Mike Brown's Offensive Vision 'Starting To Click' With Another Dominant Game

The numbers over the past three games are striking: the Knicks posted 1.339 points per possession in Game 5 against Atlanta, 1.435 in Game 6, and 1.431 in Game 1 against Philadelphia. For context, the Denver Nuggets led the NBA in offensive rating this season at 1.226 points per possession. New York has outscored opponents by 135 points dating back to that Game 4 against the Hawks, topping 125 points in three of those four contests. Brown's system was designed to eliminate predictability through connected concepts rather than rigid play calls, allowing players to flow from one action to the next until an advantage emerged. It's a lot of fun when you have concepts on either end of the floor and guys are trying to embrace those concepts at the highest level, Brown said. When they do, it doesn't really matter what you call or initiates the action because guys are trying to play the right way. It can be any team out on the floor. If they're trying to embrace what you're throwing out there, sacrificing, all of that other stuff, it can be a lot of fun to watch. The results were slow to develop. New York reverted to more familiar offensive sets early in the season to accommodate its personnel. Now, with each starter operating within defined roles, the pieces are connecting. Jalen Brunson scored 35 points on 12-of-18 shooting. Karl-Anthony Towns controlled the pinch post, creating looks for cutters and shooters. OG Anunoby finished with 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting, punishing single coverage. Every starter except Josh Hart scored at least 17 points. New York recorded 34 assists. We're being unselfish, Hart said. When we do that, we're playing our best basketball. You always want to peak later in the season, so this is the process of the year, said Anunoby. We're starting to click, and hopefully getting better and better. We're a really tough team with threats all over the place. It's very hard to guard.