Perhaps one of the more under-the-radar first round matchups in the NBA playoffs features the New York Knicks against the Atlanta Hawks. Both teams are returning to the postseason after a drought, for the Knicks it's their first appearance in eight years. They will be tasked with slowing down all-star guard Trae Young. One scout believes the Knicks have one player who can absolutely get the job done.
Via Ian Begley of SNY.tv, one scout believes the answer is RJ Barrett.
“I don’t think I would change what Thibs is doing. I’m not going to question the formula. …I think he’ll feel the game and whatever they do, (the Hawks) are going to put (Young’s defender) in pick and roll..Maybe as a different look, I would try (RJ) Barrett on him if I could.” – Scout to Ian Begley on SNY.
It would certainly throw a curveball the way of the Hawks, as the Knicks usually stick Barrett on opposing shooting guards and small forwards. Barrett certainly has the makeup of a defender that could cause havoc or at least disrupt Young at times. And this scout talking to Begley likes his size and length as well.
“(Bogdanovic and Huerter) are stationary shooters. … I would think about playing (Payton and Reggie Bullock) on Bogdanovic and Huerter and I would try Barrett on Trae. Barrett has some size, length, I think he may be able to fluster him a little bit.” – Scout to Ian Begley of SNY.
Tom Thibodeau has done an incredible job in his first season as head coach of the Knicks. New York's odds were set at 22.5 wins by the bookmakers before the season started and who could've predicted they'd finish 41-31? It's been a magical season for Knicks fans and they aren't ready for it to stop here. Next up, is figuring out how to slow down Trae Young and the Atlanta offense.
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