# \[The Athletic\] 对于迈克·布朗的尼克斯而言，夺得NBA总冠军或许就在此时，失不再来
**URL:** https://chinaspurs.com/t/topic/47118
**Category:** 环球刺讯
**Tags:** 迈克-布朗, 2025-26赛季, 维克托-文班亚马
**Created:** [2026 年6 月 3 日 11:10 UTC](https://chinaspurs.com/t/topic/47118 "2026-06-03T11:10:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### 作者：  [@TheAthletic](https://chinaspurs.com/u/TheAthletic)
#### 发布日期： [2026 年6 月 3 日 11:10 UTC](https://chinaspurs.com/t/topic/47118/1 "2026-06-03T11:10:54Z")
By Ian O’Connor | The Athletic, 2026-06-03 09:45:54
在纽约尼克斯队对迈克·布朗 (Mike Brown) 寄予厚望的大约四十年前，汤姆·贝内特 (Tom Bennett) 是全美第一个对他做出同样选择的篮球界人士。这位梅萨社区学院（Mesa Community College）的教练，向当时在德国籍籍无名、身为美国空军军人子弟的高中生布朗提供了一个建队名额。
布朗接受了邀请，并在日后将贝内特视为恩师，称其“帮助我成长为一个真正的男人”。多年来，他们一直保持着密切的联系，贝内特关注着这位昔日弟子的一举一动，直到去年夏天尼克斯向布朗发出执教邀请。
“当迈克刚拿到纽约的那份工作时，我很为他担心，”贝内特回忆道，“因为，我不知道该怎么说，但迈克真的是个非常友善的人，对别人特别好。而我觉得，纽约人有时给人的印象是他们对别人会非常苛刻。
“所以，我当时很担心他能否适应那种环境。但事实证明，情况完全不同。”
_完全不同_ 可能是对2026年NBA总决赛最含蓄的官方说辞了。周三晚上，布朗麾下的尼克斯将在圣安东尼奥挑战马刺，拉开总决赛的帷幕。
贝内特绝非唯一一个担心布朗——这位出了名的“老好人”——会被这座大都市生吞活剥的篮球圈资深人士。
在《Straight Game》播客节目中，曾在布朗执教的湖人队效力过的14年NBA老将马特·巴恩斯 (Matt Barnes) 称这位教练是“一个极好的人”，但“人太好了，反而容易吃亏”，并且“不是一个能统领群雄的领袖”。尽管布朗在常规赛中也有过高光时刻，但他用今年季后赛的表现，彻底粉碎了外界对他的所有质疑和担忧。
事实证明，在尼克斯成长为争冠球队的关键时期，他正是球队最需要的那个人。布朗激励着他的队员们在季后赛中豪取11连胜，并创造了历史性的净胜分纪录。他以一种其功勋卓著的前任汤姆·锡伯杜 (Tom Thibodeau) 未曾做到的方式，提升了尼克斯的上限。
布朗的人格魅力、开明态度以及阅历无数的丰富经验，帮助他一路横扫了奎因·斯奈德 (Quin Snyder) 执教的亚特兰大老鹰、尼克·纳斯 (Nick Nurse) 执教的费城76人，以及肯尼·阿特金森 (Kenny Atkinson) 执教的克利夫兰骑士。纽约已经很久很久没有见过新任主帅与成型球队之间如此完美的契合了。
正因如此，对于一支已经53年未尝冠军滋味的球队来说，夺取NBA总冠军感觉就像是一场“此时不搏，更待何时”的命运决战。1994年的尼克斯曾在总决赛中以3-2领先休斯敦火箭，却未能毕其功于一役。五年后，纽约有机会击败当时尚未染指任何总冠军戒指、年仅23岁的蒂姆·邓肯 (Tim Duncan)，但由于帕特里克·尤因 (Patrick Ewing) 因跟腱撕裂缺阵，拉里·约翰逊 (Larry Johnson) 也因膝伤步履蹒跚，尼克斯最终在大比分1-4落败。而尼克斯花了整整27年的时间，才重新回到了这个舞台。
他们比94年和99年的那两支队伍更强，并且他们有机会在22岁的超级巨星维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 夺得任何总冠军戒指之前击败他。更棒的是，纽约的首发五虎——在攻防两端都默契十足——正处于这个赛季阶段所能达到的最健康状态。
是的，米切尔·罗宾逊 (Mitchell Robinson) 必须带伤应对他骨折的小拇指，这在试图用足够多且灵活的内线肉盾去消耗文班时确实是个难题。但想想卫冕冠军俄克拉荷马城雷霆刚刚经历的遭遇吧，他们在缺少了二号球星杰伦·威廉姆斯 (Jalen Williams) 的情况下，最终无缘再次杀入总决赛。
可以预料的是，如果尼克斯下赛季有幸重返这个舞台，他们届时面临的伤病影响，恐怕会比罗宾逊的手指骨折要严重得多。
