Josh Hart took a extra aggressive position within the New York Knicks’ collection towards the Atlanta Hawks, insisting on guarding CJ McCollum full-time after the Hawks took management early.
Following a Sport 3 loss determined by McCollum, Hart made it clear to the teaching employees that he needed the defensive project and wasn’t keen to offer it up.
“I cursed out one in all our defensive [coaches] for taking me off him on the finish of Sport 3,” mentioned Hart, who additionally walked into the coaches’ room at halftime of Sport 4 to ensure it didn’t occur once more.
“I mentioned, ‘I’m on him. Don’t take me off him. I’m guarding him. And that was the problem I needed.”
The impression was speedy, as McCollum’s manufacturing dropped considerably over the ultimate three video games after a powerful begin to the collection.
Hart emphasised that his motivation got here all the way down to competitiveness and wanting to reply after these early performances.
“At a sure level, it’s simply satisfaction,” Hart mentioned.
“It’s desirous to clearly attempt to cease him, to restrict him. Video games 1 and a couple of, he had (about) 30 (per recreation). It was only a satisfaction factor. Go on the market and get stops.”
Knicks Notes: Hart, Clarkson, Alvarado, Cities https://t.co/1c1Q1lGUq0
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) Could 2, 2026