New York’s offensive shift began after the Knicks trailed 2-1 to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round, when the Hawks used switchable defenders to limit Jalen Brunson, per ESPN. Coach Mike Brown, who spent much of his first season figuring out how to deploy Karl-Anthony Towns, confronted the issue during a film session between Games 3 and 4 in Atlanta.
During that meeting, Brown called out Towns for a play in which the center failed to set a screen, according to a source who spoke with ESPN. “You want the ball? What are you doing here?” the source said Brown asked. The session helped catalyze a new approach that has fueled the Knicks’ late playoff surge.
The retooled offense turned into a seven-game winning streak heading into Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, scheduled for Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, according to ESPN. The Knicks closed their first-round series with Atlanta by routing the Hawks in Game 6 by 59 points.
Brown leaned on elements of the Golden State Warriors’ movement philosophy he had absorbed as a Warriors assistant from 2016-22, ESPN reports. After the Atlanta series, Brown said, “The Atlanta Hawks made us better,” and one Knicks player told ESPN it felt as if Brown decided to “do things my way.” Owner James Dolan’s public expectation of an NBA Finals run in January raised the stakes for avoiding a 3-1 deficit.
Statistically, the shift has been dramatic. During the winning streak the Knicks posted a plus-24.5 point differential and an offensive rating of 130.5 points per 100 possessions — the best among 2026 playoff teams, according to ESPN. New York shot 60 percent from the field and nearly 40 percent from 3-point range over that stretch.
The centerpiece has been Towns operating more as a point-center. His Game 4 triple-double was his second of the season, and he had six assists to OG Anunoby in that outing, ESPN notes. During the recent run Towns averaged 15.7 points, 9.6 rebounds and 8.0 assists on 60 percent shooting. Brunson said the Knicks had long kept a “secret weapon” ready: unlock Point KAT, according to ESPN.
