Kristian Winfield: Knicks in six? More like five

Towns and head coach Mike Brown praise Okongwu. Atlanta’s starting center can defend all five positions, shoot the three and put pressure on the rim.

But he’s not Towns. He’s not Robinson. And he hasn’t shown an ability to stop either of the Knicks’ two bigs. Behind him, backup Hawks center Jock Landale (ankle) is out for two weeks. Mohamed Gueye — 6-10, 210 pounds — is in Year 3, his first as a regular rotation player, and Tony Bradley won’t be a viable option for long stretches, either.

Plus this is Jalen Johnson’s first taste of the playoffs as the go-to guy for the Hawks franchise. These Knicks are battle-tested, fresh off of an Eastern Conference Finals trip.

In truth, this is a test the Knicks were built to pass with flying colors. Because it’s a test they would have failed in the month of January.

It’s why many are hesitant to fully lean into these Knicks and their potential. At times, they’ve looked the part of title contenders. Other times, they’ve more closely resembled a team likely to be bounced in the first round by the likes of these Hawks.

That team, mired in hero ball, lost nine out of 11 games almost immediately after hoisting the NBA Cup trophy in Las Vegas in mid-December.

Those Knicks may have needed seven to defeat the Hawks. These Knicks have inspired some trust.

Trust in each other moving the ball. Trust in each other covering on defense. More trust to be gained in a new head coach with each adjustment made in a first-round series against Quin Snyder, a basketball genius with playoff experience coaching Donovan Mitchell and the Utah Jazz.

If the Knicks are to lose to these Hawks, the loss will be self-inflicted, as will the ramifications of falling so far short of ownership’s NBA Finals or bust mandate. It’s hard to imagine that scenario, however, given the advantages the Knicks have on the court.

Plus it’s not like Snyder and the Hawks have some magic Brunson formula. Brunson is averaging 27 points and seven assists on 48.5% shooting from the field and 39.4% shooting from 3-point range in his last eight games against Atlanta.

It’s the Knicks who have a formula. Once upon a time, Brunson prioritized scoring over playmaking, getting himself going over finding looks for his teammates.

It’s been an evolution well-deserving of All-NBA honors: The Knicks’ captain, known best for his individual scoring greatness, averaged more assists from March-on than any other stretch of his career. His willingness to move the ball, his willingness to trust his teammates, beginning with Towns, makes the Knicks much more dangerous in a playoff series.

So dangerous that these Knicks could finish the Hawks quicker, an appetizer leading into the main course Boston Celtics awaiting in Round 2.

Knicks in six?

How about five. Games 1 and 2 at The Garden in the bag, a loss in Atlanta in Game 3, then stealing Game 4 and wrapping it up at home in five as a tune-up before the real test begins.