Mike Brown doesn’t mind New York losing to the Bucks

One of the most interesting teams in the NBA coming this season is New York Knicks while trying to settle down with a new head coach in Mike Brown.

Not only are the Knicks managing personnel changes after firing Tom Thibodeau following last season’s Eastern Conference Finals loss, but they also face huge expectations with many experts picking them to secure the best record and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

The season is still young, and it’s clear the Knicks are still going through some struggles. Those continued on Tuesday night as the Knicks lost to the Milwaukee Bucks 121-111 to fall to 2-2 on the season. Despite the disappointment of this result, Brown knows that it’s not the end of the world for your team.

“We’re still trying to find our way,” Brown said. “Maybe we need to get punched in the mouth a few times to really respect and understand it.”

Brown is referring specifically to the third quarter, when the Knicks saw a 12-point halftime lead. The Bucks exploded in the third quarter, playing some of their best basketball and outscoring the Knicks 35-20. Milwaukee maintained control throughout the fourth quarter to eventually pull off a relatively comfortable victory.

Like everyone else, the Knicks didn’t have one good answer for Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpowho went absolutely wild at the start of this season. He finished the game with 37 points on 16-for-22 shooting, eight rebounds and seven assists and was a problem for Brown and company all night long.

On the other hand, much has been made of the Knicks getting used to playing in a new offense under Brown, and it’s clear that things still aren’t firing on all cylinders. Jalen Brunson finished the game with 36 points, but Karl-Anthony Towns scored just eight on 2-of-12 shooting. The Knicks only had four players in double figures and relied heavily on Brunson every time they needed a bucket.

New York is too talented not to still be at the top of the East if healthy, and should continue to settle in and improve as the season goes on. The Knicks’ next chance to get back into the win column comes Friday in the NBA Cup opener against the Chicago Bulls.