New Knicks Coach Tweaks Defense, Pacers Evaluate Roster Hopefuls, Nuggets Fill Out Camp Roster
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NEW YORK — Mike Brown’s first noticeable change with the Knicks is on the defensive end, and veteran wing Mikal Bridges is at the center of the overhaul.
Brown told reporters the 27-year-old stopper will still handle primary assignments at times but will rotate to multiple roles instead of shadowing point guards on every trip. “He’ll guard the point of attack sometimes,” Brown said, noting Bridges could just as easily track a shooter like Reggie Miller were he still active. Bridges led the NBA last season by fighting through 25 screens per game.
Bridges said the system now features “different verbiage” and a heavier emphasis on help defense and creating turnovers to spark transition offense.
Meanwhile, forward Josh Hart missed his second straight practice with an illness, and Brown was unsure whether the back spasms that surfaced on the club’s Abu Dhabi trip have fully subsided. Hart’s availability for Thursday’s preseason meeting with Minnesota remains in question.
Pacers
INDIANAPOLIS — Center Tony Bradley is back in the NBA on a non-guaranteed contract after two seasons away and realizes the challenge of cracking a crowded Pacers frontcourt. “I know what’s at stake,” the 26-year-old said, adding that a stint in the G League changed his perspective.
Bradley logged spot minutes late last season, but the return to health of Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman shortens his path to the final roster.
Second-round pick Johnny Furphy, who averaged 7.6 minutes in 50 appearances as a rookie, has impressed coach Rick Carlisle after adding size in the offseason. “He’s gotten stronger, maybe even taller,” Carlisle said, praising Furphy’s rebounding, defense and rim pressure.
Nuggets
DENVER — The Nuggets signed wings Terrence Hargrove Jr. and Coleman Hawkins to Exhibit 10 contracts, bringing the preseason roster to the 21-player maximum.
Hargrove, a 6-foot-4 product of Saint Louis, averaged 5.3 points during Denver’s Summer League run. Hawkins, a 6-foot-11 forward who played at Illinois before finishing college at Kansas State, appeared for Golden State in Las Vegas.
Both players are expected to report to the Grand Rapids Gold. If they remain with the G League affiliate for at least 60 days, each could earn an Exhibit 10 bonus of up to $85,300.
Source: Hoops Wire
