The Knicks are staying focused on the task at hand, refusing to feed into Trae Young’s theatrics—antics that have made him a polarizing figure at the Garden.

Young’s most recent display came when he rolled imaginary dice on the center-court logo after his Hawks eliminated the Knicks from the NBA Cup quarterfinal in emphatic fashion.

Young’s villainous relationship with Knicks fans dates back to Atlanta’s playoff victory in 2021, a rivalry he has embraced with gestures like shimmies and dramatic bows.

“I think if that’s what he wants to do, it’s good for him. If he embraces it, great for him,” Jalen Brunson said. “I have a lot of respect for him as a player, and I think that dates before I even got here. It’s another challenge for us, and we’ve just gotta be ready.”

“It’s sort of like the nature of the league, and it’s always that way. He’s a good player, and so I think he’s authentic,” Tom Thibodeau said. “We respect him, but we got to play. We’re not gonna get wrapped up in all the other stuff. That’s part of the game today, social media and all that stuff. Just focus on what we need to do to win.”

For the Knicks, that focus lies squarely on solving the Hawks’ defense, which has been a nightmare in their two meetings this season.

Both losses followed a similar script, with All-NBA Defensive First Team candidate Dyson Daniels wreaking havoc at the point of attack.

At 6-foot-7, Daniels uses his length and physicality to relentlessly pressure Brunson, often picking him up full court.

The results have been telling: Brunson has shot just 13-of-33 from the field, totaling 35 points across the two defeats.

“We’ve gotta execute our game plan, but we’ve gotta be ready to adjust when things aren’t going our way,” Brunson said. “Every game is gonna be a roller coaster, so you’re gonna have a lead, you’re gonna be down, you never know what’s gonna happen. As a team, we’ve gotta stay composed, keep our foot on the gas, and figure out how to win.”

The Knicks could be shorthanded again, with Karl-Anthony Towns questionable for the matchup due to a thumb sprain.