5 things to watch for as Knicks play preseason games in Abu Dhabi

A new era of Knicks Basketball begins – in the United Arab Emirates.

The Knicks should play their first of two pre-season opening games against the 76ers of Philadelphia in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, a match in the morning broadcast at noon on MSG Networks and NBATV. It will be the first overview of a championship competitor adapting to a new system, a new style and a new touch of touch while Mike Brown intervenes to replace Tom Thibodeau.

Brown and his players talked about the conversation. They want to play quickly. They want to draw a volume of three worthy of their lighting list. They want to move away from the heavy sets of isolation and embrace a free and heavy diaper attack of players based on rhythm and spacing.

So far, everything has been spoken.

This week, the Knicks have the chance to walk. Here are five things to watch in Abu Dhabi.

Ball distribution

The preaching movement is easy. Executing it is something else. The Knicks offensive undergoes a live transformation – the one that will come with increasing pain. Brown said after the third day of the training camp that the team was ahead of the curve on both sides of the ball, but they are intrasquad representatives. Now, they are faced with a new challenge: Nick Nurse’s Sixers, a team that puts pressure on the ball and prosperous by disturbing the offensive pace.

Minutes distribution

Playing faster and implementing an offense based on the concept takes time – and representatives. Knicks must obtain their runners and the prolonged basic rotation players of the court time to push the wrinkles before the opening evening against the Cleveland horsemen. But it is also Brown’s first opportunity to assess the back of the list and experiment with different combinations. Is he before minutes for his stars and gives guys at the end of the benches later? Or does it turn freely early, then increases things as pre-season is wrapped? The balance between urgency and evaluation will be revealing.

Brogdon still has it?

In full health, Malcolm Brogdon is the type of guard that each competitor wants: stable, cerebral, capable of scoring three levels and triggering the offensive with size and balance. But it has also appeared in less than 40 games in three of the last four seasons. When it is on the ground, however, it produces – 15.7 points and 5.5 assists in Portland two seasons ago, then 12.7 points and four assists in a limited role with Wizards last year.

The Knicks struggled each time Jalen Brunson was seated.

If Brogdon is healthy and impactful, it is perfect backup. But keeping both Brogdon and Landry Shamet on the list would require a job – something the front office will not hesitate to do if Brogdon proves that he is always a high -level contributor.

2nd year jump

If Brogdon and Shamet Stick, it is probably done at the expense of one of the second year students: Tyler Kolek or Pacome Dadiet. Kolek flashed as a soil general and confident shooter, but fought defensively. Diett offers a large size and a smooth blow, but could not break the rotation of Thibodeau, even when Og Anunoby and Mikal Bridges were overloaded. Brown should give young guys from the pre-season. Ariel Hukporti, returning from a meniscian tear, is another name to monitor – in particular with Mitchell Robinson which should be subject to a consecutive restriction. And do not forget Kevin McCullar Jr., who impressed after his return from injury at the end of last season. Each recruit Knick-Contract is under pressure. If New York wants to make a title, sacrifices will be made. The front office has shown that it was ready to do them.

The tower

The Knicks have gotten into the habit of making late choices, and Mohamed Diawara could be the next one. Taken 51st in total, Diawara is a long, athletic and high engine, with defensive versatility and raw tools that can be molded in a rotation part. The Front Office has already found value with second rounds like Miles McBride, Kolek, McCullar and Hukporti – who have all surpassed their project niche. Diawara joins her French compatriots Dadiet and Guerschon Yabusele by forming a new European wing on the list. With Brown now at the helm, Diawara has a chance to show if her elite tools can result in an early impact.

Brown has never avoided throwing young players in the fire. When the injuries decimated his rotation of the kings, he turned to the two -lane goalkeeper Keon Ellis – who seized the moment and finally dug a permanent role long after the departure of Brown. Young Knicks will have a chance to follow this plan. But with a deeper list than anyone in the recent franchise memory, the prospect climb to the rotation player will not be easy.