Knicks Notebook: Better paint protection is a key to Game 3 vs. Hawks

“When you lose that physicality, then you allow them to move at their own pace and dictate their offense instead of you dictating it. We’ve just got to make sure we’re physical, have attention to detail and are focused for a full 48 [minutes].”

Hart said he can imagine the Hawks attempting to pound the paint again to begin Game 3 but that the Knicks will be ready to adjust to anything.

“If they start the game how they ended it, we’re focused on that,” Hart said. “If not, we’re focused on what the next piece is, and the next piece. If we focus on ourselves, we’ll be in the game at the end.”

LINEUP DECISIONS

In Game 2, the Knicks were outscored by five points early in the second quarter and three points early in the fourth during the minutes in which Jalen Brunson and Towns were both out of the game.

For much of the season, Brown staggered the playing time of his All-Stars, ensuring at least one of them was on the court at all times. But down the stretch, the Knicks began sitting Brunson and Towns simultaneously in order to optimize their minutes together.

Asked Wednesday if he remained confident using lineups with neither Brunson nor Towns, Brown said, “Anything’s open to discussion.”

“I’m comfortable with all of our guys playing, no matter who the five [players are] out there,” Brown said. “But at the end of the day – just like offensively, defensively, we changed both of those things during the year – anything can happen. When you’re in the playoffs, everything should be on the table.”

BOUNCE BACK

The Knicks led by 12 points to begin Monday night’s fourth quarter and by as many as 14 points in the second half, only to stagnate down the stretch as the Hawks rallied to victory.

Brown and his players remain confident they can bounce back in Game 3.

“You always want to get better in a win, but sometimes you need a loss to dive in on the things that you’re not doing well,” forward Mikal Bridges said Wednesday. “That’s a good team, too, so it’s not like it’s going to be easy. You’ve just got to learn from it and bring that fire in the next game.”

Brown shared a similar sentiment, saying, “Any time you struggle, especially if you’re a resilient group, it can be a good thing. And our group is resilient.”

“I don’t know if there are many teams that have gone 16-0 on their run [to a championship],” Brown said, “so you’ve to figure out how to win on the road if you expect to be who you are anyway.”