In the aftermath of their Game 6 series-clinching victory, the New York Knicks did something rare in professional sports: they thanked the team they just eliminated. But head coach Mike Brown's praise for the Atlanta Hawks went far beyond the typical post-series pleasantries.

"Recognize the Atlanta Hawks. It was a good series," Brown said. "Quin and his staff — they helped us get better. Quin pushed a lot of right buttons. It made us have to keep figuring out how to make our guys better. Appreciate that."

That appreciation might seem surprising given the Knicks closed the series with three straight double-digit wins, including a historic blowout in Game 6. But just days earlier, Atlanta held a commanding 2-1 series lead, and New York's offense had ground to a halt. Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and the supporting cast couldn't string together consistent possessions, and the team dropped back-to-back one-point decisions.

Game 3 was the turning point. The Knicks mounted a furious fourth-quarter comeback only to watch their final possession unravel into a rushed, contested shot as the clock expired. It was the kind of failure that forces honest conversations — and, as Brown explained, fundamental changes.

"We changed the way we played offensively and defensively about halfway through the season," Brown said, "and we changed again after Game 3. The Hawks forced us to put our thinking caps on and find ways to make the game easier while putting our guys in their strengths. We feel pretty good about what we fell into."

The most significant adjustment? Getting Karl-Anthony Towns more involved. Whether through designed plays or pick-and-roll action, the Knicks made Towns the focal point of their offensive revival. The result was immediate: Towns posted his first career postseason triple-double in Game 4, finishing with 20 points and setting the tone for New York's series turnaround.

For a team that prides itself on adaptability, this series was a masterclass in mid-series evolution. The Hawks pushed, the Knicks adjusted, and what looked like a season slipping away turned into a statement victory. As any coach will tell you, sometimes the best lessons come from your toughest opponents.