Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones Jr. discuss New York’s recent changes to its starting five and why first-year head coach Mike Brown has taken the right approach with finding his top lineup. Check out the full conversation on “The Dunker Spot and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
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Video Transcript
It’s time to talk about the New York Knicks.
Hey, are they going to have a top-10 offense this year?
They are third in offensive rating, per NBA.com.
12th in defensive rating.
In the month of November, they were 2nd in offensive rating.
10th in defensive rating.
And so youre seeing the building blocks of what the Knicks can become.
I think it’s been a real patient effort from Coach Mike Brown as far as establishing, I want to play even more now.
Pace, as everyone likes to say, But I want to play with more tempo at half court.
Let’s get everyone involved and try to push this to something where we can have a base now No matter who’s in the lineup.
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They have won 11 of their last 14 games.
They’re 10-1 at Madison Square Garden this year.
And they are winners of four straight games as of this recording.
Now, I bring up that four straight because the starting lineup of Jalen Brunson, Deuce McBride, McHale Bridges, Josh Hart, and Katt won, 4-0.
So far, so good.
And, uh, I’ve liked the move.
Would you look at it, Josh Hart sure is doing some stuff again.
Huh, Nikis?
He sure is.
He sure is putting together a little bit of a season.
So in the 4 games as a starter, Josh Hart is averaging 17 points, 11.8 rebounds.
7 assists; shooting 53% from field, 45% From 3 on 5 attempts per night.
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He is truly an important factor for the Knicks.
So I want to tip my hat to Josh Hart.
Have you enjoyed the Josh Hart experience?
Naka?
I have enjoyed the Josh Hart experience.
And, like before, getting into the Josh Hart experience.
I would just like to say to one of the earlier points that you made.
It was an overall point about starting lineup.
Thank goodness we’re just getting more of Jalen Brunson and Deuce McBride together.
Hm, that felt like such low-hanging fruit to play them together.
Get some more shooting, get an extra ball handler on the floor.
If you want to dabble in any full-court pressure things, Deuce McBride can do that.
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We’ve seen it during this stretch too.
As for Josh Hart, I’ve enjoyed him for all the reasons that you have listed.
The initiation, some playmakinghe’s knocking down timely threes.
And if he’s locked in defensively, we know he can take on a lot.
Different on-ball assignments, but off-ball, If he’s nailing those early rotations, If he’s scramming Jalen Brunson out of matchups or Deuce McBride is out of matchups, Putting out little fires before they become big fires; it just helps the entire ecosystem That Knicks’ defense, which is trending up.
And if they get stops, you get in transition, and thats where Jalen Brunson is at his best.
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Deuce McBride, the early pull-ups, he’s at his best.
McKale Bridges has long been one of the best transition scorers in basketball.
You get the early trail stuff with Kat, if you want to.
So, it all kind of ties in together, and I am with you.
Josh Hart absolutely deserves the credit for helping to tie this group all together.
