This is getting cut throat...

This change just got a lot more interesting for the New York Knicks as Mike Brown made a move that absolutely nobody saw coming for the team. As guys, the second quarter of Sunday night's game, the Knicks are down to Orlando and Mike Brown calls a timeout and takes Andre Drummond out of the game. He doesn't put him back in and Drummond finishes with seven minutes after having an excellent opening night just a few days prior. The man Brown went to instead is James Wiseman. He plays 7 minutes 2 in this game, and he misses all 5 of his shots, the Knicks lose 111-102, and they're now 0-3, and Mike Brown is already experimenting, Mike Brown is already changing things, Mike Brown is not afraid to try everything for this team, and what people don't realize is that it's a good thing, and we're going to look at both sides of this, the stats on every guy, every reason that Mike Brown has given, the reason why the Knicks are doing this, what I believe is the reason why, and on top of all that, why what Mike Brown did was honestly an excellent move for the Knicks and is going to help them in a huge way. Stephen Bondy of the New York Post did say that Drummond was slow getting back on defense, and Orlando's Wendell Carter Jr. scored in transition, and Brown called a timeout, which ended Drummond's night. Now, this wasn't the first time that James Wiseman has gotten in for Andre Drummond as well. Friday in Boston, Drummond played seven minutes and Wiseman came in for a short stint of two minutes. It was a quiet rotation change that turned Sunday into a much louder one. And overall, guys, Drummond said nobody told him why, saying his words were, you can make the guess for me, and he's probably not owed an explanation as he continues to be a constant professional. Brown did explain it after, and his answer had three parts. Part one, saying, I felt like our transition defense was not good during that time. Wiseman is a better athlete so it makes sense to go there meanwhile he also said in part two he said he didn't necessarily bench him because of that Drummond had played for a stretch and Brown said he played well for us in game one and it was the wrong thing to do meaning he played him too much that night so now Drummond is playing in bursts because Drummond did get exhausted in the second half part three Brown did say Wiseman has been playing well in practice and I wanted to give him an opportunity and that Drummond will still be the backup in the next couple of games and Mike Brown had set the table earlier he had already shown he was going to do this as he made it clear the starters were then said quote other than that anybody can play everybody after the starters is on notice and this is a good thing guys and we're going to go further into this because the season's obviously long but when you look at Andre Drummond there's a guy who's been playing for a lot of years and Wiseman hasn't Wiseman's a more athletic guy and he does have better rim protection than Andre Drummond does. And on the other side of it, Drummond's a much better offensive player. He's a better rebounder. And there's a lot of instances where Drummond would work better or where Wiseman would work better. The Knicks right now, they're finding a way to use everyone. They're finding a way to not overplay anyone as it's a long season and they had the shortest off season of any team other than the Spurs, where obviously it was the same amount, they played the same amount of games. But guys, that's the big reason why this is so, so, so good to see. Mike Brown is following through on his plans. And speaking of the Knicks searching for answers, Kalshi had them at a 9% chance to win the NBA Finals heading in to the weekend. And if you think that's too low, even after this 0-3 start, that's exactly where Kalshi comes in. And I want to thank Kalshi for sponsoring this video. On Kalshi, you're trading directly against other users, not the house like traditional sportsbooks. You're buying yes or no contracts on the outcomes of events across sports, politics, and even the weather. Like the Knicks finishing as a top two seed, which Kalshi has as a 38% chance right now. And if you're interested in trying out Kalshi, use the link in our description. It's also in our pinned comment down below. Sign up using code DIGESTNBA and you can get $55 when you trade your first 25. It's a great deal for you. It helps the channel out as well. And diving back into the video, we're going to start with Andre Drummond because the Knicks signed him for one reason. He grabs rebounds. He's 33 years old in his 15th NBA season and he signed for one year at 3.9 million dollars after Mitchell Robinson left for Boston last season with Philadelphia Drummond was very good in fact he played 63 games had 19.5 minutes a game and averaged 8.4 rebounds and 6.4 points and a CBS sports study of rebound rate this summer had Drummond second in the league at rebound rate 20.2 only behind Mitchell Robinson And that isn't a one-season thing. In 2023-24 with Chicago, he averaged 9 rebounds in 17.1 minutes. In 2024-25, the first year he was in Philadelphia, he averaged 7.8 in 18.8 minutes. In each of those three seasons, he's averaged between 7.8 and 9 rebounds a game under 20 minutes a night. He is virtually a steal in every sense of the word off of the bench. And then the season starts, opening night against Philadelphia, 24 minutes, 12 points, 14 rebounds, 7 of them offensive, plus 4 assists and 2 blocks. In the first half alone, he had 12 rebounds, then 7 minutes in Boston and 7 minutes in Orlando. Over those 3 games, he's had 18 points and 19 rebounds in about 38 minutes. The averages are still there, but Brown overplayed Andre Drummond, and that's the case we're seeing right now. In 2 of his 3 games, he's played 7 minutes. In that 1 game where Brown gave him a real run, he played like the player the Knicks paid he played like the guy who was one of the best