Knicks: 3 keys to getting back on track in crucial Game 4 vs. Hawks

1. Pray Randle is ready to bounce back

In all honesty, the biggest difference in this series so far has been Julius Randle’s historically bad shooting. He’s gone a putrid 13-for-54 from the field (24.1 percent) through the first three games, which is the worst mark in NBA history through any player’s first three playoff games with a minimum of 50 field-goal attempts, per ESPN Stats & Info:

Randle is averaging 14.7 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game on .241/.300/.857 shooting splits — a steep decline from the team-high 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game on .456/.411/.811 shooting splits he posted during the regular season. The Hawks are sending double- and triple-teams at Randle and giving him everything they’ve got on defense, and the Knicks’ shooters have been unable to make them pay for it.

There’s no way around it: The Knicks are going to lose this series unless their best player and Most Improved Player starts playing like it.

Going small and surrounding Randle with more shooters may help in this regard, but at the end of the day, Randle has to produce in the scoring and assist columns for the Knicks to even this series on the road. It’ll take quite an effort to bounce back from such a terrible first three games, but if anyone can rapidly improve overnight, it’s the league’s Most Improved Player.