Knicks Notes: Towns, Brunson, Brown, Rose, Lin

Coach Mike Brown was upset with the free throw disparity in Monday’s Game 3 loss, but Knicks players don’t believe that’s what caused their 13-game playoff winning streak to end, Steve Popper of Newsday writes in a subscriber-only story. Karl-Anthony Towns blamed an uncharacteristic sloppiness with the ball as New York committed 13 turnovers, several as the result of unforced errors.

“That ain’t cost us the game,” Towns responded when asked about Brown’s comments on the officiating. “Turned the ball over. Didn’t execute. Didn’t do what got us 13 straight wins in a row. That’s how you lose a game. We didn’t do what we’ve been doing for 13. We decided to do something different, and it ain’t going to work. Throwing the ball away is a clear indication of how you’re going to lose the game, especially in the playoffs.”

Another concern Popper raises is stagnation on offense, with Brown saying too often players were standing and watching whoever had the ball. Popper notes that Jalen Brunson finished with 32 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, but only had five assists as the offense lacked its usual fluidity.

“We’ve got to pick up the ball movement, for sure,” Towns said. “We have to. Two, we have, what, 13 games in a row, 50 days of film to show what it looks like when we’re at our best. So we’ve got good film. We’ll get back to our fundamentals, what makes us great, what made us great, and get back to work.”

There’s more from New York:

• Speaking to reporters before tonight’s Game 4, Brown addressed the league’s decision to not give Victor Wembanyama a flagrant foul for an incident with Brunson early in Monday’s contest, per James L. Edwards of The Athletic (Twitter link). “They’re not going to listen to me,” Brown told reporters. “I said my piece. You just hope at the end of the day things are consistent on both ends.”
• One of the Knicks’ most valuable qualities is having a core of players who have been together for several years, states Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. As it becomes tougher to keep rosters intact due to CBA restrictions, teams that can establish continuity tend to have an advantage. Vorkunov points out that it’s been true for every NBA champion since 2021. “I think you just get a familiarity and a certain comfort level with those guys,” Josh Hart said. “All of them can go out there and make plays, especially end of shot clock. … I think it’s more so the trust that’s built, and you know where everyone likes the ball and plays for them to execute.”
• Leon Rose’s refusal to speak to the media has kept him out of the spotlight more than most other NBA executives, but the Knicks’ president has done an incredible job building the current roster, observes Chris Mannix of SI. Mannix examines the moves that Rose has made over the past five years to turn the franchise around, including the 2022 signing of Brunson in free agency. “I think he has a great basketball mind,” Brunson said of Rose. “The way he’s been able to do this, especially here with all the scrutiny people do to him and everything, I just think the way he goes about his business is as good as anyone.”
• Jeremy Lin, who earned his greatest fame during his time in New York, believes Brunson deserves more credit for giving the Knicks a discount in his last extension and providing the financial flexibility that made them title contenders, per Melissa Rohlin of The California Post. “I don’t think enough people are talking about him giving up $113MM to build a team full of players that want to win,” Lin said. “I think that speaks volumes. That’s also historic. It’s not talked about enough. Now he’s starting to get some of the recognition he deserves as a player, but he’s the consummate teammate and professional.”