Knicks Start 0-2—but the Preseason Record Is Hiding the Bigger Story
The Knicks are 0-2 in preseason, but the results tell only part of the story. Breaking down the shooting struggles, rotation tests and encouraging signs.
The Knicks preseason record shows two losses. It does not yet show how good New York will be when its championship defense begins.
Defeats against Philadelphia and Washington have exposed uneven offense, poor outside shooting and questions about the reserve rotation. They have also given Mike Brown opportunities to evaluate combinations and identify which players can contribute beyond the established starting lineup.
For the Knicks, the useful response lies between dismissing everything as meaningless and treating October exhibitions as a forecast of the season. There are problems worth addressing—and reasons to keep them in perspective.
Two Losses, Different Lessons
New York’s opener against Philadelphia featured a difficult shooting night and a second-quarter defensive struggle. The Sixers scored 39 points in that period, while the Knicks eventually finished just 8-for-41 from three-point range.
The next outing ended in a much closer result, a 111-109 defeat to Washington. New York again struggled with its shooting, finishing at 42 percent overall and 11-for-38 from beyond the arc.
Those performances belong in the same preseason evaluation, but they should not be treated as identical evidence.
The Philadelphia game raised questions about defensive intensity and offensive execution. Washington offered another opportunity to assess those areas while giving the starters more extended work.
The record combines both games into two losses. The coaching staff needs to separate the details.
The Shooting Numbers Deserve Attention
Across the two exhibitions, the Knicks made 19 of 79 three-point attempts—approximately 24.1 percent.
That is an inefficient return, but the percentage alone cannot explain the problem. Brown must distinguish between good attempts that missed and possessions that produced difficult shots.
Were players receiving the ball in rhythm? Did penetration create open opportunities? Was the offense moving defenders before settling for a perimeter attempt?
Those questions matter because they lead to different corrections. Consistently generating clean looks is encouraging even during a cold stretch. Repeatedly taking contested shots late in possessions would suggest a more substantial execution issue.
Two games provide an early warning to investigate, rather than enough evidence to establish a lasting shooting weakness.
Brown Is Evaluating More Than the Final Score
Preseason also gives New York a chance to test players whose regular-season responsibilities remain uncertain.
Against Philadelphia, James Wiseman produced eight points and five rebounds in nine minutes. Andre Drummond contributed five rebounds and three blocks, while Landry Shamet scored 10 points off the bench.
Those individual returns do not settle the rotation. They provide information about the different skills available to Brown.
The larger question is how those pieces function together. A productive reserve appearance becomes more valuable when it translates into dependable lineups, with sufficient shooting, ball handling and defensive coverage.
An exhibition can end in defeat while still helping the coach make a better roster or rotation decision.
The Starters Offer a More Encouraging Reference Point
Brown extended the starters’ playing time against Washington, giving the regular group more sustained opportunities to establish its rhythm.
That work deserves a separate evaluation from the overall result. The final score includes experimental combinations and minutes played by candidates competing for roles that remain unsettled.
For the established lineup, the priority is improving timing: making the next pass promptly, coordinating screens and maintaining defensive communication through longer stretches.
It would be premature to assume that every rough possession signals a deeper problem. It would be equally unhelpful to overlook repeated mistakes simply because the games are exhibitions.
What Should Matter Before Opening Night?
The most useful signs of progress will be visible in how New York plays.
Better shot creation, stronger resistance to opposing drives and more organized reserve possessions would provide meaningful evidence that the team is moving forward. A preseason victory would be welcome, but it would not automatically answer those questions.
The Knicks are preparing for a season in which expectations will be high. Their first two results offer a checklist for improvement, not a verdict on their championship prospects.
The 0-2 start is worth examining. What New York corrects next will tell us considerably more.