所以，现在就是属于他们的时刻。这_必须_是属于他们的时刻。杰伦·布伦森 (Jalen Brunson) 足够优秀，完全可以像斯蒂芬·库里 (Steph Curry) 和伊塞亚·托马斯 (Isiah Thomas) 那样，以小个子核心的身份领衔一出夺冠大戏；而卡尔-安东尼·唐斯 (Karl-Anthony Towns) 在得分、传球和篮板方面的全能身手，也足以胜任他的最佳拍档。
尼克斯在防守端的坚韧以及寻找空位队友的默契配合，让人不禁频频将其与雷德·霍尔兹曼 (Red Holzman) 执教的那支尼克斯相提并论——正是那支球队在1970年和1973年为队史夺得了仅有的两座总冠军奖杯。整座城市已经彻底为这支尼克斯倾倒。
距离属于他们的“卡美洛时代”仅仅只差四场胜利。
从锡伯杜执教首年季后赛首轮出局，到后来的第二轮、第三轮，再到如今站上总决赛的舞台，纽约在这一路攀升中经历了太多。布伦森已经参加了81场季后赛，其中56场是代表尼克斯出战。
而文班亚马仅参加过17场季后赛，所以，不，这并不是那支格雷格·波波维奇 (Gregg Popovich) 时代的马刺。他们在这个舞台上还完全是新兵。39岁的米奇·约翰逊 (Mitch Johnson) 作为他们的主教练前途无量，但对于56岁的迈克·布朗来说，未来就是现在。
他曾作为助理教练四次随队夺冠，其中就包括在波波维奇执教的马刺队时期；而在他此前的执教生涯中，他也曾带领一支球队（2007年的克利夫兰骑士）杀入过总决赛，但最终被那支同样由波波维奇率领的马刺横扫。
布朗作为主教练执教了超过100场季后赛，胜率接近60%。但他也曾被三家俱乐部解雇过四次。
可以说，他在NBA见识过了一切——高光、低谷，以及最丑陋的挣扎。但布朗对于纽约来说是完美的，纽约对他而言亦是如此。
他的篮球之旅始于那片沙漠。当时，一位名叫罗恩·约翰逊 (Ron Johnson) 的前亚利桑那州立大学球员在德国担任教练，他将布朗推荐给了贝内特。贝内特第一次看这个孩子训练时，注意到他在跳投时总是把球拉到头顶后面，与其说是投篮，不如说是把球扔出去。
“你是认真的吗？”贝内特问他。
“我是非常认真的，”布朗回答道。
“我们必须改变你的投篮动作，”教练告诉他。
“我们什么时候开始？”布朗问。
他每天都在球馆里挥汗如雨，额外加练300次投篮，一年365天从不间断，包括夏天、春假，以及大学朋友们在外派对狂欢的那些夜晚。当布朗因背伤无法上场时，他在训练期间趴在地上，背上敷着冰袋，专注地观察队友们的跑位。
“当迈克伤愈重新站上训练场的第一天，他就在指导大家该往哪里跑，战术该怎么打，”贝内特说，“他总是热心帮助年轻球员。他的领导力简直不可思议。我认为我们队里从未有过比他更好的领袖。”
在梅萨，他们携手取得了30连胜，并将球队带到了全美社区大学第一的位置。之后，布朗升入圣迭戈大学参加NCAA一级联盟比赛，随后在丹佛掘金队担任无薪暑期实习生，开启了他的非球员职业生涯。这是一条多么曲折漫长的道路啊。
在他此前唯一一次作为主教练的总决赛之旅中，即使拥有勒布朗·詹姆斯 (LeBron James)，布朗面对马刺也毫无胜算。但这一次，面对马刺，他迎来了解锁荣耀的真正机会。布朗可能再也不会有这样的机会了。他手下最好的球员布伦森，也可能再也不会有这样的机会了。
“这是千载难逢的机会，”这位队长说道，“你绝对不能视其为理所当然。”
对于尼克斯来说，一切天时地利人和已然齐备。他们需要在马刺之前赢下四场比赛，因为这确实让人感觉是一场“此时不搏，更待何时”的终极追逐。
_由生成式 AI 翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。_
> **点击查看原文：For Mike Brown’s Knicks, it may be now or never to win the NBA title**
>
> # For Mike Brown’s Knicks, it may be now or never to win the NBA title
>
> 
>
> Nearly four decades before the New York Knicks took a big chance on Mike Brown, Tom Bennett was the first basketball figure in the United States to do the same. The Mesa Community College coach offered the relatively unknown high school player in Germany and son of an Air Force man a spot on his team.
