The Knicks believe the high-scoring offense still has room for improvement

The Knicks will wake up Monday with the No. 1 offense. 2 in the NBA. But they will also have the ninth-lowest field goal percentage in the league.

So where does efficiency come from?

For one thing, the Knicks are averaging nine more field goals per game than their opponent. This is partly due to strong offensive rebounding (the Knicks are No. 1 in offensive rebounds per 100 possessions). Coach Mike Brown’s club also keeps teams off the line (No. 2 in opponent free throws).

And then there’s the three-point shot.

The Knicks lead the league in three-pointers made per 100 possessions. They are third in attempts per 100 possessions and have the best three-point shooting percentage among teams with at least 40 attempts per game. The performances in the first nine games are good, but players and coaches believe there is ample room for improvement.

“I really believe we can still play better, we can still mix things up. What we have to be careful about is not to get complacent,” Brown explained after the Knicks’ dominant win over Brooklyn. “We’re moving a lot of bodies and we want to keep moving them and make the defense difficult. And if we do that, and it becomes second nature to us, then we’ll have a chance to be a good offensive team.”

What are some of these areas for improvement?

“Our recognition … on the field and our rhythm, bringing the ball up the field with a sharp, not walking it up, getting right to our stuff. If they take away (a certain action), bam, we’ve got counters. Go to the counter.”

Jalen Brunson and the starters appear to be a good fit for Brown’s offense. When Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby AND City of Karl-Anthony share the word with Mitchel Robinsonthe Knicks are plus -30.

Brunson, as you would expect, sees a lot that the Knicks can improve on offense.

“It’s about not being complacent and being more fluent in the things we execute, where everything is an instinct and we don’t think about what we’re doing. Everything is a reaction and it happens so seamlessly,” he said on Sunday. “So we’re working towards that goal… So yeah, the ball goes through the basket, but we can get a lot better.”

Something else you should know about the Knick offense: There are very few plays set up at this point.

“We still like to play based on concepts and read and react. I think our guys are a little more comfortable with that,” Brown said before Sunday’s game.

The lack of scenes is somewhat intentional but it is also circumstantial. The Knicks had injuries to key players in the preseason/early regular season. These injuries have limited the amount of plays Brown and his staff can make.

“Trying not to put in too much too quickly has been the challenge for us as a coaching staff because we don’t want to overwhelm them and we want to try to reach everyone before we add too much else,” the coach says.

But so is the read-and-react approach "mainly by design," says Brown.

“I think ultimately it would be great if they could just play without play calls. So now it’s harder for the defense. Because if I sit there and (call a play from the sideline), well, the other team with the way scouting works and everything, they’re definitely going to have a coach standing, (telling how to defend the play.)… If you can play fast but you can get to your stuff quickly – knowing that going into your stuff you have three or four different options – then (it makes it) difficult (for the defense stabilize). We want to be able to play this way throughout the year.”

As you would expect, Brunson and Towns have the freedom to deviate from Brown’s principles. Anunoby also has the green light to make shows outside the box.

“I’m a guy who makes quick decisions. Catch it, pass it, shoot it or shoot it. If Jalen catches it, he dances with it a little bit, he has that leeway, that freedom,” Brown says. “If he dances to it two or three times in a row and it doesn’t work, it’s my job to say, ‘Hey, let’s make a quick decision and move on.’ But these types of kids have freedom.

Brown believes Towns has become more comfortable on offense "every time he steps on the floor". The key for the coaching staff is to help City operate from different areas of the pitch.

“We want to keep trying to move him so that teams can’t just sit at the top of the table. If we can do that, I think ultimately the game will be a lot easier for him,” Brown said. “He’ll be in places where teams aren’t used to double teaming. Once he’s here, now he’s (in a different position), now he’s (in a different position). So that’s what we plan to do with him.”

So far, all of Brown’s plans have produced a strong attack. It’s early and a lot can change between now and mid-April, but the Knicks offense is on track to score a lot of points.

“I think everything we’re doing is still a work in progress and we’re trying to — all of us are trying to figure out how we can impact the system in the most efficient way,” Towns said Sunday. “I’m happy we’re learning through victories.”

DEFENSIVE FREEDOM

Brunson, Towns and Anunoby have the freedom on offense to break away from Brown’s principles. On the other side of the ball, several Knicks have the green light to improvise outside of Brown’s defensive scheme.

“OG is a special player, Mitch is a special player. Mikal is a special player. Josh (Hart) he is a special player. Deuce (McBride). So these guys have the freedom to do some things defensively and you kind of let it go,” Brown said. “And if too much happens and it doesn’t work, then you have to correct it. Also the same thing on glass. Josh is a special rebounder. And if we have crash zones where we want our kids to crash glass; the reality is, as special as Josh is, when it comes to second chances, he will have a lot of freedom no matter where he is on the field.

TRACKING THE THREE-POINT DEFENSE

The Knicks track several elements in each game. One of these items? Three disputed points.

“We want to be 100%, but I’m good at 75% or better. And we’ve had a lot of guys that were below 75% when it comes to competing (in recent games),” Brown said before Sunday’s game. “We want them to do the best they can and no more. We want them to be second jumpers, to do the best they can and no more.

"We believe that it’s possible to move – or make the floor look smaller – because we’re long… But sometimes we have a knack for changing and then when it comes to closing, sometimes we don’t even lift a hand so we can do a little better job in that area.