New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown did not hide his frustration after his team opened its title defense with a 106-100 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, criticizing the Knicks’ transition defense, offensive spacing and failure to execute consistently.
“What an ugly game,” Brown said after the defeat at Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks had raised their championship banner and received their rings before tipoff.
Brown credited Philadelphia and head coach Nick Nurse but said New York’s own shortcomings proved costly, particularly after halftime. The 76ers scored 19 fast-break points in the second half after recording nine before the break.
“Our transition defense was not good with our starting group in the third quarter,” Brown said. “All throughout the game, we looked like we were running in mud.”
The Knicks surrendered a 31-16 second-quarter advantage to Philadelphia after halftime, allowing the 76ers to turn a four-point deficit into a seven-point lead entering the fourth. Brown also pointed to turnovers and poor execution around the basket.
“In a one- or two-possession game, when you have 15 turnovers or 22 points, it makes it tough,” he said, referring to the points Philadelphia scored off New York’s turnovers.
Brown said the Knicks needed to attack the paint more effectively, finish through contact or pass out to open shooters. New York recorded just seven of the paint-to-perimeter passes Brown called “sprays,” well below his target of 20.
“We have to finish with authority or some form of aggression or do what we do, which is spray the basketball,” Brown said.
Despite the disappointing performance, the coach rejected the idea that the championship ceremony should serve as an excuse.
“We had to lace them up and play and we didn’t get the job done,” Brown said. “So I’m gonna call it like I see it so that hopefully we can be a little bit better next time we step on the floor.”
Jalen Brunson finished with 21 points but shot 6-for-19 from the field. Brown emphasized that the problem extended beyond Brunson’s missed shots, pointing to poor execution across the lineup.
“I want to win. Don’t get me wrong. Don’t get that twisted at all,” Brown said. “I want to frickin’ win, but not at the expense of us skipping steps in the process.”
Brown said the Knicks needed to review the film and find a way to put together 48 minutes of basketball played the right way. He maintained that following the process mattered even when the result might look better in the short term.
“If he hits those shots down the stretch and we win, for me personally as their coach, there’s going to be something inside of me that wished it wouldn’t happen,” Brown said, referring to Brunson’s missed opportunities.
The Knicks will look to respond when they visit the Boston Celtics on Friday.
