The Mike Brown era in New York is off to a 5-3 start, and while some fans might focus on those three losses, the underlying trends tell a much more promising story. Something special could be brewing here, and the early-season data shows exactly why Knicks fans should be excited about where this is heading.
The way this team is piecing together, the depth they’re showing, and the adjustments they’re making suggest this isn’t just a honeymoon phase. These are sustainable team characteristics that could carry through a championship run. Here are some upward trends that prove the Mike Brown era is more than just hype.
KNICKS OFFENSE LAST 4 GAMES
— …. (@hyattwatcher) November 6, 2025
125 Points
128 Points
119 Points
135 Points
HES DONE MIRACLES ON ME pic.twitter.com/LEvOtwwDSj
Mike Brown said that after the Knicks played the Bulls, Kevin Huerter said that he recognized all the play calls from when they were in Sacramento
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) November 6, 2025
"We're trying to play the same way. We want to play with pace, we want to space the floor the right way" pic.twitter.com/z59glSU1MO
MSG Fortress: First 5-0 Home Start Since 2012-13
Madison Square Garden is supposed to be a difficult place to play – a hostile environment where visiting teams come to get intimidated and leave with an L. For years, that reputation felt more like nostalgia than reality. Not currently. The Knicks haven’t started 5-0 at home since they opened the 2012-13 season with a 10-0 home record. The home-court advantage matters in the playoffs, and establishing this kind of dominance early sets the tone for the entire season. Opponents know that coming to New York means they’re in for a battle. That 2012-13 team went on to win 54 games before flaming out in the playoffs. This roster has more talent, more depth, and a coach who actually knows how to manage rotations. The ceiling here is much higher.
Bench Production: From League-Worst to Legitimate Weapon
Knicks fans wished and they have received this far. Last season’s lack of bench production averaged just 21.7 points per game from their reserves – dead last in the entire NBA. It was brutal to watch. Tom Thibodeau would run his starters into the ground and the “non-Brunson minutes” narrative was live and well. In Thibs defense, the depth on the roster this year makes that all come together.
Fast forward to the Mike Brown era: The bench is now putting up 30.4 points per game. That’s an 8.7-point jump, and the season just started. We’re watching a complete transformation of the team’s second unit in real-time. During the first eight games, the lineups weren’t consistent to start the season, which made sense given all the new pieces and a new system. The offense couldn’t get into a rhythm when rotations felt random. But something clicked around game four or five. The lineups are molding organically now. Brown is figuring out which combinations work best together, and the players are developing chemistry with different units. Players are starting to know they’re getting opportunities, so they stay engaged and ready to contribute when their number gets called.
Jordan Clarkson is due to erupt at MSG on any given night and Miles McBride continue to show his overall value to the team. These guys actually have confidence when they step on the floor, which is night and day from last season’s bench mob. The key here is sustainability. Getting 30+ points from your bench isn’t some unsustainable hot streak – it’s a product of having actual depth and a coach who knows how to use it. When your bench can hold leads or even extend them, your starters aren’t gassed by the fourth quarter. By the end of the season New York fans are hoping the 2nd unit can become a mismatch against other team’s bench pieces. That’s how you win in April and May, not just November.
Halftime Adjustments: Outscoring Opponents by 12.3 PPG in Third Quarters
Championship teams make adjustments. During the Knicks’ current three-game winning streak, they’ve absolutely dominated the quarter coming out of halftime, outscoring opponents by an average of 12.3 points in the third. This is another key team statistic fans hope carries serious momentum as the season goes on. It’s another key characteristic of any championship NBA team.
Brown and his staff are identifying what’s working, what’s not, and coming out with a clear plan to attack. Whether it’s exploiting a defensive mismatch, changing the pace, or switching up the pick-and-roll coverage – these adjustments are killing opponents. They have come out of these past three halftimes with purpose and intensity. They’re not just maintaining leads – they’re burying teams in that third quarter and putting games away before the fourth even starts. What separates good coaches from great ones is the ability to make meaningful adjustments on the fly. Anyone can draw up a game plan. It takes a special kind of basketball mind to recognize what needs to change mid-game and execute it effectively.
