The New York Knicks played with two different starting lineups in the first two games of the new season and the third variant could follow against the Miami Heat. Head coach Mike Brown explained his selection process for the starting five.
“If I feel like we need to adapt, I will. If not, then not,” Brown explained. “All of our guys should be ready to play – whether they’re starting or finishing the game.”
Compared to the opening game against the Cleveland Cavaliers (119:111), Brown went into the game against the Boston Celtics (105:95), for example, with Miles McBride instead of Ariel Hukporti.
Brown justified the move to McBride with tactical aspects. “They had four guards on the outside. I wasn’t sure how fair it would be for Hukporti and Karl-Anthony Towns to start against four guards,” the coach said. “We’re very versatile – we can try a lot of different things.”
Special praise was given to shooting guard Josh Hart, who was in the starting five against the Celtics for the first time in three weeks after a back injury and had a strong 14 rebounds in 19 minutes. “What he accomplished in such a short amount of time was amazing to see,” Brown said. “This adds a lot to our versatility. It’s good to see him back on the court.”
The Knicks continue their first away game of the season at the Miami Heat on Sunday (11 p.m.).
Related reading
