There’s a lot to learn from the Knicks’ run to their third championship in franchise history. New York went 16-3 during the playoffs, winning 13 games in a row — the second-longest postseason winning streak in NBA history.
What made the Knicks’ title win so unique was how unexpected it was after New York finished third in the East with a 53-29 record during the regular season. It was a very good record, but not in the elite tier of teams.
The adjustments the Knicks made, such as featuring Karl-Anthony Towns as a passer, were an example of new habits that could be applied to New York’s 2026-27 regular season.
Let’s analyze three of them…
Point KAT
One major takeaway from the championship run was that the Knicks have figured out how to utilize Towns on offense. With their backs against the wall and down 2-1 to the Atlanta Hawks in the opening round, head coach Mike Brown and the club altered the offensive strategy, having Towns operate as a facilitator at the top of the key.
What followed was a revelation. Towns had at least five assists in the next eight games, all wins. Overall, the All-Star center averaged 4.9 assists through 19 total playoff games. He’s never averaged more than 3.6 assists in a season where he’s played more than 60 games.
Towns is a really strong passer, and his ability to shoot the ball forces defenses to extend out, opening up the paint for his teammates. Towns as a playmaker won’t work against every team, though. He only averaged 2.5 assists against the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals. But it adds another tool to New York’s offensive arsenal.
Coming off a short summer break and an offseason surgery, there’s a chance that the Knicks could rest Jalen Brunson more often to keep him fresh throughout the season. Going through Towns as a playmaker and shot creator could help keep the Knicks’ offense afloat in moments when Brunson is either drawing attention or is off the floor.
Third option
Defense has always been OG Anunoby‘s calling card. But during the championship run, it became clear that the All-Defensive team honoree is a reliable scoring option, as he averaged 20.1 points in the postseason. The offensive explosion came as somewhat of a surprise, as Anunoby has never averaged 20 points per game in a season or in a playoff series.
Jun 10, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby (8) makes the go-ahead tip-in as San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) defends in the final second of the fourth quarter during game four of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. / Geoff Burke – Imagn Images
Anunoby had arguably the biggest play in franchise history on an offensive rebound tip-in — the shot that helped the Knicks complete a 29-point comeback victory in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. It was an example of the forward’s value to the club.
Anunoby finds ways to score without dominating the ball, making him the perfect complement to New York’s top two options in Brunson and Towns. He’s not a high usage player, and excels mostly as a play-finisher at the rim or on corner threes.
For this season, there’s a good chance Anunoby can continue to emerge as an offensive star in his role. Averaging 20 points a night is very much in play.
Defensive dominance
Though much of the talk surrounding New York’s playoff run came around Brunson’s shot-making, Towns’ playmaking and the big three-point nights from New York’s role players, the defense was the swing factor. The Knicks had the No. 1 defense in the entire playoffs, giving up 104.5 points per 100 possessions.
In the regular season, New York was ranked seventh in defense, allowing 112.3 points per 100 possessions. In the playoffs, Towns continued to make steady improvements on the defensive end. Opponents weren’t able to expose Brunson’s lack of size as often as in the past. New York’s trio of wings Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart covered a lot of ground and stifled opposing offenses. Reserves Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet, Miles McBride, and Jose Alvarado were all effective on the defensive end.
New York will miss Robinson and his rim protection, as he departed for the Boston Celtics in free agency. But there are signs the Knicks can compete on the defensive end, even with recent free agent signing Andre Drummond in Robinson’s place. When Robinson was off the floor, the Knicks gave up 100.7 points per 100 possessions during the postseason per NBA Stats.
Continued dominance on the defensive end in the regular season could help the Knicks pile up victories and compete for a top spot in the conference.
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