>
> Brown accepted and later credited Bennett as a mentor who “helped me mature into a man.” They remained close over the years, with Bennett tracking every move his former player made right up until the Knicks came calling last summer.
>
> “I was worried about Mike in New York when he first got the job,” Bennett recalled, “because, I don’t know how to say this, but Mike is really a friendly person and he’s good to other people. And I think sometimes the reputation of New Yorkers is they can be really hard on other people.
>
> “So I was concerned about him in that situation. But it’s turned out to be quite different.”
>
> _Quite different_ would be the official understatement of the 2026 NBA Finals, which start Wednesday night for Brown’s Knicks and the Spurs in San Antonio.
>
> Bennett was hardly the only basketball lifer who worried that Brown, a card-carrying Mr. Nice Guy, would get chewed up and spit out by the big city.
>
> On the Straight Game Podcast, Matt Barnes, a 14-year NBA veteran who played on Brown’s Lakers team, called the coach “a great person” who is “too nice for his own good” and “not a leader of men.” Though he had his moments in the regular season, Brown has used these playoffs to obliterate every criticism or concern about him.
>
> He has turned out to be exactly what the Knicks needed at exactly the right time in their development as a championship contender. Brown has inspired his players to win 11 consecutive postseason games by a record-setting margin. He has elevated the Knicks in a way that his accomplished predecessor, Tom Thibodeau, could not.
>
> Brown’s personal touch, open-mindedness and seen-it-all experience helped him lay waste to Quin Snyder’s Atlanta Hawks, Nick Nurse’s Philadelphia 76ers and Kenny Atkinson’s Cleveland Cavaliers. New York has not seen such an ideal match between an incoming coach and an established team in a long, long time.
>
> And that is why the NBA championship feels so much like a now-or-never proposition for a franchise that hasn’t won it in 53 years. The 1994 Knicks had a 3-2 finals lead over the Houston Rockets and couldn’t close it out. Five years later, New York had a chance to beat a 23-year-old Tim Duncan before he had won any of his rings and lost in five games because Patrick Ewing was out with an Achilles tear and Larry Johnson was slowed by a bum knee. It only took the Knicks 27 years to make it back to this point.
>
> They are better than the ’94 and ’99 teams, and they have a chance to beat 22-year-old superstar Victor Wembanyama before he wins any rings. Better yet, New York’s starting five — completely connected on both sides of the ball — is as healthy as a lineup can be this time of year.
>
> Yeah, Mitchell Robinson will have to manage his broken pinkie finger, and that is a problem when trying to throw enough active big bodies at Wemby. But consider what the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder just endured without their second-best player, Jalen Williams, falling short of another trip to the finals.
>
> Chances are, if the Knicks are fortunate enough to return to this stage next season, they will be dealing with an injury more impactful than Robinson’s fractured finger.
>
> So, this is their time. This _has_ to be their time. Jalen Brunson is good enough to join Steph Curry and Isiah Thomas as small lead actors in a winning championship drama, and Karl-Anthony Towns is versatile enough as a scorer, passer and rebounder to be his co-star.