rebounders in the NBA and really one of the best rebounders of all time so we put it all together and Andre Drummond's job is definitely narrow but it's clear come in protect the glass get rebounds give Karl-Anthony Towns a breather be a positive on the offensive side being able to hit those threes when you spot up being able to drive to the hoop not being afraid to put the ball on the floor and being one of the better passing bigs in the league that is what we want out of Andre Drummond all while being the best rebounder on the floor at 3.9 million with Mitch gone that's exactly what the Knicks paid for and it's one thing Wiseman has not shown that he could do at this level but Wiseman has shown other things that do work better than what Drummond shows now let's take a look at James Wiseman because the Knicks do absolutely love him he was the number two pick in the 2020 draft picked by Golden State he's 25 years old 6 foot 11 and he's on the Knicks because he signed a non-guaranteed training camp deal on September 16th, and he balled out on that deal. His last full season was 2023-2024 with the Detroit Pistons. In 63 games, he played in 17.3 minutes a night and averaged 7.1 points and 5.3 rebounds, shooting 61% from the field as well. He actually showed an efficiency that had kind of never been there throughout his career, but since then, an Achilles injury cost him a lot of time. He's played just five games over two seasons, all with Indiana. last season in four games he averaged 14.5 minutes a game and put up 3.3 points but now here's the advanced numbers which is why we should be excited about James Wiseman and the Knicks not being afraid to actually use him to see what they have there now more we'll go into this later but also we look at his advanced numbers and overall his true shooting was 63.7% 23-24 Drummond's was at a 54% last year and a 53.5% the year before. Wiseman gets his points on fewer shots and way better efficiency. He stretches numbers out to 36 minutes per night on the per 36 stats, and he's at 15 points and 11 rebounds with 1.3 blocks. In 22-23 with Detroit, when he started 22 of 24 games, he gave him 13 points and 8 rebounds in 25 minutes a night. So it's not just per 36 stats that are inflating things. It's when Wiseman's on the floor, he actually does put up numbers and the Knicks are aware of this and he's eight years younger he's 25 years old to Drummond's 33 and the rate of rebounds which he grabs when he's on the floor has dropped from 29.3 in the 23-24 season 23.6 percent last season but it's still strong it's just not the same player who made all-star teams when we look at Drummond who he was in Detroit now this season with nine minutes total in Boston two for James Wiseman with the two minutes having nothing on the box score and then Sunday he had seven minutes he did go over five from the field had two rebounds a blocked two fouls and a turnover. It was not a good game for Wiseman, but it's also the first time he's played in a game in a while, and he's only played a couple NBA games over the last few years. So yeah, maybe we're going to give him a little bit of time. But what exactly did Mike Brown see? He said Wiseman's been playing well in practice, and that's the whole case. A coach who sees something in practice that the box score doesn't show you yet. And now here's the honest part. Rebounding is where Drummond wins easily. His total rebound rate last season was 23.6. Wiseman's was 17.2 in 23-24, and he's 11% offensive rebound rate, trails Drummond's 17.5. So Brown is choosing efficiency and youth over the glass right now, and also because Wiseman's faster. He's a better athlete, and the Knicks want to sometimes utilize that instead. You put him side-by-side, and it's an interesting debate because Wiseman's younger, and he was picked pretty high in the draft, and he shoots a better percentage, but Drummond's a bigger guy. He's the better rebounder, and he's the one who's actually played basketball more recently and kind of emulates Mitchell Robinson more. Now, fans are worried about the Knicks in general when it comes to the big man situation, and I do understand it outside of but Drummond has shown that he will play well. It's just really more than anything a matter of not burning him out, and the good thing is with Wiseman, the Knicks don't really have to worry about that. You can use James Wiseman in this role pretty effectively, and honestly, the more Wiseman plays the better he's going to get the Knicks trust him for a reason and I think with Wiseman if they can play him and he can work out they will sign him to a non-guaranteed multi-year contract extension so they can get a cheap contract and the hope is that he would turn into a real backup center for the Knicks but even so if he's on a super cheap deal for three years it's not fully guaranteed so the Knicks can not accept an option if they do decide hey this actually hurt us financially well then they can go ahead and decline that option when that time evidently comes, but at the same time, it gives the Knicks really, really helpful financial flexibility, and honestly, it's just a move that makes sense to me. Now, as much as this obviously matters for the future, not just meaning the next couple of seasons financially, but also just for the way that this team kind of plays throughout this regular season, and also what playoff rotations may look like down the road once the Knicks get there, because I'm not scared about 0-3 at all, here is what makes this fight matter right now. Carl Anthony Towns is the starting center, and there are only so many minutes behind him. Look at how those minutes have been split. On opening night, Towns played 24 minutes, and Drummond played 24 as well. That's 48 minutes at center, split between two guys, with Wiseman not playing at all. Now, that's partially because Towns, well, he got in foul trouble, as he does, but in Boston, he played 37 minutes, and Drummond played