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The Knicks are heading into the playoffs with a familiar weapon already in place: Madison Square Garden’s noise. Atlanta seems to know it, too. According to Steve Popper, the Hawks even played MSG organ music and crowd sound at practice to prepare for the environment, a move that says plenty about how seriously they view the New York atmosphere.
Popper tweeted:
“The Hawks played audio of the Madison Square Garden organist and crowd noise at practice today to get ready for the atmosphere. “It was like Madison Square Garden in Atlanta today,” CJ McCollum told reporters there.”
The Hawks played audio of the Madison Square Garden organist and crowd noise at practice today to ready for the atmosphere. “It was like Madison Square Garden in Atlanta today,” CJ McCollum told reporters there.
Why MSG Matters So Much For Knicks
MSG has always been very central to the Knicks’ identity, way beyond being just a setting for their games. The fans in the Garden during the playoffs have been described as electric, crazy, and among the loudest in the NBA, with SNY even saying in the last season that the vibe at Game 4 was “way crazier” than in other playoff games.
NBA.com also noted that the Garden crowd played a big role in energizing the Knicks to a famous victory over Atlanta in the 2021 playoffs.
MSG has always been very central to the Knicks’ identity, way beyond being just a setting for their games. The fans in the Garden during the playoffs have been described as electric, crazy, and among the loudest in the NBA, with SNY even saying the vibe at Game 4 was “way crazier” than in other playoff games.
NBA.com also noted that the Garden crowd played a big role in energizing the Knicks to a famous victory over Atlanta in the 2021 playoffs.
And the figures confirm this. The Knicks had a good 30-10 record in their home games at MSG this season, and this home-court advantage has truly become a defining feature of the Knicks. When the fans get loud, the Knicks get motivated; when the rivals get that feeling, the level of stress quickly goes up.
That is exactly why the Garden’s atmosphere matters for the playoffs. It is not just about wearing out the Hawks by the noise; it is about how the energy in the Garden can make the opponents take quick decisions, make every run by Knicks look even better and make the normal moments into big swings in the game.
So, if the Hawks are already trying to mimic the sound, in reality, they are acknowledging that the Knicks’ most significant advantage is authentic. And in a first-round series, that level of advantage could be what finally determines if the game is under control or turns into chaos.
Knicks’ Home-Court Edge Looms Large in Playoff Matchup
The matchup adds even more weight to MSG’s reputation. The Knicks finished 53-29 and went 30-10 at home, while Atlanta enters as the No. 6 seed after a strong late-season push. Game 1 is set for April 18 at Madison Square Garden, and that setting could be huge for New York. If the Hawks are already blasting crowd noise in practice, it shows how real the Knicks’ playoff edge can feel.
Jayesh Pagar Jayesh Pagar is a writer at Heavy Sports, covering the New York Knicks and other NBA teams. He brings four years of experience across digital sports media, including NBA, WNBA, college basketball, and college football. He covered as the Knicks beat writer for ONSI and has written for Sporting News, and ClutchPoints. More about Jayesh Pagar