>
> The Knicks are playing defense and hitting the open man with enough regularity to draw all kinds of comparisons to the Red Holzman teams that won the franchise’s only titles in 1970 and ’73. The city has fallen hard for these Knicks.
>
> Camelot is only four victories away.
>
> New York has been through a lot on the climb from first-round playoff dropouts, in Thibodeau’s first year, to second-round, third-round and now fourth-round participants. Brunson has competed in 81 playoff games, 56 of them with the Knicks.
>
> Wembanyama has competed in a mere 17, so no, these aren’t the Gregg Popovich Spurs. They are brand new at this. Mitch Johnson, 39, has a great future ahead of him as their coach, but for Mike Brown, 56, the future is right now.
>
> He has been part of four championship teams as an assistant, including one with Popovich’s Spurs, and he has taken a team in a previous head-coaching life (Cleveland Cavaliers, 2007) to the finals, where he was swept by those same Popovich Spurs.
>
> Brown has been a head coach in more than 100 postseason games, and he has won nearly 60 percent of them. He has also been fired four times by three organizations.
>
> Again, he has seen it all in the NBA — the good, the bad and the very ugly. But Brown has been perfect for New York, and New York has been perfect for him.
>
> His basketball journey started in the desert, after a former Arizona State player named Ron Johnson, a coach in Germany, recommended Brown to Bennett, who watched the kid work out for the first time and noticed that he was pulling the ball over his head on his jumper and throwing it more than shooting it.
>
> “Are you serious about this?” Bennett asked him.
>
> “I’m very serious,” Brown replied.
>
> “We have to change your shot,” the coach told him
>
> “When do we start?” Brown asked.
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> Dripping sweat like mad, he took an extra 300 shots in the gym every day of the year, including the summer, spring break, and all those nights his college friends were out partying. When Brown was out with a back injury, he lay on his stomach during practice, with ice on his back, and studied his teammates.
>
> “And the first day Mike got up to practice, he was giving people instructions on where to go and how to run things,” Bennett said. “He was always helping the young players. His leadership was unreal. I don’t think we ever had a better leader.”
>
> Together, they won 30 straight games at Mesa and were ranked the No. 1 junior college team in America before Brown moved up to Division I ball at San Diego, and then started his non-playing career as an unpaid summer intern with the Denver Nuggets. What a winding road it has been.
>
