Knicks Coach Says Getting Towns More Touches Is Priority
New York Knicks coach Mike Brown said Tuesday that involving Karl-Anthony Towns more throughout games, including the fourth quarter, is a focus after the team lost Game 3 of the NBA Finals. Towns was held scoreless in the fourth quarter for the third straight game.
sportsnet.caNew York Knicks coach Mike Brown said Tuesday that getting Karl-Anthony Towns more involved is a priority after the team's offense slowed in the fourth quarter of Game 3. Brown spoke at practice one day after the Knicks lost to the San Antonio Spurs, ending a 13-game playoff winning streak.
Towns finished with 11 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks in 38 minutes but took no points in the final period. "It's extremely important that he's getting touches, that he's involved, not just in the fourth quarter but obviously throughout the ballgame," Brown said.
The Knicks shot 25.9 percent as a team in that period. In the first half, the Knicks scored 23 points with zero turnovers on 14 plays when Towns had a frontcourt touch, according to ESPN research. The team scored 42 points in the second quarter but managed only 47 in the second half.
Towns is averaging 16.7 points, 11 rebounds and three assists for the series.
The Knicks are 13-1 in the postseason the past two years when Towns records at least four assists. Brown said the team needs better pace, spacing, ball reversal and quicker decisions. Towns said the group has a game plan it wants to execute, especially in the fourth quarter. Brown noted it has been 46 days since the team addressed a loss.
