ourselves,” Hart mentioned, referencing the group message after the sport. “We bought one other one on Saturday at 6:00, so it’s a fast turnaround.”
He added that restoration and psychological reset might be important earlier than the subsequent matchup. “We bought to ensure we regroup and exit centered once more,” Hart mentioned.
The Knicks stay inside placing distance within the sequence, however execution in early possessions and late-game management proceed to form the result in opposition to a Hawks group that has constantly capitalized in closing minutes.
