The New York Knicks entered that gray zone of the season where intentions alone are no longer enough. Nine losses in eleven games painted a picture of a team in trouble, disconnected from its identity, despite clear talent and ambitions. Their latest win broke the negative spiral, but it came largely as a response to something that happened off the court.
After the heavy defeat against the Mavericks, Jalen Brunson took the initiative, organizing an urgent meeting with only the players. No staff, no filters. A direct confrontation that, judging by the reaction in the game against the Nets, produced the desired effects – not only in the result but, more importantly, in the attitude.
I can accept losing when we play hard, point by point. But not like this.
Jalen Brunson
For Brunson, the issue was never the final score, but how the losses were unfolding. It was a matter of approach before it was a matter of schemes.
The paradox is clear. This is the same group that lifted the NBA Cup in December and reached the Eastern Conference Finals last May. Since then, something has stalled. Constant road trips, little practice time, and a grueling routine have taken a toll – but they don’t explain everything.
There’s also a mental component. Miles McBride said it openly: perhaps the Knicks felt satisfied too quickly. Brunson initially resisted this reading, then acknowledged how the transition from “playoff-level” games to regular-season nights needs better management. Because the context changes, not the work.
Our mindset has to be better than what we’ve shown so far. We can’t focus on what we can’t control. We can control effort and how we defend. Defense doesn’t require the same level of talent: we just need to be more connected.
Miles McBride
The keyword is adaptation – to the new coach, to challenges, to nights when shots aren’t falling. And this is where defense becomes the true thermometer of the team. When the offense stalls, energy, communication, and attention to detail keep a game alive.
The Knicks – who still have room to maneuver ahead of the trade deadline – are not lost, but they aren’t secure either. The recent win doesn’t erase the struggles, but it points in a direction. The talent is there, the identity is there. Now they need consistency. Because, as Brunson reminded everyone, winning isn’t about words – it’s a daily choice.
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