Knicks Prepare to Adapt Roles in Title Defense with New Offensive Strategies

The Knicks’ playoff run last year might have just been a preview of what’s ahead. Their postseason offense, which sparked an impressive championship victory, was born from necessity after trailing 2-1 in the first round against the Hawks. This season, they have a full training camp and preseason to refine that approach.

Jalen Brunson expressed optimism after the first practice, saying, "I feel like we can do a lot more, do a lot of different things. We unlocked something in the playoffs that worked at a time of need. It'll be fun to start integrating it from the beginning of this season."

Key Shift: Karl-Anthony Towns as Offensive Hub

The biggest change last year was moving Karl-Anthony Towns to a role at the elbows where he facilitated plays with the ball. This freed up Brunson to move off the ball and eased his playmaking duties. Towns' passing pulled opposing centers away from the paint, allowing teammates like OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges to excel as cutters and screeners, boosting the Knicks' offensive efficiency significantly.

This strategy remains central for the upcoming season, but with some fresh twists.

"Obviously playing with KAT at the elbow more than last regular season," coach Mike Brown said. "After spending a year together, we understand players’ strengths better. I didn’t know if OG could be that effective in pick-and-rolls, or Mikal. Finding ways to get those guys involved up top is something we’ll explore.""We have great cutters with size. We’ll keep mixing that in. KAT is a strong facilitator at the elbow. Maybe Andre [Drummond] can play that role too? Maybe OG moves to center more than before. There are many possibilities on both ends. Nothing is set in stone."

New Roles for Anunoby and Bridges

Last season, Brown’s system focused on Anunoby and Bridges staying in corners for three-point shots, leading the NBA in corner 3-point attempts with 199 and 198 respectively. But in the playoffs, both improved as ball handlers and slashers, with Anunoby especially shouldering offensive responsibilities and scoring off the dribble at a high level.

Shifting Anunoby away from the corners and into the middle might unlock his All-Star potential. Using him as a small-ball center is especially interesting since Drummond is currently the only guaranteed backup center behind Towns.

"A lot will carry over from last year, but we’ll also test new ideas," Brown said. "Playoff tactics may not suit the regular season, so we must be ready to evolve. By playoff time, we want to be improving and confident enough to push forward."

Team Chemistry Drives Adaptability

The Knicks' ability to adjust roles came from a veteran group willing to prioritize team success over individual positions. Open and honest communication was key.

Brunson reflected, "We realized we need each other to win and be on the same page. You don’t know when things will click, but by consistently putting in work and ‘tapping the rock,’ eventually it breaks."

With fresh challenges ahead, the Knicks are ready to tap a new rock this season.