Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Falcons Justin Simmons, Matt Judon Moves Drew ‘Glowing’ Reviews Around NFL
When the Atlanta Falcons traded for star outside linebacker Matt Judon from the New England Patriots on Aug. 14, Falcons coach Raheem Morris’s phone buzzed.
There were several congratulatory texts sent his way — and for the Irvington, N.J., native, many were from fans of the New York Jets, who no longer have to play against Judon twice a year as AFC East rivals.
But when the Falcons signed star free agent safety Justin Simmons to a one-year contract the next day, Morris’s phone again lit up. This time, it was from a more diverse audience — a variety of sects across the NFL landscape.
“Two players that you get glowing recommendations from people that they played with,” Morris said Monday in Flowery Branch. “When the signing goes down, and everybody calls me excited about the people that they’ve worked with and people that worked with them before, whether it be in Denver, Baltimore, New England.”
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Judon made the Pro Bowl each year from 2019-22 and was on his way to another in 2023 before suffering a torn lower right bicep. Simmons, meanwhile, has earned second-team All-Pro honors in four of the past five years, starring on the back end of the Denver Broncos’ defense.
Respect for Judon and Simmons is widespread across the sport’s highest level. Morris, who has no prior experience with either player, found that out rather quickly.
And from their on-field skill level to off-field leadership, Morris has a brighter outlook on the Falcons’ 2024 season than he did a week ago.
“It’s hard to say I’m not more confident,” Morris said. “The two players, I don’t know how many Pro Bowls they’ve got amongst each other, but you’re talking about grown men adding to your organization that got real, true value.”
Morris realized why Simmons and Judon have grown as accomplished as they are during his first formal interaction with each.
Simmons visited the Falcons on Aug. 12 and 13, and he ate dinner with a group of Falcons that includes Morris, general manager Terry Fontenot, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, safety Jessie Bates III and cornerback A.J. Terrell.
They ate at Chops Lobster Bar in Atlanta — and for as much as the Falcons wanted to pitch themselves to Simmons, the 30-year-old safety already knew much of what he needed.
“He’s talking about our team and our guys and [safety] Richie [Grant] and what it means to him,” Morris said. “Like, who does that? That fires you up.”
Simmons was searching for answers on differences between the Falcons’ previous coaching staff, led by head boss Arthur Smith, and the group Morris has assembled, among several other questions. Evidently, he liked the responses.
Judon’s experience was less formal in setting, as he held a FaceTime call with Morris that was permitted by the Patriots and the NFL.
Morris’s energy stood out to Judon, while Judon’s intentionality and assertiveness had the same effect on Morris, who quickly recognized he wanted the 32-year-old on his team.
“He’s telling you exactly what he’s going to bring you from his standpoint,” Morris said. “That dog mentality — and he didn’t use dog, he used a different word — but I loved it. I’m like, ‘Yes, bring him.’”
Film and stats only tell part of the story. Morris noted he wants to add positive people — players who fit Atlanta’s ethos and conduct business in a way that best represents the organization.
Judon and Simmons checked those boxes. Their past employers confirmed it.
As for the on-field component, Morris strives to be player-driven, emphasizing doing what the players do well. He feels Simmons and Judon bring unique skill sets with clear strengths to their game.
“Justin with his ball skills, his unique ability to get the ball back. I can’t remember the exact number of interceptions he’s had, but it’s a lot over the last couple years,” Morris said about Simmons, who has 30 interceptions in eight seasons. “Then Judon, with his ability to affect the passer, and he’s really unique, because you’ve seen him in two different systems, do it two different ways.”
Judon, who played the first five years of his career with the Baltimore Ravens, entered the NFL by being used in a variety of roles. He was an edge-setter who could blitz from different spots and was moved the formation.
In New England, Judon more consistently aligned off the edge and was directly involved in the Patriots’ pass rushing groups up front, especially on third down and long situations. On third and short, Judon proved his intellect and high mental capacity, Morris said.
Unique is one word for each player. Proven, productive and potential game-changers are several others.
Morris noted the additions of Simmons and Judon created a buzz from the fanbase, which Judon said he could feel over social media. Morris said such excitement is exactly what players and coaches want, forming a mentality that has left Atlanta’s first-year coach jubilant.
But nothing excites Morris more than seeing it on the field — and with Simmons and Judon making their debuts in Monday’s practice, Morris is eager to see them play and acclimate to Atlanta’s system with Week 1 less than three weeks away.
“Two really exciting players in their own right, and I just can’t wait to get them on the grass now,” Morris said. “They’re here, they’re on the grass, we’ll get some nice evaluations this week on what they can do and what they could be, and then it’s up to us to go make it happen.”
Atlanta Hawks (46-36, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference)
New York; Monday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Knicks -5.5; over/under is 216.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Knicks lead series 1-0
BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks host the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference first round with a 1-0 lead in the series. The Knicks won the last matchup 113-102 on Saturday, led by 28 points from Jalen Brunson. CJ McCollum led the Hawks with 26.
The Knicks are 35-17 in Eastern Conference games. New York has a 9-4 record in one-possession games.
The Hawks are 27-25 in Eastern Conference play. Atlanta is third in the league scoring 18.1 fast break points per game. McCollum leads the Hawks averaging 5.0.
The Knicks are shooting 47.8% from the field this season, 0.4 percentage points higher than the 47.4% the Hawks allow to opponents. The Hawks are shooting 47.4% from the field, 1.4% higher than the 46.0% the Knicks’ opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds for the Knicks. Brunson is averaging 19.9 points over the last 10 games.