> In his only previous trip to the finals as a head coach, Brown had no shot against the Spurs, even with LeBron James. He’s got a real shot against the Spurs this time. Brown might never get another one. His best player, Brunson, might never get another one.
>
> “Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” the captain said, “(that) you can’t take for granted.”
>
> It’s all come together for the Knicks. They need to win four games before the Spurs do, because this sure feels like it’s a now-or-never pursuit.
By Ian O’Connor, via [The Athletic](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7328573/2026/06/03/knicks-spurs-mike-brown-nba-finals-game-1/)
---
### 作者：  [@TheAthletic](https://chinaspurs.com/u/TheAthletic)
#### 发布日期： [2026 年6 月 3 日 20:48 UTC](https://chinaspurs.com/t/topic/47118/2 "2026-06-03T20:48:45Z")
# 热评
> [@2345757](#):
>
> 作为土生土长的纽约人，我至死都坚信纽约是一个非常友善的城市，到处都是像迈克·布朗 (Mike Brown) 这样“好脾气”的人。我们只是不惯着傻子。然而，对于那些工作努力且业务能力强的人，我们会毫不吝啬地大声为他们喝彩；而当他们表现不佳时，我们也会表达得清清楚楚。
> 尼克斯加油！！！
>
> > [@David L.](#):
> >
> > 我完全同意。我在曼哈顿生活了40年，纽约人忙碌、敏捷、社交能力强、友善且乐于助人。虽然每天的生活都像是在折腾，但这里有一种无可替代的城市自豪感。
>
> > [@Luke L.](#):
> >
> > 真正的好人其实是会容忍傻子的。
>
> > [@Vinay V.](#):
> >
> > 这让我想起人们对东北部人的评价：善良，但不客套。在你需要帮助的时候，他们会伸出援手（比如帮你补胎、帮你把婴儿车抬上地铁站的台阶），但他们不会像中西部人那样主动跟你打招呼。不过，纽约人尊重的是努力工作和不搞虚的。布朗就是对里奥·杜罗彻 (Leo Durocher) 那句被误传的名言——“好人总是拿最后一名”的有力反驳。
>
> > [@John M.](#):
> >
> > @Vinay V. 事实确实如此！你不会从纽约人那里得到表面上的客套，但你会得到那种为了他人利益而采取实际行动的真正善良。
> [@Marc S.](#):
>
> 我可不信什么“这是他们最后的机会”。乔什·哈特 (Josh Hart) 是阵容里最老的球员，也才30岁，而且除了米奇 (Mitch) 之外，每个人的合同都还有好几年。
> 尼克斯将带着他们在季后赛中建立的默契以及对弱队的统治力，以同样的阵容和同样的教练迈入下个赛季。显然，球员和教练在今年的季后赛中必须抱有一种不留退路、背水一战的心态，一步一个脚印，但里昂·罗斯 (Leon Rose) 打造的是一支具有持久生命力的球队。更好的对比是1969和1973年的那支尼克斯，拥有一整支年轻且以团队为导向的球员。
>
> > [@Mark C.](#):
> >
> > @Marc S. 打进总决赛是极其困难的，再次打进的概率很低，毕竟伤病和薪资帽等客观因素让比赛充满了变数。此外，尼克斯没有MVP级别的球员，而那些经常打进总决赛的球队都有。下个赛季塔图姆 (Tatum) 会回来，哈利伯顿 (Haliburton) 也会回来，底特律会更有经验。这并非不可能，只是概率不大。假设他们下赛季真的重返总决赛……对手很可能是更有经验的马刺或雷霆，他们都拥有MVP级别的球员。到时候会更艰难。现在就是最好的时机。
> [@StatisticsAddic T.](#):
>
> 行了，伊恩 (Ian)……无论是超级碗、世界大赛、斯坦利杯总决赛还是NBA总决赛，任何一位教练如果能达到那样的高度，都必须做好“夺冠可能是一生仅此一次的机会”的心理准备。这只是基本的概率问题，也是人生的常态。
> [@Jim L.](#):
>
> 我喜欢布朗，我认为在他的职业执教生涯中，他受到了不公正的对待。我认为在教练这一项上，是尼克斯在纸面上对阵马刺时唯一占优的地方。
> 话虽如此，考虑到他手头的牌，要在七局四胜制的系列赛中在执教上击败马刺，将是一项不可思议的壮举，别忘了波波 (Pop) 依然参与其中。
> 如果这是一场像超级碗那样一战定乾坤的比赛，我会给尼克斯五五开的机会，但在七场系列赛中，我不认为这会发生。
> 纽约唯一的胜算始于在前两场中拿下一场，而第一场比赛就是最好的黄金机会。
>
> > [@Logan W.](#):
> >
> > @Vincent B. 在整个七场系列赛中，教练的作用远不止5%。不仅有场上的决策，比如暂停、阵容轮换、挑战、战术呼叫，还有比赛之间的战术调整。我认为布朗是一位出色的教练，在这些方面绝对不差，但马刺是少数几个能在这方面与他抗衡的球队之一。约翰逊 (Johnson) 已经证明了自己在场上的执教能力非常强，而且没错，波波在场下的战术准备方面确实提供了帮助。
> [@harry.albert623](#):
>
> 我不确定是否真的到了“机不可失，失不再来”的地步。
> 即使是伊塞亚 (Isiah) 领衔的活塞队，在最终于1989年和1990年夺冠之前，也经历了一些成长的阵痛——他们在1987年东部决赛中输给了凯尔特人，随后在1988年总决赛中输给了湖人。
> 迈克尔·乔丹 (Michael Jordan) 的公牛队在1991年最终夺冠之前，也经历了自己的成长阵痛，在1989年和1990年的分区决赛中都输给了活塞队。
> 是的，正如伊恩所提到的，尼克斯为了走到这一步确实经历了一些成长的阵痛，但这只是唐斯 (Towns) 和布里奇斯 (Bridges) 加盟这支球队的第二年。
