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CHICAGO — Mike Brown believes it will take him at least another month to fully assess his team and the broader landscape of the NBA.
“It’s going to take some time,” the coach remarked. “It’s tough to get a real sense of things in the first five to ten games. I think everyone who’s been around the league knows that in the first month or month and a half, every team feels like they have a shot. Players are putting in the effort and staying focused. Sometimes, teams that start off strong don’t end up on top.”
He added, “Teams are still figuring things out. We’re evaluating everyone, not just one player, and looking at both our defense and offense. We’ll keep doing that. By the end of November or December, we should have a clearer picture.”
Meanwhile, the Knicks are adapting to a new coach, but they have the advantage of stability, as the top seven players in their rotation have returned from last season.
As they prepare for their Halloween game against the Bulls, the Knicks hold a 2-2 record and are ranked 24th in offense while standing strong at seventh in defense.
“I think we’ve been pretty good defensively for some quarters and parts of the game,” Jalen Brunson said. “We haven’t played a full 48 minutes of offense or defense.”
Draymond Green, for one, doesn’t think the Knicks will get it together.
“I just don’t believe they’re contenders,” Green said on his podcast. “I don’t think they have what it takes to win at the highest level. I think you can stifle their offense. And make it hard on them. And I just think that ultimately, guys that don’t want to defend, it makes it tough to win at the highest level.”
Green didn’t specify players but it’s hard not to separate these comments from his open disdain for Karl-Anthony Towns, who has been criticized often for his defense. Last season, Green accused Towns of faking an injury to avoid playing Jimmy Butler. In reality, Towns was attending the funeral of a family friend.
With Josh Hart struggling to shoot after injuries to his finger and back, his good buddy and teammate Brunson suggested he block out the criticisms.
“One thing he does: When he’s locked in and he’s working on everything and he’s focused, it’s a different Josh and you’ve seen it,” Brunson said. “When we get back to that, it’s just not listening to the outside noise. The fans are talking or whatever and it’s impossible not to see it, but who gives a crap? People are gonna say what they want to say regardless of if we’re playing well or not.”
In three games, Hart is averaging just 3.7 points on 22 percent shooting overall and 11 percent on 3-pointers.