The on-court breakthrough was born off the court.
asserted
breakthrough → bear → court
The Knicks hit another gear during the postseason last year, particularly after falling to a 2-1 series deficit to the Hawks in the first round.
asserted
Knicks → hit → round
So much has been written and said about how the Knicks subsequently pivoted to an offensive system that featured Karl-Anthony Towns as a “hub” and facilitator at the elbows, a decision that sparked one of the most dominant championship runs in NBA history.
asserted
that → write → history
Towns told Mike Brown and his assistants that he wanted the team to give him a chance at the new role.
asserted
team → tell → role
Assistant Chris Jent, who is in charge of the Knicks offense, was also involved, pushing for the Towns-centric system.
asserted
who → push → system
Collaboration and the willingness to try new things were major considerations during the coaching search ahead of last year, which resulted in Brown taking over.
asserted
Brown → try → year
And it’s hard to argue that it didn’t play a significant role in the championship run.
asserted
it → ’ → run
The Knicks’ effectiveness in communicating with each other during the playoffs helped fuel their championship.
asserted
effectiveness → communicate → championship
“I think as a group,” Jalen Brunson said, “we figured out that we need each other to win, obviously, and we need each other to be on the same page.
asserted
other → think → page
The early adversity is hard to remember considering the Knicks won 13 of their last 14 games — many in blowout fashion.
asserted
Knicks → remember → fashion
But there was a time, after three games in the first round, when it was DEFCON 1 around the team.
asserted
it → be → team
It tested their mettle, but they came together and brought out the best in each other.
asserted
they → test → other
It’s why Brown actually wants more hard times.
asserted
Brown → ’ → times
“A lot of people tend to shy away from adversity,” Brown said.
asserted
Brown → tend → adversity
“And especially early on, because you get scrutinized, and sometimes it can be tough dealing with that.
asserted
it → scrutinize → that
I actually, I yearn for it.
asserted
I → yearn → it
I yearn for it early, because I want to make sure that not only myself, but we as a group can handle it.
asserted
myself → yearn → it
“And early on, especially when you have a new group, it’s tough to deal with.
asserted
it → have → group
It’s extremely tough to deal with, but that will make you better, dealing with it earlier, as you go along throughout the course of the season because you have not only examples to lean on, but you still have your standard.”
asserted
you → ’ → standard
Brunson and Josh Hart’s friendship is well-documented, but that the Knicks as a whole are genuinely so close to one another — and are all on the same wavelength, with a comfort level with each other — is a real advantage.
asserted
are → document → other
They can handle the bad times — and more importantly, use them to get better.
“The first couple of weeks or whatever of the season is going to show us who we are and where we are,” Brunson said.
asserted
Brunson → handle → us
“No matter what we’re doing, whether we’re playing great, playing bad, how are you going to be able to learn?
asserted
you → do → what
We’ll find a way.
asserted
We → find → way
We’ll hold each other accountable, just like we did last year, and then we’ll be better.
asserted
we → hold → ?
Ten of the top 11 players in minutes played last year are back, with the only departure being Mitchell Robinson.
asserted
departure → play → minutes
In a league where the last eight champions failed to repeat, it gives the Knicks reason to believe they can buck that trend.
asserted
they → fail → trend
“Second year with Mike and all of our assistants, terminology is the same, we’re moving quickly into certain things [during training camp] that we weren’t even close to scratching at this point [last year],” Landry Shamet said.
asserted
Shamet → move → point
“That alone, all that, just from the team perspective, just breeds confidence as well.
asserted
that → breed → confidence
You’re stepping into a familiar environment and you feel good about one another.
asserted
you → step → one
“We’re just exploring, implementing some things and seeing what worked and if we can build on top of it.
asserted
we → explore → it
But for the most part, kind of knowing what formula works and how can we get back up to that speed as quickly as possible?
asserted
we → know → speed
And from there, having a second year, having a second year in the offense adds some flexibility for some variability.
asserted
having → have → variability
I think it sets us up nicely.”
Team chemistry has a real impact.
asserted
chemistry → think → impact
The Knicks are as close as they come.
asserted
they → come → ?
The Aporia
