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

Knicks vs Hawks NBA playoffs backcourt matchups

Like the frontcourt, there’s a clear-cut top player, but this time, it’s for the Atlanta Hawks. Trae Young, a third-year player, finished the season averaging 25.3 points and 9.4 assists per game. He is also a one-time All-Star, having earned that last season.

However, aside from Young and sometimes Bogdan Bogdanovic when he plays shooting guard, the Hawks have Kevin Huerter, Tony Snell and Lou Williams in the backcourt. To add on, Williams has not been all-that efficient from the field with the Hawks as he shoots just 38.9 percent. He does shoot well from 3 with a 44.4 percent mark. Nevertheless, he is more notable due to his playoff experience.

Huerter is a good offensive player, adding 3-point range and 11.9 points per game. However, that’s not enough to make up for the lack of depth in the group.

That said, there’s far less parity among the competing backcourts. The New York Knicks, although without an All-Star guard, are better equipped with competent players. Head coach Tom Thibodeau regularly plays five guards with RJ Barrett leading the pack.

Barrett finished his second season averaging 17.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game on .441/.401/.746 splits across a full 72-game campaign. Eflrid Payton is his counterpart in the starting lineup, however, he’s arguably the least productive member of the backcourt.

Off the bench, Derrick Rose, Immanuel Quickley and Alec Burks each provide a spark offensively. They combine to score 39 points per game, each averaging double digits.

Rose, a mid-season acquisition, has been a vital piece to the Knicks team. When playing for the Knicks this year, the team is 24-11, and he helped the Knicks finish the season 16-4 despite missing one game in that span. It’s easy to say his second stint with the franchise has been more impactful than his first.

Oftentimes, two of Rose, Quickley and Burks share the court, sometimes even all three play together. These three along with Taj Gibson and Obi Toppin combine for the Knicks’ fourth-most played lineup and have a plus-19.5 net rating — the highest among the team’s top 12 lineups.

So with all that in mind, the advantage shifts toward the Knicks, and it doesn’t look close. The Hawks’ backcourt is heavily reliant on Young, so it’ll be up to him to take down the Knicks backcourt crew.