Mike Brown stood tall in his first test as the Knicks coach. They claimed a commanding 84-99 victory in their preseason opener against the Philadelphia 76ers in Abu Dhabi. It showcased the key changes Brown has implemented into the New York Knicks’ identity. And Brian Windhorst has been observing other changes while watching their practices.
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The ESPN analyst compares the Knicks to Greg Popovich’s iconic Spurs team. “What the Knicks are doing in practicing looks very, very different from the way that they’ve played in recent year… I’m kind of watching a Spurs 2010 style offense from the Knicks where the old Gregg Popovich 0.5 rule, which is you get the ball and you have half a second to decide to pass or shoot. That’s what the Knicks are doing in practice right now,” he said on Hoop Collective.
Jalen Brunson recorded 4 assists as the lead decision-maker for Brown. Speaking of the Knicks’ cornerstone, his role could vastly change this season. Until last season, nobody kept the ball as long as Brunson. But Brown wants to involve the All-Star point guard in more off-ball actions. “I believe that they’re going to break the old habits and that the ball will leave Jalen Brunson’s hand like I’m seeing it, where I’m seeing just really,” Windhorst added.
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Dec 12, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown gives direction as he stands on the court against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Although it is only preseason, Brunson’s openness to adapt was evident. At times, Mikal Bridges carried the ball down the court, with the ‘Captain’ occupying the corners. The Knicks’ offense ran smoothly after starting off with a 9-3 deficit. Furthermore, defensively, Brown has enforced effort as the foundation. The Knicks held Philly to shooting below 10% from three, albeit players are still getting back into game rhythm.
Nonetheless, most Knicks players had successful outings in their debut under Mike Brown. Clearly, they are prioritizing different methodologies. However, for Josh Hart, the night ended early and sparked concern among Knicks fandom.
The Knicks face Josh Hart trouble in the preseason opener
Josh Hart entered the season carrying an injury. On media day, his crooked finger evidently grabbed attention. The former Laker guard will wear a splint after offseason surgery didn’t fully correct his injured finger. However, in the opener against the 76ers, Hart suffered from what looked like a nasty back injury.
It came during an offensive possession, where the Knicks star battled for a rebound. He went to the ground shortly after the tussle, without any contact. 76ers coach Nick Nurse felt it was “very serious at the beginning,”. But Mike Brown provided some much-needed relief. The reason Josh Hart never returned after the incident was because of an ejection, which was awarded because he threw the ball into the stands.
“I just saw him down and he looked like he was in considerable pain. But he’s day-to-day and we’ll see how he feels tomorrow,” the Knicks head coach said about Hart’s injury. He is now the second player with the same status. OG Anunoby also missed out on the preseason opener due to a sprained left hand.
But it mostly seems the Knicks don’t have any grave injury troubles. Hart couldn’t return due to his ejection. Aside from that, while the incident was scary, the Knicks guard seems to be out of trouble. What were your thoughts on the Knicks’ win against the 76ers? Let us know your views in the comments below.
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Ved Vaze