The New York Knicks‘ season-opening, seven-game home winning streak ended Wednesday night, and coach Mike Brown has clear culprit in mind for why they lost.
The first-year Knicks coach blamed his team for taking umbrage with the three-person officiating crew, particularly in the first half of their 124-107 loss to the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks were 7-0 at MSG this year, and entered play Wednesday on a five-game win streak. Yet, they took 25 personal fouls, including Jalen Brunson’s six since the Knicks captain fouled out shortly after he turned his ankle in the waning minutes of the game.
The Magic took 10 more free throws (33) than the Knicks (23) as a result of their extra fouls, even though Orlando committed 23 fouls.
Mike Brown Blames His Team For Taking On The Officials
Brown credited Orlando’s team, and coach Jamahl Mosley, for its ability to frustrate the Knicks, saying the Magic “kicked our a–.”
But he also blamed the Knicks for giving into their frustration.
“In the first half everything that happened on the court we blamed on the officials,” Brown said. “That was disappointing to see because we were the culprits of a lot of stuff that happened out on the floor.”
Though it was Brunson who fouled out, Brown’s comments presumably were directed at star center/forward Karl-Anthony Towns, who appeared frustrated by Orlando’s physical play against him. He took a transition-take foul in the second quarter and nearly picked up a technical foul while arguing with the officials.
According to Brown, the Knicks’ initiative is to be physical without fouling, but they crossed the line against the ultra-physical Magic.
“I couldn’t even use a challenge because we were fouling,” Brown said. “If one of our keys is to play physical without fouling, then the first three of their first four possessions that they have started at the free-throw line, then we’re not giving ourselves a chance and we’re letting them feel comfortable with the way that they play.”
If Brown saw the Magic getting more comfortable with the physical style of play, he could also sense the Knicks’ play lapse. He chalked up their frustration to a lack of focus.
“If we’re locked in, and we’re playing like we’re capable of, we don’t need to rely on the officials,” Brown said.
Mikal Bridges Agreed With Mike Brown’s Assessment About The Knicks Being Undisciplined
Brunson is perhaps the Knicks’ heart, but Mikal Bridges is also an ultra-important appendage.
So when asked about the physical nature, and Brown’s assessment, he concurred with his coach’s statement.
“We gotta leave the refs alone,” Bridges said. “Even if there’s fouls or something, everybody’s gotta let it go and bring the energy to the other end.”
Bridges had just six points in 28 minutes and had a good view of the Knicks’ fourth-quarter struggles. Bridges spent more than 10 minutes on the bench in the fourth quarter, since he sat on the bench for the frame’s first 5:18 then was out for the final 5:21 of regulation.
Yet, when asked about spending so much time on the bench — he has played every game as a professional in eight seasons and averaged 34 minutes per game this year — Bridges didn’t have an answer.
“I’m not sure,” Bridges said.
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