The ball didn’t quite hop like this before.
If there’s any takeaway from the Knicks’ preseason opener against the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday—the first of five exhibition games before the Oct. 22 regular-season opener against the Boston Celtics—it’s the free-flowing offense on display from the new-look team.
This was the debut of the retooled Knicks roster after blockbuster trades netted Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns. With Towns at center, Jalen Brunson at point, and versatile wings like Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart rounding out the lineup, the team showcased a fluid, pace-and-space approach that could help power a deep playoff run in the Eastern Conference.