Knicks’ lack of experience could be a factor


The playoffs will be a new experience for key members of the Knicks and the Hawks heading into their opening-round playoff series.

How those players handle their NBA postseason indoctrinations could be a determining factor in advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

“We always say after the first three quarters of a game, the intensity rises in the fourth quarter. The playoff intensity is going to rise even more for the full game,” said All-Star forward Julius Randle, whose teams never qualified for postseason play in six previous seasons with the Lakers, Pelicans and Knicks. “The intensity, man, you’re playing for something, competing for something.

“One of those things, you might have a bad game or lack of focus one game, but you can make it up. Every game matters, every possession matters. It all counts. We want to make sure we’re focused. We’ll obviously be focused.”

In addition to Randle, second-year guard RJ Barrett, rookies Immanuel Quickley and Obi Toppin, starting point guard Elfrid Payton and former lottery picks Frank Ntilikina and Kevin Knox — who mostly has been outside Tom Thibodeau’s playing rotation — all will or potentially will make their playoff debuts beginning with Sunday’s series opener.

“We have to understand the playoffs are a lot different than the regular season,” Thibodeau said Wednesday. “By that, I mean, you don’t know where [your opponent is] in the schedule, how much travel they have. Who’s out, who’s in. there’s a lot of things that factor into it.

“Once you get into the playoffs, teams are locked into you specifically. They’re going to know you inside and out. We’re going to know them inside and out. You have to be ready to play. Hopefully you’ve built the proper habits getting you ready to play. And then you’re playing the game team over and over again, so there’s an intensity to it, a concentration to it and a will to it. We have to be ready.”

NBA playoffs Knicks Julius Randle RJ Barrett
RJ Barrett (l.) and Julius Randle (r.) are among the Knicks making their first NBA playoff appearances.
NBAE via Getty Images

On the Knicks’ roster, backup center Taj Gibson has the most playoff experience with 66 games played — followed by Derrick Rose (46) , Alec Burks (17), Nerlens Noel (12) and Reggie Bullock (4).

The Hawks are led by veterans Lou Williams (71) and Clint Capela (61), with Tony Snell (38), ex-Knick Danilo Gallinari (24) and Solomon Hill (24) also appearing in at least two dozen postseason games apiece.

Hawks youngsters Trae Young, John Collins, Onyeka Okongwu, Kevin Huerter, De’Andre Hunter and injured Cam Reddish have yet to get a taste of playoff action.

“It’s certainly helped to have guys who’ve been there and played in postseason. They understand the intensity, the urgency that they’re about to face,” Hawks coach Nate McMillan said. “And they can talk to their teammates. Gallo is doing that. Lou is doing that. Absolutely. Clint, those guys can talk to our younger guys about the playoffs and the intensity and pretty much the mindset that they need to have going into it.”

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