Knicks coach Mike Brown just laid out exactly what he expects from Mohamed Diawara in his second year, telling everyone that Diawara “needs to take a step forward” this season. This isn’t just coach-speak, either. Brown broke down the specifics of Diawara’s growth, giving fans a real look at what to watch for as the preseason kicks off.
Year 2 Diawara Is A Different Beast, Apparently
According to Brown, Mohamed Diawara’s comfort level entering his second year is night and day compared to his rookie campaign. Last year? Diawara was “a little jittery,” unsure of himself, and just played “at one speed.” You could see it, right? He was just out there trying to go hard because he didn’t quite have the full picture. But now? That’s all changing.
Brown is hyping up Diawara’s “cadence” on offense, saying it’s way better. And defensively, the dude’s communication is at “a higher level.” Why? Because he’s finally got a real “feel” for the game, not just knowing what *he* should do, but what he should be telling his teammates to do, especially from the back or bottom side of the defense where he sees the whole court. This kind of nuanced understanding? That’s the stuff that separates the good players from the great ones, and Brown sounds genuinely excited about what’s coming.
Preseason Plan: Ease ‘Em In, Emphasize “Next-Play Speed”
Brown also gave us the lowdown on the Knicks’ preseason approach, starting with Monday’s opener. Don’t expect to see the starters log heavy minutes; Brown’s plan is to “ease them in” and “build them up” over the preseason, with the final game being the real “dress rehearsal.” This is smart, giving the new guys a chance to mesh without burning out the vets.
And speaking of new guys, Brown is 100 percent okay with mistakes, especially early on. He knows when you’ve got fresh faces trying to learn a system, errors are going to happen. What he’s really watching for is “next-play speed.” Did a player make a mistake and then drop their head, or did they immediately try to fix it? That’s the mindset Brown is drilling into this squad, correcting things fast and moving on. He wants to see “overall effort,” things like “boxing out every single time,” “competing” for offensive rebounds, and “sprinting corner-to-corner in transition.”
The pressure cooker free throw drill Brown learned from Pop? It’s still a thing. Miss it, and “everybody’s got to run,” putting real pressure on the guys when “everybody’s standing there watching.” It’s a fantastic way to bring the group together, and Tony Bradley even sank the game-winner on Saturday, getting “love” from the whole team.
The Knicks kick off their preseason slate tomorrow, and with coach Brown so focused on Diawara’s development and establishing that “next-play speed” mentality, it’s clear what the stakes are for these early games. Get ready to see some serious growth and effort as these guys start gelling!
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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