Onsi Saleh says CJ McCollum’s takeover vs the Knicks has exceeded expectations, as Atlanta pushes for a 2-1 lead in Game 3.
The Atlanta Hawks are aiming to seize a 2-1 edge in their playoff series with the New York Knicks on Thursday night, and a key reason is CJ McCollum’s sudden, game-altering surge.
Atlanta’s Game 2 bounce was powered in large part by a fourth-quarter that felt like Madison Square Garden was watching a closer-by-committee turn into a closer himself.. McCollum answered chants by taking over down the stretch. repeatedly seeking switches against Knicks guard Jalen Brunson and turning those matchups into efficient possessions.
For Hawks fans. the most striking part wasn’t only how well McCollum played—it was how quickly Atlanta’s offense started to feel different.. General manager Onsi Saleh didn’t hide that the production has gone beyond the type of impact even optimists may have penciled in when McCollum arrived as part of the trade package that sent franchise cornerstone Trae Young to New York.
Saleh’s candid admission frames what’s been happening in the series: he said he didn’t expect McCollum to become this kind of playoff engine in such a dramatic way.. The Hawks aren’t just benefiting from the points; they’re getting the playoff-specific skill of easing pressure on teammates by sustaining rhythm during the hardest stretches.
From a basketball perspective. that shift matters because playoff games often narrow to a few controllable levers: shot quality. ball security. and who can reliably create when defenses tighten.. McCollum’s ability to score in isolation while still drawing attention from defenders changes how the Knicks can rotate. and it also affects how Atlanta’s other options behave—more hesitation from the opponent. fewer forced decisions for the Hawks.
That’s why the series conversation has been less about “Can McCollum score?” and more about “How much does he have to?” Atlanta’s path in Game 3 likely depends on whether Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker can find consistent rhythm early enough to keep McCollum from carrying too much of the late-game workload.
Jalen Brunson is still the Knicks’ gravity point when he’s controlling tempo. so McCollum hunting those switch moments has functioned like a recurring adjustment the Hawks keep making.. Each time Atlanta identifies the same matchup. the next question becomes whether New York can force a different outcome—either through coverage changes. help timing. or using physicality to slow down the efficiency Atlanta has been getting.
The larger implication for the Hawks is psychological as much as tactical.. When a veteran arrives and immediately looks comfortable in high-leverage situations, it changes the way a team treats crunch time.. Saleh described it as “a skill” for playoff winning. and that’s exactly the kind of edge that doesn’t show up on a regular-season stat sheet as clearly.
Looking ahead to Thursday, Game 3 will test whether Atlanta can turn one explosive finish into a repeatable formula.. McCollum’s heater gives the Hawks a plan, but playoff consistency usually comes from multiple players sharing responsibility.. If Johnson and Alexander-Walker provide steady support rather than sporadic bursts. Atlanta has a much cleaner shot at going up 2-1—while putting more pressure on a Knicks team that now has to answer the same question all over again.
Game 3 between the Hawks and Knicks is set for Thursday at 7:00 pm ET.