> 这并不是说尼克斯不需要牢牢抓住眼前这个转瞬即逝的机会。
> [@Scott L.](#):
>
> 我认为布朗的成功源于他能真正倾听教练组的意见。整个“让唐斯担任组织中锋”的想法甚至不是他提出的，而是来自他的一位助理教练。在不了解去年所有细节的情况下，显而易见，他最大的优势在于能够充分利用身边所有的想法和人才，包括助理教练。如果他墨守成规，我们可能在对阵老鹰时就输了，之后的局势也会完全不同。
> 至于这个赛季，我们的首发五人组比马刺更具优势，而替补席则是我们真正拉开差距的地方。沙梅特 (Shamet)、麦克布莱德 (McBride)、阿尔瓦拉多 (Alvarado)、克拉克森 (Clarkson)——这是一支深度极佳且经受过检验的第二阵容。替补席是我们今年夺冠的底气所在，也是明年情况会变得棘手的原因。沙梅特基本上会被每支球队哄抢，他不会再签一份底薪合同了。
> 但眼下，这是属于尼克斯的一年。尼克斯加油！
> [@Jeremy P.](#):
>
> 这个角度很合理——作为3号种子，在通往总决赛的道路上抽到了好签，目前势头正盛，现在只需要再赢4场就能成就传奇。
> [@Christopher T.](#):
>
> 我同意那些认为这可能是布朗最后机会的观点。你经常能从那些打进总决赛却功亏一篑的职业运动员那里听到一句话：他们总以为自己还会获得机会，但往往此后便无缘总决赛。
> 距离布朗上一次作为主教练打进总决赛已经过去很久了，他深知这一点。
> 本赛季布朗最令人印象深刻的两个举动，一是尽管布里奇斯手感冰凉、屡屡挂零，却依然让他保留首发位置；二是让唐斯承担了更多策应和组织的任务。他知道什么时候该坚持，什么时候该变通。
> [@Bill](#):
>
> 极其搞笑的标题……机会向来都是“机不可失，失不再来”。
> [@Josh W.](#):
>
> 这有点太戏剧化了。
> [@146506](#):
>
> 机会来敲门了。他们会回应吗？
_由生成式 AI 翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。_
> **点击查看原文：**
>
> #
>
> > [@2345757](#):
> >
> > As a lifelong New Yorker, I’ll go to the grave certain that NYC is very much a friendly town, filled with “nice” people like Mike Brown. We simply don’t suffer fools. We do, however, loudly celebrate those who work hard and are good at what they do, while expressing ourselves with clarity when they don’t.
> > Let’s go Knicks!!!
> >
> > > [@David L.](#):
> > >
> > > I agree completely. I lived 40 years in Manhattan and New Yorkers are busy, quick, gregarious, friendly and helpful. Every day is a schlep but there is such a pride of place. It can’t be replicated
> >
> > > [@Luke L.](#):
> > >
> > > Nice people actually suffer fools.
> >
> > > [@Vinay V.](#):
> > >
> > > It reminds me of how folks from the northeast are characterized as kind, but not nice. They will help you in your time of need (fix a flat tire, carry your stroller up the stairs out of the subway), but won’t say hi to you like a midwesterner. One thing New Yorkers respect though is hard work and no BS. Mike Brown is the counter to Leo Durocher’s misquoted phrase “Nice guys finish last”.
> >
> > > [@John M.](#):
> > >
> > > @Vinay V. Truth! You won’t get superficial nice from New Yorkers but you will get the type of kindness that involves taking ACTION for the benefit of others
>
> > [@Marc S.](#):
> >
> > Not buying the “this is their last chance.” Josh Hart is the oldest player on the roster at 30, and EVERYONE except Mitch is under contract for several years to come.
> > The Knicks will get to take the way they gelled in the playoffs and dominated lesser teams into next season with the same squad, same coach. Obviously, the players and coach must have a desperate, last-chance attitude, one game at a time for these playoffs, but Leon Rose built a franchise to endure. Better comp is the 69/73 Knicks with a full squad of young, team-oriented players.
