Knicks head coach Mike Brown stated his starters and key rotation gamers will start ramping up their minutes as preseason motion shifts stateside for the ultimate three exhibition video games earlier than Opening Evening.
“We’ll try to work it up this third game, try to get the starters a little bit of action in the second half,” Brown stated Tuesday after observe on the crew’s Tarrytown coaching facility.
No starter has performed greater than 18 minutes throughout the 2 Abu Dhabi video games in opposition to the Philadelphia 76ers. That’s anticipated to alter because the Knicks return to Madison Sq. Backyard for matchups in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, the Washington Wizards on Monday and the Charlotte Hornets within the Oct. 17 preseason finale.
“[We’re] getting closer to the season, getting closer to the real thing,” stated crew captain Jalen Brunson. “We’re still preparing as well as we need to be. So we’ll continue with that preparation and focus. Obviously minutes aren’t what they would be in a regular-season game [yet].”
HART DAY-TO-DAY
Ahead Josh Hart didn’t observe Tuesday as he continues to recuperate from decrease again spasms sustained within the preseason opener. Brown described the damage as “little spasms” and listed Hart as day-to-day.
Hart initially suffered the damage through the second quarter of the Knicks’ first win over the Sixers and was held out of the second matchup. He was already anticipated to play the 2025 season sporting a splint on his proper ring finger earlier than the again situation arose.
OG Anunoby, who missed the preseason opener with a hand sprain, returned for Recreation 2 and delivered 13 factors on 3-of-5 taking pictures from past the arc.
Brown famous that the accidents have restricted his potential to guage sure lineups.
“Not really just because of the injuries, but that’s why you have 15 guys and three two-ways,” he stated. “Someone goes down, it’s the next man up. OG didn’t play in Game 1 — next guy steps up. Josh didn’t play in Game 2 — next guy steps up.”
“Knock on wood, that’s how it’s gotta be all year. That’s why it’s extremely important for everybody to be mentally locked in. Your number can be called any time. Our guys are extremely professional and they’ll be ready — even if they haven’t played in a game or two.”
KAT, YABUSELE FACING STEEPEST LEARNING CURVE
Brown stated Karl-Anthony Cities and Guerschon Yabusele are going through the steepest studying curve on the offensive finish as each gamers are tasked with toggling between the 4 and 5 spots in his system.
“They have the toughest job on the team because one, two, three and four are interchangeable,” stated Brown. “So when you’re on the floor, you have to know all four of those spots. And then five is completely separate.”
“So Kat and Yabusele have to learn all five spots in everything we’re trying to do now. That’s going to take time.”
Brown stated the problem comes from the elemental variations within the tasks between the 4 and 5 positions.
“Sometimes they’re at the five, sometimes they’re at the four — and they’re completely different. It’s going to take them a little longer than everyone else, and the learning curve will be a lot steeper.”
BRUNSON ‘STILL ADJUSTING’ TO NEW SYSTEM
Whereas the Knicks’ flooring basic can see the advantages of Brown’s faster-paced offensive system, he famous there may be nonetheless a lot work to be executed for everybody to get on the identical web page.
“Still adjusting, still learning and there’s still a lot for us to get better at, but I think playing out of the basics of our offense for the first week-ish or two, whatever it’s been — the potential is getting there,” he stated on Tuesday. “And what we’re learning and how we’re playing as a team is definitely improving. So still a long way to go, but getting our basics down.”
