Karl-Anthony Towns seems to be growing comfortable with new coach Mike Brown‘s schemes. The Knicks big man racked up 33 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in a 119-102 victory over the Wizards on Monday.
“KAT was a monster. He was a monster on the glass, he was really good defensively, he was a monster inside, outside,” Brown said, per Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News. “He’s starting to feel and find his rhythm in what we’re trying to do.”
Towns had scored fewer than 20 points in half of New York’s first six games.
“Really, we’re all figuring it out. Getting better every day, understanding what our roles are and what we’ve got to do,” Towns said. “It’s good, we’ve got two wins in a row but we’re obviously still a work in progress.”
We have more on the Knicks:
- Brown has trimmed the rotation to nine players in the past two games, Winfield notes. Against the Bulls on Sunday, Brown went with Josh Hart, Landry Shamet, Miles McBride and Jordan Clarkson off the bench. On Monday, with Mitchell Robinson sitting for load management purposes, Shamet moved into the starting lineup and Guerschon Yabusele played on the second unit. “The last two nights were the best I’ve done for them in terms of rotations. They kinda sorta knew when they were coming out or going in, who was going to play together,” Brown said.
- Robinson’s availability remains something of a mystery, Jared Schwartz of the New York Post writes. Robinson has only played a combined 33 minutes through the first seven games. Left ankle injury management is the club’s reasons for limiting his minutes and game appearances. Don’t expect that to change. “We’ll keep doing that throughout the course of the year. Whatever they tell me, I’m gonna do,” Brown said.
- Mikal Bridges‘ all-around game has been on display this season, Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post writes. He has also been a lot more vocal in his second year with the club. Bridges, who signed a four-year extension in the offseason, is averaging 16.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.4 steals per night.
- Despite dealing with hand and ankle injuries, Hart contributed 12 points with 10 rebounds and five assists in just 26 minutes on Monday. “Basically been banged up and hurt for what, three months?” Hart said, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. “Little frustrating, but it comes with the territory. It comes with being in a contact sport, so it is what it is.”
So wait – NY sports writers were wrong – 5 games isn’t enough to judge a new coach and his system? Imagine that.
They beat the bulls on a home and home series. Usually teams lose a game of that series. And the wizards come on. I need to see them. Verse OKC the Lakers, the Timberwolves the Spurs even Houston because those are the teams that they would be playing in the NBA finals. The East is pretty much a two-man race, even though I’m not sure if they can beat Milwaukee right now. We’ll have to see
@Buying
“They beat the bulls on a home and home series. Usually teams lose a game of that series.”
I’m not sure what you’re trying to say. That home win over the Bulls was the Knicks’ best win of the season.
IMO the East is wide open, with 9 teams at .500 or better, led by the surprising Bulls at 6-1.
The East is weak, they will be judged and how they play in the finals. If they play competitive in the finals and loses good season. If they lose 4-1 or get swept (Even though I don’t think the NBA will allow NBA final sweeps any longer) then it’s a failed season. They are the favorites in the East so you go get a pat on the back for winning a conference they are supposed too.
You can go to the NBA finals and be far from a champion. Let’s be honest right now the best three teams in the NBA are all out west. Meaning if they played out west they wouldn’t beat any of those three teams and I’m saying that as a Knick fan. Hopefully something changes but they stand no chance vs OKC the way they are constructed.
Also, the bulls really aren’t that good. They have some decent pieces but would probably not make the playoffs in the west. They most likely will be a six or seven seat by the end of the season. They’re just starting off hot. We get one of those teams every single year.
Breakin news lol ……. All the drama.
U played the wizards that was leading the first quarter and they’re bunch of kids… lol!
Wonder if the Knicks are babying Robinson to lower the price on his next contract lol.
Watching KATs mins should help him play better D. Seems like the starting 5 still isn’t settled. It should be Hart till they trade Mitch. Considering Mitch has only played 33 mins in 7 gms so far. No reason to change last yrs 5 yet. Amazing what 2 wins does for the world. Always good to play at home.
Best things to take from this. Is KAT playing well. The bench playing well. And having a full squad again. Knicks have 5 more home gms. Time to get this team right. TWolves up next. Just one gm at a time. It’s a long season. Clarkson is starting to come along. Yet Yabusele is still working it out. We need everyone, let’s do this ………. NYK
KAT is always a monster, as a C not a PF, seems like Brown is discovering something new and amazing, SMH!
El Don ……. we finally agree bro.
My guy ….. I want to see him at 22 a gm. Hope he’s ready to level up. Bridges and OG are two of best 2way players in the game. Love having them on team. Keep it up …….
“ Bridges is stuffing the stat sheet. He is averaging 16.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1 block in 35.4 minutes through the team’s first seven games. He’s scoring efficiently, too. Bridges is sinking 54.5% of his shot attempts, specifically connecting on 48.5% of 3-point attempts. And he is shooting 87.% from the charity stripe as well.”
link to clutchpoints.com
OG and Bridges have been excellent. I think the coaching change had a lot to do with them and was aimed at getting the most out of those guys.
Bridges in particular. Big difference from last year. He’s starting to play like Phoenix Bridges – a tough defender, making the right plays everywhere on the court, and making timely shots with well-above-average efficiency.
KAT came out in that game with the “I’m not losing my duel against that scrawny French dude” attitude, lol. And you’re absolutely right, I see no point playing him at 4, that doesn’t really help the team, and makes KAT more passive. Maybe in stretches Mitch can come in, maybe NY can experiment with it in some match-ups, but KAT should not be a full-time 4.
Thats what I don’t get from fans. And worse so called knowledgeable basketball people. Why would you move Towns. From his best position. Where he is a matchup problem for other teams.
I feel much better with Bridges at over 20 a gm. I don’t like being dependent on Brunson scoring to win all the time. I have always seen three 20 point scorers on team. Brunson, Towns, Bridges
I’m not sure beating a 1-win team at home says much about how things will go longer term – they have an astoundingly easy schedule at the moment with 5 straight more home games and only 1 B2B (home/home) through the end of the month. After 7 straight home games, they have 5 road games with no B2Bs and the last 2 are vs the 1 win Hornets and winless Nets. Through end of month, Knicks have 11 home 9 rd with 2 B2Bs, and as of today’s standings have 10 games vs teams with winning records.
Compare that cake schedule to GSW’s absurd early slate: 12 rd 8 home with FIVE B2B’s and 11 are vs winning teams.
First Knicks are 4-0 at home. And haven’t had a full squad all yr. As of now they have a better record than last yr. Winning always matters. Who cares about the Warriors record or schedule. Most teams need 20-30 gms to find their consistency. So trying to come up with answers now. Is asinine. Especially when you don’t even watch the team play.
Yeah, they caught a break in this years schedule. Just what they needed to work out the kinks in the new system.
By the end of the season, the Knicks and Warriors will have played the same number of home games, away games, and B2Bs. And they’ve played 1 more team with a winning record? Quite the disparity. Curse the gods!!