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Why Nickeil Alexander-Walker is confident in Hawks’ chances as underdogs vs Knicks
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- Why Nickeil Alexander-Walker is confident in Hawks’ chances as underdogs vs Knicks
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The Atlanta Hawks are seen as underdogs going into their series against the New York Knicks , and most of the national media have them losing. The Hawks see it, but they are only focused on what’s in front of them and believe in their ability to compete at the highest level.
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Nickeil Alexander-Walker is making sure that he’s prepared for the moment with the work that he continues to put in, and he knows that it’s just noise of them being underdogs by the national media.
“For me, I process it the same way, good and bad,” Alexander-Walker said after shootaround . “I think there’s a saying where it’s like you can’t really take praise from people you wouldn’t take advice and criticism from. It kind of goes hand in hand. The main focus, for me especially, is like having the confidence to know we can compete. We played them well enough in the regular season to know we can compete with these guys. We know that they’re capable, and we know we’re a capable team as well.
“I think my mindset, more than anything, is just like today, I got to make sure I’m prepared, and how could I get prepared? And then once that moment comes, it’s just being fully in the moment, letting go of all the preparation, all the stuff, knowing that I did everything I could up to this moment, and these are the times I’m supposed to enjoy and have fun and cherish.”
The Hawks have been focused on what they can accomplish as a team, and building those habits has helped them go on a run during the second half of the season. If they can keep that mindset going into the playoffs, they’ll put that noise behind them and do what they need to do to win.
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