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The Knicks and their vocal fans will renew their recent rivalry with Trae Young and the Hawks on Wednesday night at the Garden.
After they opened the season 3-1, the Knicks have dropped two straight road games. There has been, however, an electric and venomous atmosphere at the Garden between the teams since the All-Star guard began hearing “f–k Trae Young” chants during the Hawks’ Game 5 elimination of the Knicks in the first round of the 2020 playoffs.
“That probably holds true for most every night you’re faced with somebody like that,” Tom Thibodeau said after practice Tuesday. “Our schedule has been challenging, but I think it’s good for us. I think every night you’re gonna be challenged in a different way. And you have to be ready for whoever comes in or wherever you’re going.
“You have some teams that have more than one [star], but [Young is] as tough a cover as there is. He’s clever, can shoot it from anywhere. Great range. Great first step. Crafty. You got to look at a lot of pick-and-rolls. We’re going to have to be ready.”
RJ Barrett said that matchups against Atlanta are always “fun” and “a good game to be a part of,” but the Knicks need to channel the energy in their home building to their advantage after their weekend losses at Milwaukee and Cleveland.
“Just back at home, back in front of our fans, just really go out there and get a win. Play 48 minutes of good basketball and get back on the winning track,” Barrett said.
“We’re familiar with them, obviously,” Julius Randle added. “I understand the whole fan perspective and stuff like that. But it’s just another game for us to take a step forward.”
Even newcomer Jalen Brunson nodded and smiled when asked about the game, saying, “Yup. Hawks versus Knicks. Very excited.”
Still, Evan Fournier, who joined the Knicks last season following their 2020 playoff ousting by the Hawks, said he’d prefer it if the Garden crowd focused its energy on getting behind their team rather than going after an opponent who clearly thrives on that attention.
“To be honest, it’s almost like a distraction. It could be,” Fournier said after the loss Sunday in Cleveland. “For me personally, I’d rather have the fans go crazy and push us rather than go after another player. Because actually, I would enjoy it.
“If I’m Trae Young and I see the whole arena going after me, I enjoy it. It means I’m good. It means I’m freaking good. Have the whole arena want to see me struggle, like then I know I own them. So there are different perspectives, but that’s my take.”
The Hawks notably acquired All-Star guard Dejounte Murray in the offseason in a trade with the Spurs, sending three first-round draft picks and former Knick Danilo Gallinari to San Antonio. The 6-foot-4 Murray is averaging 20.0 points and 7.6 assists through seven games, second on the team to Young (29.0 and 9.7) in both categories.
“They’re obviously a high-powered offensive team. So that’s always a challenge within itself, and they play fast-paced, so we’ve got to make sure we’re getting back and stopping the ball,” Thibodeau said. “But we’re looking forward to it, for sure.
“Trae Young poses a lot of problems. They added Murray. They got a lot of weapons. … I think [with Murray] it’s the size, the versatility. Every year, he’s gotten better. He had a monster year last year [with San Antonio]. Very good competitor. I think the size at that position, really, to pass over people, I think that adds a lot to their team.”
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