Should this response from KAT concern Knicks fans for remainder of playoffs? originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New York Knicks lost Monday to the Atlanta Hawks during Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Both teams are now tied at one game apiece, with the series shifting to Atlanta starting Wednesday.
New York blew a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter, and could taste the feeling of heading on the road up two games.
However, that was not the case, as the Hawks completed the comeback behind a 33-point performance from CJ McCollum, who missed two clutch free throws at the end of the game, which could have been costly if Mikal Bridges connected on his last-second mid-range attempt.
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Aside from the blown lead, Karl-Anthony Towns' lack of involvement in the fourth quarter stood out the most. The center took only two shots in the final quarter, leaving fans wondering why.
When asked post-game about the lack of shot attempts, Towns had this to say: "The opportunity just didn't come around to shoot it. At the end of the day, I trust everyone in this locker room to shoot the ball."
While that may be a great teammate answer by the stretch big, it's nevertheless unacceptable if you're a Knicks fan.
The Knicks organization acquired Towns to be paired with Jalen Brunson and serve as the missing piece the team needed to make a possible Finals run.
That will not happen if the all-star continues to be passive and a non-factor in the big moments, which has been a concern about Towns numerous times this season.
Towns may not think there were many opportunities for him to take charge, but to be regarded as a big-time player, he may have to make his presence felt, especially in the playoffs.
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