New York Knicks: 3 goals heading into Game 2 against the Atlanta Hawks

Goal No. 1: The New York Knicks need to maintain pressure on the glass

Let’s start off with a positive. The New York Knicks outrebounded the Atlanta Hawks 49-42 in Game 1. Breaking down those numbers, the Knicks grabbed 36 defensive rebounds and 13 offensive rebounds, while the Hawks snatched 35 and seven, respectively.

In any game, controlling the glass is an important aspect. For defensive rebounds, it is the end of the defensive possession, while on the offensive end, it can mean another chance at scoring.

The Hawks are typically very good at doing such. They finished the regular season fifth in the NBA with 45.6 rebounds per game, led by center Clint Capela who averaged a league-leading 14.3 rebounds per game.

The Knicks, on the other hand, finished ninth in rebounds per contest with 45.1. It’s not far off the Hawks’ average, but lower, nonetheless.

In conjunction with the two rebounds per game stats, the Hawks allowed 42.7 RPG while the Knicks allowed 44.1 — eighth and 16th, respectively.

With these regular season numbers, it didn’t look particularly great for the Knicks heading into the series. However, Game 1 proved otherwise and if that’s a continued trend, the Knicks will have an unexpected advantage for the series.

Julius Randle and Nerlens Noel are the team’s active leading rebounders with 10.2 and 6.4 per game in the regular season. They grabbed 12 and three, respectively, in Game 1. RJ Barrett added 11 boards in that contest. Capela had the game-high with 13.

Of the positives from Game 1, the Knicks’ rebounding certainly stood out. That said, it should be a goal to continue it going forward in order to maintain that advantage.