{"id":705421,"date":"2026-04-08T15:22:27","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T15:22:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/705421\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T15:22:27","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T15:22:27","slug":"mike-browns-promise-may-not-survive-the-knicks-biggest-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/705421\/","title":{"rendered":"Mike Brown\u2019s promise may not survive the Knicks\u2019 biggest problem"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mike Brown revealed ahead of the New York Knicks\u2019 win over the Atlanta Hawks that he has no plans to change<\/a> the starting lineup despite prolonged struggles to establish itself as the vaunted fivesome it\u2019s supposed to be. The sentiment is understandable, if not commendable. It may also be blown to smithereens by defenses using their centers to guard Josh Hart.<\/p>\n

Sure, the vibes are borderline immaculate coming off the Knicks\u2019 first win against a good team in approximately one month. The Hawks have been on a tear, and New York\u2019s starters posted a plus-10.8 net rating<\/a> for the game while killing it down the stretch of the fourth quarter.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Micro victories like this are a big deal when the lineup of Hart, Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns have a negative net rating<\/a> for the season. But encouraging signs do not equate to new normals.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As positive as the win over the Hawks looked, the Knicks still don\u2019t have an answer for an issue that\u2019s dogged them all season\u2014and also plagued them during last year\u2019s playoffs.<\/p>\n

The Knicks offense is cratering when bigs defend Josh Hart<\/p>\n

Increasing the interplay between Brunson and Towns remains New York\u2019s cheat code. We have seen more interaction with both of them<\/a> since the All-Star break, and JB assisted on five of KAT\u2019s buckets in the victory against Atlanta. But the most recent win didn\u2019t see the Hawks follow the same blueprint as other defenses.<\/p>\n

Atlanta used Onyeka Okongwu to guard Towns<\/a> for much of the game. That allowed the Knicks to spam more actions involving both him, and JB. If the Hawks put Okongwu on Hart, New York would be inclined to use Hart as the screener (or ball-handler), in hopes of creating half-court advantages for Brunson.<\/p>\n

This trend mushroomed as last year went on, particularly in the playoffs. That has continued this season. Hart has never been guarded by rim protectors<\/a> more often, according to BBall Index. These matchups tend to be bad news for the Knicks. As Shax of The Strickland points out, the team\u2019s half-court offensive rating implodes when centers defend Hart instead of KAT:<\/p>\n

The starting lineup has a 114 half-court offensive rating when KAT is defended by the center vs a 83 offensive rating when Hart is<\/p>\n

To me that’s the difference, and why we’ve seen “peaks”. If that doesn’t paint a picture where there’s some doubt come playoff time, what will? https:\/\/t.co\/AhMQcWNfcm<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Shax (@ShaxNBA) April 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

New York will face more of this once the postseason tips off. Even teams that haven\u2019t defaulted to bigs guarding Hart\u2014Boston, Cleveland, Atlanta\u2014might bust it out with higher frequency.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This issue could still force Mike Brown\u2019s hand<\/p>\n

Without a clear-cut solution for this problem, the Knicks will have to take a long look at doing what Brown claims he isn\u2019t considering: changing up the starters. If and when he goes that route, Hart will pay the price.<\/p>\n

None of which is meant to pin this on Hart alone. He brings so much value<\/a> to this team. But forcing defenses away from the smalls-on-KAT approach is not among his helpful qualities.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It has nothing to do with his three-point percentage, either. He is shooting 40.6 percent on triples overall, including 42.3 percent on wide-open treys<\/a>. Defenses don\u2019t care. If they can winnow down Towns\u2019 usage and clog the lane against Brunson, they\u2019ll live with Hart drilling three or four or even five triples every game.<\/p>\n

Maybe there\u2019s a card Brown has yet to play with the starters in these situations. Failing that, the playoffs are all about matchups. And if teams are using their centers to match up with Hart, the results to this point tell us the Knicks will have to sub out Hart for Deuce McBride, or Landry Shamet.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Their season could literally depend on it. <\/p>\n