The necessary sacrifice of the Knicks in the NBA Playoffs 2026

In a crucial moment of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, New York Knicks' coach, Mike Brown, made it clear that there are no final decisions regarding the fourth game against the Atlanta Hawks. After going up 2-1 in the series, the coach emphasized that all variables are being evaluated.

"At this point in the season, everything is on the table: what we will do offensively, what we will do defensively, our rotations, who will start, what lineup we will present," he stated. "Everything is on the table."

The message leaves no room for doubt: the team could introduce significant changes to its starting structure.

The name drawing attention is that of Mikal Bridges, whose performance in the series has fallen below expectations. In three games, he has only made 8 of 22 shots, and his most recent performance raised doubts: he did not score, committed four turnovers, and spent most of the second half on the bench, playing only two minutes.

The player himself acknowledged the situation bluntly: "I need to improve to be on the court."

His inconsistency has sparked internal debate on whether he should remain a starter in a moment of high competitive demand.

McBride gaining favor

In that context, Miles McBride emerges as the most solid alternative to enter the starting five. The combination of Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns, and McBride showed very positive signs in the third game.

That group registered a +24 differential in just 14 minutes, despite New York losing the game by one point. This fact reinforces the idea that there may be more productive alternatives at this stage of the series.

A lineup no longer functioning the same

The usual lineup, with Brunson, Bridges, Anunoby, Hart, and Towns, had been one of the most used during the regular season. It accumulated 541 minutes with a +2.3 differential, establishing itself as a stable foundation for the team.

However, that same lineup is experiencing problems in the playoffs, where their collective performance has dropped to -7.4. This contrast explains why the coaching staff is considering adjustments despite the continuity shown during the season.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El sacrificio necesario de los Knicks en los Playoffs NBA 2026