Brunson: Mike Brown deserves more credit for Knicks' turnaround
Knicks assistant Rick Brunson says Mike Brown had starters air grievances late in the season, sparking a run that ended in 13 straight playoff wins.
Rick Brunson, an assistant coach at the New York Knicks, says Mike Brown turned the team's late-season slump around by getting the starters to air their grievances with each other.
According to Brunson, as reported by Sports.ru, the Knicks were struggling near the end of the regular season. Brown spoke to each member of the starting five separately and asked them to name what bothered them about their team-mates. He then brought the players together and helped them talk it through.
"And, I swear, that is when we started to pick up. It happened right at the end of the season, and then it carried on into the playoffs. Even when we were trailing Atlanta 1-2 in the first round, we still felt we were the better team, but we had to prove it on the floor. And when we won 13 straight in the playoffs, I'd say Mike doesn't get enough credit. He did an amazing job," Brunson said.
The Knicks trailed the Hawks 1-2 in that first-round series and then won 13 playoff games in a row.
If Brunson's account reflects the view inside the club, the Knicks may treat that closed-door meeting, rather than any change of system, as the point where their season turned.
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