Ahead of Saturday’s first-round opener against the Hawks, Knicks coach Mike Brown made it clear on Wednesday that New York’s postseason push will hinge on energy, discipline and buy-in. “Everybody practiced,” Brown said, setting the tone for a series that begins at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, April 18.
Brown spent much of the press conference breaking down Atlanta’s profile, calling the Hawks an “athletic team” that “get out and transition just as good as any team, if not the best.” He also pointed to their pressure on the glass, saying, “Their athleticism, their length, they were very aggressive on the offensive glass,” and added, “Their size and athleticism allows them to switch when they want to defensively.”
That versatility, Brown said, is part of what makes Atlanta difficult to prepare for. “This is a well-coached team,” he said, while stressing that New York cannot lean on reputation or comfort heading into the series.
Brown repeatedly returned to the same theme: connection. “Everybody in that locker room has a competitive spirit that I like and that I can say is unmatched,” he said. “The belief in the process and each other was always there.” He also described the group as one that has “trended towards” accountability and sacrifice over the course of the season.
The Knicks finished 53-29 and secured the No. 3 seed, while the Hawks went 46-36 and claimed the No. 6 spot. Brown said New York’s regular-season adjustments matter now because, “We made some pretty big changes throughout the course of the year,” and the group kept responding: “Believe and buy in.”
Brown also highlighted Karl-Anthony Towns, who averaged 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds this season. “He’s an all-star,” Brown said. “He can go through a game and get zero shots and he’ll be just as happy as if he had twenty shots as long as we win,” before adding that Towns’ perimeter work is no accident: “It’s not by accident. He puts the work in and when they don’t guard him we want him to let it fly.”
The Knicks’ coach said Jalen Brunson’s handling of pressure is a key part of the offense. “If they put you on Jalen it’s his job as a great player to make the game easier for others,” Brown said. “You put two on him, he makes the right pass or moves the ball in a timely manner.”
