The Knicks have experienced a playoff-like intensity since weeks before the regular season ended, as each game leading into the postseason was critical for playoff seeding and securing home court advantage in the first round.
But Wednesday night will be a level of intensity New York hasn't experienced yet. It will be the first win-or-go-home scenario the Knicks have faced as a group.
But the Knicks, who have faced doubt throughout their surprisingly resurgent season, feel the upcoming game five will carry stakes that are right in their wheelhouse.
"I just think this is who we are as a team," Julius Randle said after Tuesday's shootaround. "We've been counted out all year. Odds and this and that dismiss us, according to experts, whatever you want to call it, all year. And this is where we're comfortable."
If the Knicks are to show up and combat the stakes with a win to fight off elimination, Randle specifically will have to be better than he has been so far this postseason. The Hawks made it a point to suffocate Randle's scoring chances, and so far this series, the NBA's Most Improved Player is shooting just 27.4 percent from the field and scoring 16.8 points per game. If the Knicks are to have any chance of pulling off a major turnaround, it will have to start with Randle.
But the 26-year-old isn't worried about the questions that linger after a 3-1 series deficit and two straight lopsided losses in Atlanta. The Knicks are down, but they feel they're used to the odds being against them.
"Like I said, this is where we're comfortable, being in uncomfortable situations," Randle said. "Me as a player, this is where I'm most comfortable, so I'm looking forward to the challenge. And us as a team, we're looking forward to the challenge."
The Knicks played much better at home, taking game two after losing on the final possession in the series opener, but if they are to overcome the 3-1 deficit and advance, they will have to win a game on the road. But it starts on Wednesday night in The Garden, and after Hawks center Clint Capela told reporters that Atlanta was getting ready to send the Knicks on vacation on their own floor, the New York crowd will be hoping for a spirited effort from the home team.
Randle is certain he and the Knicks aren't going to roll over despite the bleak outlook for the series.
"We have the ultimate confidence and belief in who we are as a team that we can get it done," Randle said. "Obviously, we're not going out without a fight."
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