It's already too late for the Knicks

This will be a quick one.

There has been a fascinating amount of doomcasting by Knicks fans long before their Eastern Conference First Round Playoff matchup against the Atlanta Hawks is even over.

The Knicks could win this thing. They could grab tonight at The Garden, then close out the series in Atlanta, proving the CJ-is-a-villain-on-the-same-level-as-Trae-Young allegations fraudulent in the process.

So, why have Knicks fans been so quick to (fairly or unfairly) scapegoat Miles Bridges, call for their head coach Mike Brown's job, and otherwise lose faith in their team so early and so often?

Well, they're Knicks fans. They're passionate and that passion sometimes comes across as volatility (and sometimes they're just crazy).

But also because they might've made the wrong decision with their roster tweaks over the last two years. Game details and my super macro, social media-fueled analysis below (because that's how you structure an internet blog these days).

How to Watch Knicks Hawks Game 5

Tipoff time: 8:00 p.m., Eastern (EDT)

Location: Madison Square Garden (Knicks - Home)

Channel: NBC

Streaming: Peacock

Why the 2025 Knicks lineup was better

So, why the lack of belief in this team compared to the roster that fell victim to Haliburton's heroics last year? Are they cursed?

No, they just don't match up as well with the Atlanta Hawks, in particular.

This year's Knicks roster was specifically built to beat the Boston Celtics, with rangy wings like Mikal Bridges and Miles McBride and firepower-at-size in Karl Anthony Towns. They're not meant to defend shifty, smaller guards like CJ McCullom - that's not the kind of defense Jalen Brunson is any good at (is there a kind...).

Plus, sending away Isaiah Hartenstein and Donte DiVincenzo over the last few years in the quest to get over the Celtics (and Eastern Conference) hump might cost them. Sure, it allowed them to eventually land Mikal Bridges, but that has proven to be a double-edged sword with Bridges underperforming in the clutch.

Sometimes, more isn't more. The disappointment of losing can add to panicked, rushed additions to a roster that just needed time.

But let's let these Knicks show us whether that's the case for them, rather than getting there prematurely.

Related: Lindy's Primer: Joel Embiid, Connor McDavid Face Elimination

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This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 12:07 PM.