Greenburgh, New York, USA (AP) – Knicks have a New coach and completely new expectations.
A team that could not even reach the playoffs before the arrival of Tom Thibodeau is now one of the favorites to reach the NBA finals. Mike Brown has inherited what could be the strongest template of the Eastern Conference.
New York returns with the five headlines of a team that reached the conference finals for the first time in 25 years before his surprising coach change. Knicks can play differently under Brown, but they still sound like a Tibodeau team, focusing on the work that should be done today instead of what is to come.
“We understand the opportunity we have in front of us, so we just have to leave there every day and find a way to improve every night and give our best version to our fans every night,” said the Karl-Anthony Towns wing on Tuesday.
The Dominican All-Star was acquired in a exchange with Minnesota just before the training camp began last year. The big change for the Knicks this summer was the dismissal of Thibodeau, who took them to the playoffs in four of their five seasons after the postseason was lost during the previous seven years.
Jalen Brunson consolidated himself to becoming a Tibodeau All-Star. The base said it was sad to see the dismissal of a coach who has known much of his life – Brunson’s father, Rick, was an assistant and continues in Brown’s team – but will work to make sure the change is worth it.
“For me, it is my job to go there and find a way to help this team win,” Brunson said. “There are different people in this organization with different jobs and different things they have to do to improve this team, and that is their perspective. So for me, I will do my job the best I can.”
His role could change, since Brown wants to play faster and perhaps with the ball not so much in Brunson’s hands as before. But the Knicks captain said he is open to anything and hopes that others are too.
“If you want to win, you will. It’s that simple,” Brunson said.
Brown begins his new work before most teams, because the Knicks will play two preseason games against Philadelphia in Abu Daabi. After two consecutive seasons with 50 victories, they share the second best chances of winning the NBA title behind the defending champion Oklahoma City, at Betmgm Sportsbook, located just behind Cleveland as favorites of the east.
Brown said that means that Knicks must be focused on each practice “knowing that we have a goal on our backs.”
“And when you have that on your backs, you have to do your best every time you step on the court and not only at the time of the game,” he added.
The Knicks talked about the pain of staying so close last year. They know that another opportunity can be there for them.
“I think each team that does not get there, or any team that comes there and loses it, has it as fuel,” said Mikal Bridges escort. “But only control what you can control, take the day to day, and you cannot get to June without going through all these other months. So you just have to worry about the now and prepare.”
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