Expect some significant shifts in the Knicks’ approach under new head coach Mike Brown.
These modifications aim to elevate the team to true championship contender status. With the preseason wrapped up, some adjustments are already visible, while others still need refining.
Here’s a breakdown of the key changes.
Tempo
Last season, the Knicks had one of the slowest paces in the NBA, clocking in at 97.64 possessions per 48 minutes. Brown’s past teams have consistently been among the league’s fastest, and he’s eager for the Knicks to ramp up their tempo.
However, during the preseason, they ranked second in the league for the slowest pace, averaging 98.55 possessions per 48 minutes. So, it’s a slight improvement, but not quite the transformation Brown envisioned.
Brown pointed to injuries as a significant factor in this sluggish start.
“The key players who are out are central to our plans,” Brown mentioned following a 113-108 victory over the Hornets in the last preseason game at Madison Square Garden. “They’re missing crucial practice time. It seems like we’ll need more time to get everything cohesive.”
Starting Lineup
Key changes are anticipated for the starting lineup. Mitchell Robinson is set to take the court first, while Josh Hart is likely to return to the bench just as he did in the playoffs last season.
This means Karl-Anthony Towns will shift to the power forward position instead of center.
Towns and Robinson logged some time together during the preseason, securing two victories over the 76ers and one against the Timberwolves.
Towns averaged 30 minutes per game, putting up 9.0 points on 26.3 percent shooting, along with 6.3 assists. In contrast, Robinson was on the floor for 14.8 minutes per game, scoring about 4.7 points and grabbing 10.0 rebounds, including 3.0 on the offensive end.
Jalen Brunson’s Role
Coach Brown aims for Brunson to operate more off the ball, which should cut down on isolation play and help him find easier scoring opportunities.
This strategy became evident in the preseason, where Brunson engaged in more movement, navigating through screens and seizing catch-and-shoot chances. Initially, he seemed a bit out of sync, but his performance polished up considerably as the games progressed.
This approach also benefited other scorers like Mikal Bridges. In preseason play, Bridges averaged 12.8 points over 23.1 minutes, shooting 50% from the floor.
Bench Depth
Brown looks to utilize the bench significantly more than Tom Thibodeau did. With newcomers like Gershon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson, along with the return of Landry Shamet and a fully fit Robinson in the rotation, the bench is expected to have more depth.
While it’s normal for starters not to shoulder the full load during preseason, Brown’s intent to expand bench usage was apparent.
That said, Yabusele and Clarkson ran into some struggles. Their performances were a bit underwhelming, with Yabusele at -9.6 and Clarkson at -6.0. Yabusele managed just 31% shooting, while Clarkson hit 38.8% of his shots while averaging 1.8 turnovers in 18.4 minutes on the floor.
