The Knicks ranked fifth in the NBA last season with a 117.3 offensive rating, but the team’s efficiency dropped over the course of the year, as Stefan Bondy writes for The New York Post. After scoring 119.9 points per 100 possessions prior to the All-Star break, New York ranked 22nd with just 112.3 points per 100 possessions after the break, and the club’s 112.7 offensive rating in the playoffs was the worst of the four conference finalists.
Knicks reserve guard Miles McBride is optimistic that new head coach Mike Brown will help revitalize an offense that slowed down over the season’s final few months.
“Last year, we might’ve gotten a little bit stagnant, and the last couple years,” McBride told Bondy. “And I feel like what [Brown’s] been preaching is just being able to play with pace, and it’s not just the guy with the ball. And everybody is a possibility [to score] and able to take it off the dribble, of course.”
Describing the team as “really hungry” after coming within two wins of an NBA Finals appearance in 2024/25, McBride went into more detail on why his conversations with Brown so far have made him excited about what the Knicks’ offense will look like going forward.
“I’ve talked to [Brown] a lot, and I think the big thing is just going to be a lot of player movement,” McBride said. “He’s giving us the foundation, and we’re just going to work off of it. So I’m really excited to see all our creativity with each other that we’ve been working on these last couple months. Really excited to see where it takes us.”
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- Speaking to D.J. Siddiqi of Games Hub a few weeks ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, Jalen Brunson referred to the former Timberwolves big man as a “phenomenal” addition for the Knicks both on and off the court. “The things that he’s been able to do in a short period of time being a Knick has been amazing,” Brunson said. “Having him as a teammate has been really fun. I think that gets overlooked how good of a teammate he is. Obviously, he’s a great player and what he does on the court. But the teammate he is and what he brings to the locker room for us is special. So I’m really happy to have him.”
- Veteran free agents Dennis Smith Jr. and Alex Len played well in informal scrimmages on Monday, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter link), who confirms that Trey Jemison remains on New York’s radar and says the team is finalizing its decisions on who to invite to training camp. Begley also reported the Knicks’ interest in re-signing Matt Ryan before word broke this morning that the two sides had a deal in place.
- How will the Knicks’ coaching change affect OG Anunoby? Fred Katz of The Athletic digs into that question, exploring whether the athletic forward will benefit from Brown’s stated desire to play at a faster pace and whether Anunoby could take on more offensive responsibilities.
If you are going to trade someone it’s either Mitchell Robinson or OG
Better not be either of them. Tinker at the edges.
I would have only traded Mitch and OG for Giannis
I offered McBride, Kolek, Ariel H, draft rights to Lessort and picks to the Wolves for Donte D and Joe Ingles
But everyone shoots it down but it helps both teams. A win win for both
That ain’t gonna help them win against Western teams…
That oversized 4 is their main issue now they have got rid of Thibs…
Maybe the Knicks trade both for Walker Kessler… Or another young defensive 5 with promise…
That would be a huge overpay. OG and Mitch for Walker Kessler?
It’s about optimising KAT… Walker Kessler is just a name of a playet that fits…
If they are desperate to win a title they will move KAT or optimise the players around him…
The Jazz have picks and pieces to make the trade make more sense from a value perspective… But if Mitch gets injured again this season his value will be too low…
Brown is giving them a foundation for creativity to work off of…
This is the year for him to do it… first with the club and a very weak Eastern conference…
In the west the turnovers to start the season would cost too many wins… And with KAT out there being creative, turnovers are gonna happen on the regular late into the season…
Could end up with some magical plays when they get it right however… Should be fun to watch for the highs and lows…
Thibs offense did start out much better. There was more ball movement and sharing the ball. Then it became Brunson killing the clock. No bench was probably the reason. Well we got a bench this year. I’m all for letting everyone handle the ball. What I want to see most. Is Bridges go for 22 a night.