NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 17: Guard Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks in action during the game against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden on March 17, 2026 in New York City. The Knicks won 136-110. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
The New York Knicks are heading toward the playoffs with a strong record, but not without real questions. A blowout win over the Bulls stopped the criticism, yet the bigger issue remains their inability to beat quality opponents lately. Josh Hart knows that, and his latest comments made one thing clear: New York is focused on what comes next now.
As Jared Schwartz of the New York Post noted, March 6 will mark exactly one full month since the Knicks last beat a team above .500. That stat formed the base when Hart was asked directly about New York’s alarming struggles against stronger opposition heading into the postseason.
Hart was quite honest on that, he said:
“For us, I think it’s just making sure we’re locked in and focused. Obviously this is a good little stretch to end the season to make sure we’re as sharp as we can be going into the playoffs. The past is the past, nothing you can do about it now. Our focus is on tomorrow being 1-0 against playoff teams, and then we move on to the next one, and then we want to be 1-0, and then we want to move onto the next one and be 1-0. Nothing in the past really matters. It’s about what we do moving forward that we’ll be judged on and what we judge ourselves on.”
That is the right mentality, but now this team has to back it up on the floor.
The Knicks’ Struggles Are Real
GettyJosh Hart on recent struggle
Even though the 136-96 victory over the struggling Chicago Bulls last Friday became the official statistical win, securing the Knicks’ third consecutive 50-win season in their history, the game against the Bulls did little to reveal the real position of the Knicks as the playoffs approach.The deeper problem is the poor record against teams over .500. Defeats like the 114-103 loss in Charlotte – a game the Knicks should have won – revealed a repeating theme: slow starts, defensive breakdowns, and failure to sustain a hard-fought battle against strong opponents through the entire game.
For a team aiming for the championship, a trend like that at such a late stage in the season is hard to overcome.
What Must Change in Atlanta
The Knicks, who are third in the Eastern Conference with a record of 50-28, head into Atlanta. The Hawks, on the other hand, are 45-33 and are on a four-game winning streak.
It could be a potential first-round playoff preview. Jalen Brunson, who is averaging 26 points and 6.7 assists, will have to be effective from the start. Besides that, New York’s defense must account for Atlanta’s perimeter threats, including CJ McCollum and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
Most of all, the Knicks must bring Hart’s “1-0” mentality to the game right from the start. Playoff-caliber teams will definitely exploit slow starters and considering Atlanta’s winning streak, they are surely capable of making teams pay if they slip up.
Better defensive rotations, more precise ball movement, and disciplined execution in clutch situations are no longer things we can do without; they have become the standard.
Jayesh Pagar Jayesh Pagar is a writer at Heavy Sports, covering the New York Knicks and other NBA teams. He brings four years of experience across digital sports media, including NBA, WNBA, college basketball, and college football. He covered as the Knicks beat writer for ONSI and has written for PFSN, Sporting News, and ClutchPoints. More about Jayesh Pagar
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