The New York Knicks, fresh off a championship win just four months ago, found themselves in a weird spot, losing three in a row before pulling off a comeback victory against the Chicago Bulls on October 28. It’s wild to think the reigning champs are already looking for answers, and Coach Mike Brown isn’t holding back about what’s going on with his squad. He was straight up about the team’s early struggles and the tough decisions he’s making.
Comeback Kids, But Make It Sluggish
That Bulls game? Our guys had to fight for it. Coach Brown gave credit where it was due, saying, “Gotta take my hat off to our guys, they found a way to get it done.” He highlighted the bench, calling them “fantastic.” Landry was money, hitting 4 of 7 from beyond the arc, which Brown called “huge.” Andre Drummond grabbed 11 rebounds in just 15 minutes, and Tyler chipped in with 3 big threes, 9 assists, and 0 turnovers in 18 minutes, described as “just a ball mover.” The “DPOG Jordan” also got a shoutout. But it wasn’t easy. The team arrived in Chicago at 2:30 a.m., leading to a visibly sluggish performance. Brown acknowledged this, saying, “It’s not an excuse. It’s the life of the NBA.” He knew they looked “really, really sluggish,” but they still found a way to win.
Experimenting After a Chip? Coach Brown Gets Real About the Rotation
So why the rocky start for a championship team? Brown shed some light on why young guys like Mo Diawara and Pacome Dadiet haven’t seen much court time. He admitted he wanted to “experiment with…playing 10 or 10 ½ guys” in the rotation early on, with Mo and Pac in that mix. But “our players not getting it done caused us to start off a little slow.” To steady the ship, they’re leaning on “a veteran group of guys.” Brown hopes to get to a point “sooner than later that I can start throwing those [young] guys out there.” He’s still figuring out the bench beyond the starting five, stating, “Our starting five is what it is. But everybody else after that, until we find something that’s working consistently, I’m going to try to give different guys opportunities.” It sounds like the search for consistent chemistry is still very much on for the champs.
Brunson: The Undeniable Will of an MVP
Amidst the early season adjustments, Jalen Brunson remains the rock. Even when he struggled with his shot against Chicago, Coach Brown wasn’t phased. “I wasn’t worried about that. He just seems like he always finds a way,” Brown said, adding, “And tonight we needed every single one of those. It definitely wasn’t a concern of mine.” Brown then poured out praise for Brunson’s determination and toughness, calling him an “MVP-caliber basketball player.” He noted Brunson isn’t physically imposing “not 6-7, he’s not athletic, he’s not quick.” But his “will is unbelievable. His determination, man, it’s second to none.” Brown highlighted his “competitive spirit, his will, his toughness, especially his mental toughness, but his physical toughness, too, added with his skill set, it makes him an unbelievable basketball player.” That’s high praise, and it shows you the kind of leader they have.
What’s next for the reigning champs? They’re gearing up for their NBA Cup title-defending debut on Friday. With Coach Brown still tinkering with the rotation and relying on his veterans to get things on track, every game matters as they try to regain that championship swagger.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Posting and Toasting.
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