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The New York Knicks continue their 2026 NBA Playoffs first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden, carrying a 1-0 lead after a physical Game 1 win.
Josh Hart addressed adjustments and defensive details on Monday, focusing heavily on communication, physicality, and rebounding discipline ahead of Game 2.
“I think we’re pretty good. I think we can get better on our communication especially on guards. So for the first game, it was no solid, but we have to be better,” Hart said.
He emphasized defensive coverage on Atlanta’s perimeter creators, adding: “So we have to be better. Who makes it even better offense, or for sure thing, you can clean it. Like I said, that communication of those smalls and not allowing them to get him in [Nickeil Alexander-Walker] to get open shots.”
Hart pointed to Atlanta’s spacing and screening actions as a key adjustment point: “They do a really good job of spreading into those screens and slipping out and it’ll kind of thing.”
He noted the difficulty of defending Jalen Johnson while maintaining physical control: “Just trying to be physical, obviously. He’s a really good player. He’s what’s 6’8-6’9? I’m 6’4, apparently, I lost an inch, you know, I used to be 6’5.”
Hart also stressed responsibility within the defensive scheme rather than individual matchups: “My job is to go out there guard who they told me to guard, so that’s what I try to do.”
Physicality remains a central theme for New York entering Game 2, especially against Atlanta’s length and transition threats. Hart described the approach as structured aggression rather than overextension.
“You expect the competitiveness to ramp up the physicality, to ramp up, attention to detail to ramp up. So we can’t be complacent of where we were last game,” he said.
He also referenced in-series adjustments and scouting discipline: “We have the game plan for those adjustments. I have counters for ourselves so it’s like a little chess.”
Hart highlighted rebounding as a key playoff separator, especially against Atlanta’s crash-heavy approach: “You have to make sure you put emphasis on rebounding.”
He added: “You have to get stops and when you forced into contested shots you got to go out there and get a rebound.”
The veteran guard tied those efforts to momentum swings: “Those toughness gritty impactful, energy plays that kind of spark around this park momentum.”
Hart also acknowledged the unique intensity of playoff basketball in New York: “Playoffs in New York is different. Everything is heightened in the Garden. You got to experience that energy, the passion, the love is crazy.”
