The NY Knicks have to commit themselves to shooting the 3-ball better
Following the conclusion of game three, the Hawks shot the three pointer literally twice as well as the Knicks did while shooting more shots.
With a surplus of playoff teams excelling in three point shooting (including the Knicks in the regular season) it’s vital that New York keeps pace and is able to shoot effectively.
Throughout the first three games of the playoffs, Julius Randle and RJ Barrett, who both shot over 40% in the regular season from behind the arc, are now shooting a combined under 30%.
In regard to Atlanta, they have shooters up and down the team that can be lethal including Trae Young, Bogdan Bogdanovic and DeAndre Hunter.
If the Knicks can’t level up with those guys though they will without a doubt have issues with the Kevin Durant’s, Kyrie Irving’s, Jayson Tatum’s and Khris Middleton’s of the league.
While it’s vital that Randle and Barrett play a significant role, it’s also a necessity that role players like Reggie Bullock and Alec Burks knock down threes consistently as well.
Bullock and Burks themselves shot around the 40% mark and there’s not much of a margin for error right now when it comes to going into a slump.
In the end, it’s easy to acknowledge the Knicks do have shooters on their team.
They’ve gone as high as 4th in the league in terms of 3-point percentage and have guys who will have games where they just don’t miss.
Despite this, the playoffs are a different animal with an immense amount of pressure and we need this Knicks team to keep that same energy when it comes to their shooting ability.