Brown wants to fulfill Thibodeau s promise, Knicks look forward to opening a new chapter of three points

During Tom Thibodeau's coaching period, he emphasized increasing three-point shooting almost every season, with one goal being averaging 40 3-point shootings per game. But this has never been achieved. Last season, the Knicks averaged only 34.1 three-point shots per game, ranking fourth from the bottom in the league, while in the playoffs, they averaged only 31.7 three-point shots per game.

Thibodeau's successor, Mike Brown, hopes to see change. "I mean, if we can get 40 times, I'm fine," Brown said in an interview. "If I can go more than 40 times, I'm fine, but these three-point shots must be good choices. "

Brown not only hopes that the Knicks will shoot a large number of three-pointers in order to increase their average number of games. He believes that opportunities must be created through player movement, and these opportunities must be open, high-quality shots.

"We have some players that we will allow them to dribble and they know who they are. But if we can play as we should, especially with speed and space, plus hit the inside, we should be able to create a lot of 3-pointers that will hit the ball," Brown said. "If you are in an open position and your feet are firm, especially when the ball is passed to the inside, or if someone has an empty cut or pick-and-roll to draw the defense and then split it and shoot threes, we'd better make a decisive move. We'd better make a decisive move. "

When Brown coached the Sacramento Kings, they ranked seventh in the league in 2022-23 (37.3) and third in the following season (39.3). During the period when Thibodeau coached the Knicks, the team's highest average three-point shooting per game in a single season was 36.9 times in the 2021-22 season.

There are several additional factors that favor the Knicks to increase the number of three-point shots. First, Brown's plan is to speed up the game and create more offensive rounds. The Knicks ranked fifth last year in the league; the second is that they have more three-point shooting points after introducing players such as Jordan Clarkson, Yabussele and Brogden. It should be noted that the Knicks' three-point shooting percentage last season was 36.9%, ranking eighth in the league.

Other players such as Jaylen Brunson, Towns, OG Anunobi, McBride and Landry Shamet all hit 36.9% of their three-point shooting percentages. Only Mitchell Robinson and Josh Hart are non-shot players in the rotation, but even Hart can occasionally make three-pointers. The team has the conditions to become a strong three-point team. But it may take time, after all, this team is learning a new offensive system.

In the first week of training camp, Brown emphasized creating good shooting opportunities, not necessarily three-pointers. "We are still working to understand tactical concepts, to understand where we need to be on the field, our rhythm, space, etc.," Brunson said. "I think that once we understand this, once we know where everyone is going to be, whether we are creating opportunities for ourselves or others, that will be much easier. "