Dyson Daniels is scoring 11.9 points per game and averaging 6.8 rebounds for the Hawks. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is averaging 21.3 points and 2.9 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 6-4, averaging 110.4 points, 40.7 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 8.4 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.9 points per game.
Hawks: 5-5, averaging 117.2 points, 43.5 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 8.4 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.0 points.
INJURIES: Knicks: Tyler Kolek: day to day (oblique), Mitchell Robinson: day to day (ankle), Karl-Anthony Towns: day to day (elbow).
Hawks: Jock Landale: out (ankle).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks prediction, pick for Game 1 of 2026 NBA Playoffs first round
Sean Barnard details his preview and prediction for Saturday’s Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks matchup in the NBA Playoffs.
The NBA playoffs are officially underway with a loaded opening round. Taking place in the No. 3 vs. No. 6 matchup in the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks will take on the New York Knicks.
You can check out the full series preview on DraftKings Network here.
Looking at the odds for the series opener, the Knicks enter as 6.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Hawks are +205 underdogs with the game total set at O/U 218.5 points.
This article will look at a preview and prediction for the Eastern Conference series opener.
Hawks vs. Knicks prediction, preview
The Atlanta Hawks went through a midseason transition, moving on from Trae Young after he headlined the production for the franchise for the past eight years. The Hawks have not missed a beat amid the major midseason shakeup, finishing as the sixth seed in the conference with a 46-36 overall record. On the season, Atlanta has gone 44-38 against the spread, and the game total has gone 41-41 to the over/under.
Jock Landale is the only player set to miss the matchup tonight. Jalen Johnson headlines the production, posting averages of 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game. Nickeil Alexander-Walker has had a breakout season in a new location, adding 20.8 points, 3.7 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game. CJ McCollum adds 18.7 points and 4.1 assists across his first 41 games with the organization, while Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu, Jonathan Kuminga, and Zaccharie Risacher also play notable roles.
Quin Snyder’s group scores 118.5 points per game, which ranks sixth in the NBA. The Hawks also rank 14th in offensive rating, 13th in field goal percentage, and fifth in three-point percentage. Defensively, opponents are scoring 116.0 points per game against Atlanta, which ranks 18th in the league. They also rank ninth in defensive rating, 18th in opponent field goal percentage, and 12th in opponent three-point percentage.
The New York Knicks entered the season with legitimate title aspirations. They have had some notable ups and downs, but now face this opportunity. New York finished the regular season with a 53-29 record and sit in third place in the East. The Knicks have gone 44-39 against the spread, and the game total has gone 38-45 to the over/under.
The Knicks enter this matchup with a clear injury report and a large sample size of the team playing together. Jalen Brunson headlines the production with 26.0 points, 6.8 assists, and 3.3 rebounds, while Karl-Anthony Towns pitches in 20.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists of his own. OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges are responsible for the production at the wing positions, while Josh Hart sets the tone for this team from a hustle standpoint. New York also did an impressive job building out the bench unit this season, with players like Jordan Clarkson, Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet, and Tyler Kolek capable of serving as X-factors off the bench.
As a team, the Knicks are scoring 116.5 points per game, which ranks 10th in the NBA. New York also ranks third in offense rating, 11th in field goal percentage, and fourth in three-point percentage. Defensively, opponents are scoring 110.1 points per game against the Knicks, which ranks fifth in the league. They also rank seventh in defensive rating, fifth in opponent field goal percentage, and 20th in opponent three-point percentage.
Hawks vs. Knicks pick, best bet
These are two teams at different stages of their timeline, but neither will be afraid of this playoff spotlight. The Knicks pushed their chips in around this core and are hoping to be rewarded for it. They fell to the Indiana Pacers in the Conference Finals last year and have made the postseason in four consecutive seasons. Atlanta missed out on the playoffs in back-to-back years and turned a new page direction with Jalen Johnson now leading the charge. Without Trae Young, the Hawks now lean on more of a defensive-minded identity and have a roster loaded with athleticism.
During the regular season, these teams faced off three times. They split the first two matchups, which took place on December 27th and January 2nd. New York picked up a narrow 108-105 victory in the most recent game, which took place on April 6th. Both sides were aware that this was a potential postseason matchup, and this game had some major seeding implications. It was an evenly matched game in which neither team was able to extend a lead beyond 10 points, and the rebounding battle was separated by just one board. The biggest discrepancy came with the Knicks shooting 50% compared to the Hawks shooting 40%, and New York outscoring Atlanta 52-34 in the paint.
While there are higher expectations for this Knicks team in the postseason outlook, the Hawks stack up fairly well in this matchup. Jalen Brunson will be at the heart of the offensive attack for New York. But his biggest weakness is when he is guarded by high-level athletes with a size advantage over him. The Hawks have built out a roster loaded with this archetype of player, and there is not a clear matchup for Brunson to hunt in most lineup combinations.
Brunson has enough experience and savvy to will settle in over the course of the series. But expect some growing pains in the early parts of this matchup, and for this to be a huge hurdle for this Knicks team. I am backing the Hawks to cover the 5.5-point spread and would not be shocked if they steal the opening game. This is a series in which neither side should be expected to pull away by major margins throughout. Count on Atlanta to have defense success and have a clear gameplan for limiting the impact of Brunson. Expect this matchup to come down to the wire and take the points in the series opener.
Best Bet: Hawks +6.5 (-112)
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