SPANISH HARLEM – The start of the New York Knicks is training camp is only 2 months, as we inch ever closer, I’m getting more and more comfortable with the hiring of Mike Brown. I have read numerous articles on why he is the right man for the job and some of that has swayed my initial decision of disappointment. With that said, here’s my reasoning for the change of tune.
At first, I wanted an offensive minded coach. The offense was very stagnant, especially late in the season and in the playoffs. They relied heavily on Jalen Brunson to score late in possessions when they couldn’t generate a good play on offense. It was hard to watch and while Brunson scored more often than not in those situations, it wasn’t the prettiest brand of basketball.
Enter Mike Brown, who I thought was more of a defensive minded coach but after digesting his offense with the Sacramento Kings, I believe it could help Brunson and the Knicks in the long run. Though Brunson will dominate the ball as the primary ball handler, it will benefit them to move the ball around and keep everyone happy in the process. With Brown implementing traits of the Golden State Warriors, you will see more movement from individual players, allowing them to shoot and be more active on offense.
The other part of this will allow JB to play off the ball, which we know he can do, as we saw in Dallas and early with Randle in his first year with the team. We know that Brunson can score one on one against anybody in the league, but he does take a beating when he enters the paint. If the ball is moving, the players like Mikal Bridges and OG will be more engaged and more productive. Consider the opportunity for more minutes coming from the bench, this should keep the starters and Jalen fresh late in games.
That’s it for now, please come back tomorrow for more great content from Jackson Sternberg.
