ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — After a shaky start, the Knicks ripped the 76ers for a 99-84 victory Thursday in their preseason opener, a successful debut for new coach Mike Brown.&nbsp;

Here are four thoughts from the evening:&nbsp;

No Knicks starter played more than 18 minutes, and their time together was the most important since the best players will be on the court most often when the regular season starts.&nbsp;

It wasn’t a great beginning for the group. They seemed bothered by Philadelphia’s full-court press, and the starters committed five turnovers with just three assists in the opening quarter. Transition defense became an issue.&nbsp;

After a shaky start, the Knicks ripped the 76ers for a 99-84 victory Thursday in their preseason opener, a successful debut for new coach Mike Brown.{ai:summary}<p>Knicks beat the 76ers 99-84 in Abu Dhabi in their preseason opener under new coach Mike Brown. </p><p>No starter played more than 18 minutes, underscoring the planned on-court core before the regular season. The group struggled with Philadelphia's full-court press, posting five turnovers and three assists in the first quarter; transition defense was an issue. #sports</p>

Mike Brown’s Knicks coaching debut was a mixed bag — here’s what we learned

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