Three keys to Knicks-Hawks NBA Cup quarterfinal

The New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks will renew their rivalry in the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup on Wednesday. 

Despite being conference rivals, the teams aren't that familiar with each other due to their recent roster overhauls, not to mention drastic shifts in playing styles. The Hawks no longer rely on Trae Young for every ounce of offense and have a respectable defense for the first time in years. The Knicks are not the dodged defensive unit typically associated with Tom Thibodeau teams. Instead, they score in bunches and outscore opponents on most nights. 

Here, we break down three keys to the game. 

Ice Trae versus Knicks fans

Knicks fans still have PTSD remembering what Young did to them in the 2021 playoffs, and the Hawks make it a point to remind them at every turn. During the 2021-22 season, Young would drop 45 points during his lone visit to the Garden, furthering his reputation as the modern Reggie Miller. However, since those performances, he hasn't torched the Knicks. He missed both road games last season with an injury and averaged only 18 points in two games in 2022-23. Wednesday's meeting marks the highest stakes for Young's return to New York since 2021, and you'd better believe the fans will be all over him and boo him every time he touches the ball. To Young's credit, he thrives off of silencing the fanbase.

The Towns-Brunson tandem

The Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson pick-and-roll is generating a league-high 1.23 points per play, per Second Spectrum tracking data. In other words, nearly every time Towns sets a screen for Brunson, it either leads to a scoring opportunity for one of the two stars or another teammate. The duo has wreaked havoc on the league, steering New York to the No. 1 ranked offense. When the teams met earlier this year in Atlanta on Nov. 6, the Knicks offense was still a work in progress and the Hawks came away with the win. Since that loss, the Knicks own the best net rating in the East courtesy of an offense that is historically-great in terms of adjusted efficiency. The Hawks defenders have their work cut out.

The Great Barrier Thief

It's hard to think of an offseason acquisition making a bigger impact on a team than Dyson Daniels. The 21-year-old leads the NBA in steals (3.2) and is on pace to average the most swipes since Alvin Robertson's record-setting 1985-86 season. The Aussie's disruptive tendencies have earned him the moniker of "The Great Barrier Thief," which he has embraced wholeheartedly. Daniels and Jalen Johnson, on the wings, have done a remarkable job of guarding the opponent's best scorers, thereby covering the undersized Young's weaknesses. During his earlier matchup with the Knicks, Daniels came away with four steals and made life very difficult for Brunson while matching up with him. 

The winner will advance to face the Bucks in next week's semifinal in Las Vegas. The NBA Cup final will take place on Dec. 17.