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

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Goal No. 2: The New York Knicks need to slow Trae Young down

It’s no secret that Trae Young torched the New York Knicks in Game 1. And that’s a fair assessment even before the game-winner. Young dropped 32 points and dished out 10 assists, joining Derrick Rose, Chris Paul and LeBron James as the only NBA players to tally at least 30 points and 10 assists in their playoff debut.

So, again, it shouldn’t be a secret that Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau needs to find a way to slow down the All-Star point guard. In a previous article, I alluded to the insertion of Frank Ntilikina into the rotation due to his defensive prowess and history of guarding Young well.

Thibodeau did play Ntilikina, but to say he was a part of the rotation is inaccurate. He played for a sequence before halftime and guarded Young on the final possession of the game. It’s not fair to Ntilikina to sit him all game and throw him into the most high-pressure situation of the game.

So, one can disagree about utilizing Ntilikina’s defense. If keeping him on the bench is a better move, then do that. But, I wouldn’t advise throwing players into situations as such without playing more of the game. It’ll lead to moments like at the end of Game 1.

I’ll continue to suggest inserting Ntilikina into the lineup to slow down Young. Over the course of the game, Ntilikina will make an impact defensively — at least compared to the other New York point guards.