Knicks’ Preseason Reality Check: Three Problems Behind the Sixers Blowout
The Knicks’ preseason loss to the Sixers exposed three concerns: defensive physicality, secondary creation and an offense too reliant on outside shots.
The New York Knicks’ 120–97 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers will have no impact on the standings. It did, however, provide an early look at the habits Mike Brown must sharpen before the regular season begins.
With 20 players receiving minutes and the starters making brief appearances, the opener was primarily an evaluation exercise. Drawing sweeping conclusions from the score would overlook that context.
Still, three Knicks preseason concerns stood out: insufficient defensive physicality, uneven secondary shot creation and difficulty finding alternatives when three-pointers stopped falling.
Defensive Physicality Was Brown’s Biggest Concern
The clearest warning came from Brown’s postgame assessment. While he viewed many mistakes as correctable through film and practice, he was more troubled by the team’s lack of physical engagement.
His criticism covered both pressure on the ball and defensive positioning. It also extended throughout the roster, making this a collective responsibility rather than an issue limited to inexperienced reserves.
That distinction matters. Players can miss shots while making sound decisions. Defensive effort and a willingness to establish position are standards Brown expects regardless of offensive rhythm.
For New York, the next step is to make opponents work harder to initiate possessions and reach comfortable scoring areas. Better individual resistance would also reduce the pressure on teammates to compensate elsewhere.
Players seeking rotation minutes have an especially clear opportunity: consistent defensive engagement can help them stand out even when their shots are not falling.
Secondary Creation Remains an Unanswered Question
Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns each scored 12 points in 15 minutes. OG Anunoby also finished with 12, while Miles McBride supplied 10 off the bench.
Beyond those contributions, New York struggled to sustain its scoring. The concern was less about individual totals than the difficulty of generating clean opportunities when Brunson was not organizing possessions.
The Knicks need other players to create an opening in the defense, whether through penetration, quick passing or movement away from the ball. Without that initial advantage, possessions can drift toward contested jump shots.
Preseason experimentation helps explain some of the uneven execution. Unfamiliar combinations take time to develop timing and spacing. Nevertheless, Brown needs to identify units that can create reliable offense during the minutes his lead guard rests.
Three-Point Volume Needs Better Offensive Balance
New York finished 8-for-41 from beyond the arc, a 19.5% conversion rate. Overall, the Knicks shot 35-for-91 from the field.
A shooting performance that poor is unlikely to become the norm. Yet improved accuracy alone would not answer every question raised by the opener.
When perimeter attempts failed, New York struggled to establish a dependable alternative. More purposeful cuts, attacks into the paint and opportunities around the basket could help the offense avoid repeatedly settling for difficult attempts.
The volume of three-pointers is only part of the discussion. How those shots are created—and whether the Knicks can recognize a better option—will determine the effectiveness of their approach.
The defeat gives Brown specific priorities for the remaining exhibitions. Stronger defensive resistance, more dependable creation beyond Brunson and greater offensive variety would offer far more meaningful reassurance than a better preseason score alone.