> >
> > > [@Mark C.](#):
> > >
> > > @Marc S. It’s incredibly hard to get to the finals, and the odds of getting there again are low, just because the nature of the game with injuries and salary cap considerations is tough. Also, the Knicks don’t have an MVP level player and the teams that consistently get to the finals do. Tatem will be back next season, Halliburton will be back, Detroit will be more experienced. It’s not impossible, it’s just not likely. Let’s say they get back to the finals next season… probably against the more experienced Spurs or Thunder, who have MVP level players. It’ll be harder. Now is the time.
>
> > [@StatisticsAddic T.](#):
> >
> > C’mon Ian…every coach whether in the Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup Finals or the NBA Finals has to assume if they reach those lofty heights that to win it all may be a once in a career shot. That’s just basic math / life.
>
> > [@Jim L.](#):
> >
> > I like Mike Brown, I think he’s been treated unfairly in his pro coaching career. I think this is the one area the Knicks have the advantage on paper against the Spurs.
> > That said, given the material he has to work with, this would have to be an incredible feat to out coach the Spurs over seven games, don’t forget Pop is still involved.
> > If we were talking about a 1 game super bowl, winner takes all event, I’d give the Knicks an even money shot, but in seven, I don’t see it happening.
> > NY’s only chance starts with them winning 1 of the first 2, and game 1 is the golden opportunity for that.
> >
> > > [@Logan W.](#):
> > >
> > > @Vincent B. In an entire 7 game series, coaching plays a much bigger role than 5%. Not only are there in game decisions, such as, time outs, lineups, challenges, play calls, but there’s also the between game scheme adjustments that happen. I think Mike Brown is an excellent coach and certainly no slouch in any of those, but the Spurs are one of the few teams that can match him in that department. Johnson has shown to be very capable in game, and yes Pop does help with the between game aspect.
>
> > [@harry.albert623](#):
> >
> > Not sure about the it’s now or never approach.
> > Even the Isiah Pistons had to go through some growing pains before they finally won it 89’ & 90’ losing to the Celtics in the 87’ conference finals and then to the Lakers in the 88’ NBA finals.
> > Michael Jordan’s Bulls had to go through some growing pains of their own losing to the Pistons in the conference finals in 89’ & 90’ before they finally won it in 91’.
> > Yes the Knicks as Ian mentioned have gone through some growing pains themselves to get here but it’s only the 2nd year for Towns & Bridges with this team.
> > Thats not to say the Knicks don’t need to seize the moment while it’s right out there in front of them.
>
> > [@Scott L.](#):
> >
> > I think Brown’s success comes from actually listening to his staff. The whole “KAT as a point center” idea didn’t even come from him, it came from one of his assistants. Without knowing every detail from last year, it’s pretty clear his biggest strength is using all the ideas and talent around him, including the assistants. If he were rigid, we probably lose to the Hawks and everything looks different from there.
> > As for this season, our starting five stacks up better than the Spurs, and the bench is where we really separate ourselves. Shamet, McBride, Alvarado, Clarkson — that’s a deep, proven second unit. The bench is why we win this year, and also why next year gets tricky. Shamet is going to be wanted by basically every team and he’s not signing for the minimum again.
> > But for now, this is the Knicks’ year. Let’s go Knicks!
>
> > [@Jeremy P.](#):
> >
> > It’s a fair angle - 3 seed that got a favorable draw to the Finals, is on a heater and now needs 4 more wins to become legendary
>
> > [@Christopher T.](#):
> >
> > I agree with those who have said that this might be it for Brown. One thing you hear from pro athletes who made it to a championship game and lost. Is that they think they will get another shot, but often dont.
> > Its been a long time since Brown’s last trip to the Finals as HC, he knows.
> > The two most impressive moves Brown made this season is letting Bridges remain a starter, in spite of the 0fers. And making KAT more of a distributor. Knowing when to hold firm, and when to be flexible.
>
> > [@Bill](#):
> >
> > Utterly Hilarious headline…It’s always now or never.
>
> > [@Josh W.](#):
> >
> > That’s a bit dramatic.
>
> > [@146506](#):
> >
> > Opportunity knocks. Will they answer?
via [The Athletic](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7328573/2026/06/03/knicks-spurs-mike-brown-nba-finals-game-1/#comments)