Mike Brown plans to increase the minutes for his starters when the Knicks host the Timberwolves on Thursday for their third preseason game, trying to get them time in the second half while continuing to ramp up workloads ahead of the opener Oct. 22 against the Cavaliers.
No Knicks starter played more than 18 minutes during either of the games last week in Abu Dhabi, with most logging 17 in each.
Mitchell Robinson played 18 and 13 in the first and second game, respectively, while Pacôme Dadiet filled in for an injured OG Anunoby during the first exhibition against the 76ers and collected 15.
“Getting closer to the season, getting closer to the real thing, we’re still preparing as well as we need to be,” Jalen Brunson said after practice Tuesday in Tarrytown. “So we’ll just continue with that preparation and that focus, and yeah, obviously minutes aren’t what they would be in a regular-season game, but everything matters what we do.”
The increased minutes will also allow the Knicks to keep working through the adjustments of Brown’s new system, with Brunson saying the “potential is getting there.”
Each preseason game, with both ending in Knicks wins, contained flashes and signs of need for continued growth.
And after Thursday, the Knicks will have two more exhibitions — Monday against the Wizards and Oct. 17 against the Hornets — before the regular season begins.
“What we’re learning and how we’re playing as a team is definitely improving,” Brunson said. “So still a long way to go, but getting our basics down.”
Josh Hart (back), who exited the preseason opener and missed the second game, didn’t practice Tuesday and is day today, Brown said.
Brown didn’t sound overly concerned about the spasms or about the Knicks already needing to navigate a pair of injuries this preseason — with Anunoby missing the first exhibition against the 76ers due to a sprained hand.
“That’s why you have 15 guys and three two-ways,” Brown said. “Someone goes down, it’s the next man up. … That’s how it’s gotta be all year, and that’s why it’s extremely important for everybody to make sure they’re mentally locked into what we’re doing because your number can be called any time and our guys are extremely professional and they’ll be ready when their number’s called, even if they haven’t played in a game or two.”
Brunson and Malcolm Brogdon acknowledged sleep still being off and jet lag still existing since arriving back from Abu Dhabi, but Brunson said it was good the Knicks traveled to the Middle East for the pair of games.
“I think the only thing different [from typical team bonding on a road trip] was obviously the length of travel,” Brunson said. “Being able to do the dinner in the desert that we did, getting to try different things out there that’s within their culture that obviously we don’t really do out here was interesting. But I’m glad we were able to do it.”