Perception around the Atlanta Hawks' first-round playoff exit is feeling far different after the New York Knicks took a 2-0 NBA Finals lead. No team, since the Hawks in Game 3 of round one have beaten the Knicks in the playoffs. New York swept the Philadelphia 76ers and the Cleveland Cavaliers ahead of taking a commanding lead in the championship series. For the Hawks, it is fair to look back at the first round exit with a bit more appreciation and understanding fo what the team accomplished to end the year.
Atlanta beat the Knicks not once, but twice, playing with a shocking level of physicality and intensity. Looking back, it is easy to give the Hawks roster and coaching staff far more credit for how they played early in the series against a team that has steamrolled the rest of the league thus far in the 2025-26 postseason.
This is where it is important to note that the Hawks were blown off the court in the deciding game of the series and wiped out in historic fashion. Still, Atlanta is the only team that has played the Knicks in the postseason and was able to come away with a win.
Hawks Series Loss to Knicks Continues to Age Far Better Than Expected
Watching the rest of the postseason, there has to be a far lower sense of desperation heading into the offseason. Considering you beat the Eastern Conference champions twice in a six game series, it is fair to wonder just how close a young roster might be to making a real postseason run. While the Knicks are yet to finish the Finals, it does appear likely they will be the eventual champions and further validate Atlanta's playoff exit.
This doesn't make the late series beatdown any easier to swallow, but it does point to just how close the Hawks were against a team that dominated the rest of the field. Neither Philadelphia nor Cleveland was able to get a single game off New York, while the Hawks took two and did so with a roster that had very little collective playoff experience.
Atlanta's front office has to view New York's run as validating and a reason to be very careful when it comes to any drastic offseason moves. It is clear that the team's current core has an incredibly high ceiling and should be considered a clear Eastern Conference threat moving into next season.
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