PREVIEW: The New York Knicks, seeded third in the Eastern Conference with a 53-29 record, will host the sixth-seeded Atlanta Hawks, who finished 46-36 , in what promises to be a competitive first-round matchup. New York dominated the regular season series, winning two of three games against Atlanta , yet the Hawks enter this playoff battle as a fundamentally different team than the one the Knicks faced early in the year. Atlanta's offensive identity centers on high spacing and excellent ball movement ranked first and second respectively, while they push tempo aggressively and force turnovers at the sixth-ranked rate. New York counters with elite perimeter defense that limits rim attacks and three-point opportunities, ranking fourth in both categories , creating a classic clash between two contrasting philosophies. The storyline heading into Saturday's tipoff at Madison Square Garden revolves around whether Atlanta's late-season surge can withstand New York's size and defensive intensity. Since the All-Star break, the Hawks posted a plus-10.1 net rating with the league's second-ranked defense , suggesting they've solved many of the inconsistencies that plagued them earlier in the season. The Knicks' efficient three-point shooting at fourth-ranked efficiency combined with strong offensive rebounding presents a different challenge entirely , one that will require Atlanta to execute at a high level on both ends. Jalen Brunson gives New York the best individual player on the floor and the league's most reliable closer in tight moments , a factor that could prove decisive if this series goes deep into close games.