Three-Point Revolution: From 34.1 to 43.6 Attempts Per Game
The Knicks are letting it fly from beyond the arc. Last season’s 34.1 three-point attempts per seems minimal as they’re hoisting up 43.6 threes per game this season. The massive 9.5-attempt increase is completely reshaping their offensive identity. Here’s what’s driving this change – ball movement is creating easy catch-and-shoot opportunities, and Mike Brown is telling his guys to pull the trigger. No more hesitation. No more passing up open looks. If you’re open and it’s a good shot, let it fly.
What makes this increase even more impressive is the quality of looks they’re getting. This isn’t just jacking up contested threes for the sake of volume. The offensive system is generating legitimate open looks through player movement, screens, and defensive rotations. Mikal Bridges, Landry Shamet, and even Josh Hart are spotting up in rhythm and knocking them down. The spacing this creates is lethal. When you have five guys on the floor who can shoot, defenses can’t help off anyone. That opens up driving lanes for Jalen Brunson, post touches for Karl-Anthony Towns, and cutting opportunities for OG Anunoby.
Everything flows better when the defense has to respect the three-point line. Look at the championship teams from the past five years – Golden State, Denver, Boston. They all shot a ton of threes and weren’t afraid to take them early in the shot clock. The Knicks are finally adopting that mentality, and it’s going to pay massive dividends as the season progresses.
Rebounding Dominance: Leading the League on the Offensive Glass
While everyone focuses on the three-point revolution, the Knicks are still dominating the offensive glass. They’re leading the entire league with 15.3 offensive rebounds per game to start this season. That’s an absolute monster number that creates extra possessions and second-chance opportunities. Rebounding has always been a key strength of this roster, and Mike Brown clearly emphasized maintaining that identity. Karl-Anthony Towns is a walking double-double. Josh Hart is averaging 6.9 rebounds per game off the bench, and Mitchell Robinson, when healthy, is leading the charge on the glass, as always.
Here’s why this matters so much – offensive rebounds are basically free possessions. You miss a shot, grab the board, and get another chance to score. Those extra possessions add up over the course of a 48-minute game. The math is simple: more possessions equals more scoring opportunities equals more wins. The defensive rebounding is solid too, but that offensive glass dominance is what separates them from other contenders. Most teams are content to send four guys back on defense after a shot goes up. The Knicks are crashing hard with multiple bodies, and the results speak for themselves.
Think about the compound effect here. They’re taking more threes (43.6 attempts) which naturally creates longer rebounds. Those long rebounds create offensive rebounding opportunities. Getting those offensive boards leads to second-chance points and putbacks. It’s a beautiful cycle that feeds itself. Championship teams control the glass. The 2024 Celtics dominated the boards during their playoff run. The 2023 Nuggets won the rebounding battle consistently. You can’t win at the highest level if you’re getting destroyed on the glass, and the Knicks are making sure that won’t be their downfall.
The Bigger Picture: Building Something Sustainable
These five trends paint the picture of a team that’s not just winning games – they’re winning the right way. Mike Brown is implementing a modern offensive system, managing his rotation intelligently, making strong in-game adjustments, and maintaining the defensive and rebounding identity that makes this team special.
The 5-3 record is nice, but it’s how they’re getting there that matters. The home dominance creates playoff advantages. The bench depth prevents burnout. The halftime adjustments show coaching excellence. The three-point volume reflects modern offensive philosophy. The rebounding dominance creates extra possessions.
All of these trends are sustainable and should improve as the season progresses and players get more comfortable in the system. This isn’t some hot shooting streak or easy schedule mirage. These are fundamental improvements in how the Knicks approach the game. The early Mike Brown era has given Knicks fans something they haven’t had in years – genuine optimism backed by tangible evidence. Will they maintain these trends over 82 games? That remains to be seen. But right now, the trajectory is pointing straight up, and MSG is starting to feel like a fortress again. The championship window is wide open. The roster is locked in long-term. The coach knows what he’s doing. These upward trends suggest the Knicks aren’t just competing – they’re building something that can actually win it all. After decades of disappointment, maybe this is the time they cash in.
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