Knicks: Previewing the first-round series with the Atlanta Hawks

Knicks vs Hawks NBA playoffs frontcourt matchups

Starting with the bigs, it’s easy to determine the top frontcourt player among the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks. It’s Julius Randle. The 6’8″ power forward was named to his first All-Star team, should be on an All-NBA team and will receive MVP votes this season.

Randle finished the season leading the team with 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game on a league-high 37.6 minutes per game. He tallied these while shooting .456/.411/.811 splits.

Oh, and he also played in 71 of 72 possible games. The body of work is there, and it’s evident that he’s the top frontcourt player and arguably the top player in this series.

Next to Randle, Nerlens Noel is the team’s starting center. He took over the role after Mitchell Robinson fractured his hand in February and then fractured his foot in late March. In said role, he has thrived as a defensive anchor, proving his worth as both a shot-blocker and active member defending the passing lanes.

Noel ranks third in the NBA in blocks per game with 2.2 while also stealing the ball 1.1 times per game.

While the praise seemed to go toward the Knicks, the Hawks’ frontcourt shouldn’t be glossed over. With John Collins and Clint Capela as the team’s starters, Atlanta is the fifth-best rebounding team in the league with 45.6 per contest. Capela leads the NBA with 14.3 rebounds per game, while Collins grabs 7.4 himself.

More from New York Knicks

• NBA Trades: This swing-for-the-fences deal is a must for the Knicks
• Ranking Leon Rose’s three best and worst moves as Knicks President
• New York Knicks: Why Julius Randle is essential for the Knicks
• Should the Knicks trade up into the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft?
• Knicks 2023 offseason primer: free agents, trades, draft needs and more

But the bigs are more than just rebounding machines. They both serve as solid targets for an alley-oop or dump pass in the lane. Furthermore, Collins can step out to the perimeter to knock down 3s, shooting 39.9 percent from downtown. Capela opts to stay off the 3-point line and limits his shots to the paint in which he shoots 59.4 percent.

In terms of the small forward battle, Reggie Bullock will face off against either De’Andre Hunter or Bogdan Bogdanovic. Hunter just returned from a knee injury that has sidelined him since January, aside from two games in March.

In the 23 games he’s played, Hunter averaged 15 points per game on 48.4 percent from the field and 32.6 from 3. Bogdanovic who has played 44 games added 16.4 points per game on .473/.438/.909 splits, while Bullock had averages of 10.9 points per game on .442/.410/.909 splits.

All three are not the first or second options on the team, but they add a 3-and-D element.

Outside of the starters, the Hawks have the advantage in depth. Off the bench, Danilo Gallinari plays power forward and even some small-ball center. They also have Onyeka Okongwu as a backup center.

For the Knicks, they have Obi Toppin and Taj Gibson — two players at the opposite ends of their careers.

The Hawks are going to look to dominate the glass throughout the series, tiring the Knicks out. However, don’t forget about Randle. He’s a potent force on both ends of the ball and should show out in the playoffs creating problems for Atlanta.