seven, and Wiseman played two. On Sunday, Towns played 33, and it was seven and seven behind him. So the whole backup center job is about 10 to 15 minutes at night, and I hope it's actually more than that and we'll get into that in one second but Brown is already splitting it after Sunday Brown says he'll play Drummond in bursts three four five six minutes at a time nothing longer than that as that's the best way to optimally use Andre Drummond and that's why seven minutes of 0 for 5 is a bigger deal than it sounds when the job is 10 minutes one bad stretch is a third of your night it affects how much you're going to play it also means that Drummond who got seven minutes doesn't have a lot of room to turn it around either the way that Mike Brown is experimenting i think it is fair to say as well that overall when we do look at this team we don't want Karl-Anthony Towns playing anywhere near 35 minutes a night not the regular season this is a team that again they had a short off season because they won the NBA Finals after all and with that in mind i do think it is important that the Knicks do try stuff out that they see what works they see who's playing well who's not what's good what's not and I think it makes sense to do it now who really cares about October basketball the Knicks could be 0-3 they could be 3-0 I'd have the same reaction they just won the NBA Finals I'm happy that they're resting their guys a good amount they should we don't need Towns, Brunson playing 30 some odd minutes a night every single night they're they need to be ready for April May June that's what I care about I don't care about October, just don't, you know, go 0-8 or something and have a weird start to the year. Just, you know, give yourself a second, bounce back, and they're going to. So, I don't find this concerning. If anything, I want to see both Drummond and Wiseman play a little bit more. And Towns, I don't want to say coast, but, you know, kind of coast. On top of that, we do have to look at Brown and what his case really was for all this. and overall transition defense is real and it's one of the most important aspects of basketball and he said it wasn't just Drummond who broke it he said you can't run with your guys that's coaching 101 and everybody on the team heard it so at that point the minutes argument does hold up Drummond is 33 an opening night he played over 24 minutes with 17 of them in the first half and Brown said himself that that was too many playing him in bursts isn't the best way to protect him and to protect the efficiency. Now, on the other side of it, Drummond didn't lose the game on Sunday. The Knicks shot 23.7% from three. They turned the ball over 16 times, and Jalen Brunson shot 12 for 28. A seven-minute center is not why they're 0-3. Look at the points. Look at where they're going. The Knicks scored 100, then 103, then 102. They allowed 106, 107, and 111. That's three losses by six, four, and nine points. None of them came down to the backup center. It It came down to this team that's experimenting with stuff, and frankly, they're kind of just letting everything fall into place and not overexerting a team that had a four-month offseason. It all makes sense. It's the right thing to do. I don't think Mike Brown is wrong at all. Now, there is problems. Mikal Bridges is 5-for-23 from the field for the first three games, 2-for-8, 0-for-8, and 3-for-7. That's 10 points total, and Sunday's loss. The Knicks were outscored by 23 points when he was on the floor, and pulling your rebounder for your transition mistake only works when your replacement gives you something. Wiseman went 0 for 5, and the Knicks were outscored by 5 when he was on the floor. And here's the part that matters most. Brown said everyone is after that starting 5 is up for grabs until the team is consistent. That's a big deal with an 0-3 start. It means Wiseman, Diawara, and the rest of the guys are competing for minutes. Well, yeah, Landry Shamet, Deuce McBride, Jose Alvarado, they're going to be in the rotation a little bit. They're mainly going to be in it. They're going to be more mainstays than anyone else. And that's the real issue for this team that wants to be a contender. Cal State and the Knicks have a 55% chance to win 50 games before the season. At 0-3, 50 wins means going 15-29 the rest of the way. The Knicks just went 16-3 in the NBA playoffs. I'm pretty sure they could still do that. Overall, honestly guys, Mike Brown does have the right to hold his center to the transition rules. A 33-year-old who jogs back can't be the guy who's on the floor all the time because he's jogging because he's tired. but Wiseman over Drummond for rebounding in the rim well the numbers don't fully show it yet but Wiseman is in every sense of the word someone who will be the better rim protector this season it's just the way he plays he's a better defender he's more athletic he blocks shots better it's just a matter of fact and if I'm Mike Brown I make the rule clear that I keep the rotation simple Drummond plays 10 to 12 minutes a night he runs back and Wiseman is the next man up if the effort slips or honestly more important here's the thing guys frankly I would not mind if they both played every single night and Cat played 30 minutes a night and then those final 18 were split I don't know 12 minutes for Drummond 14 minutes for Drummond the rest goes to James Wiseman however many it is I don't mind that and I honestly think it makes sense especially at this point in the season it doesn't have to stay that way I'm not saying you have to do that in the playoffs Cat's going to play 35 minutes a night in the playoffs. That's 11 minutes. You give them to Andre, or 13 minutes, excuse me. You give them to Andre Drummond and maybe give one or two to Wiseman at the end of the second half just to give Drummond an extra little breather. But I'm not concerned about playing three centers. In fact, I kind of like it. I want the Knicks to go deep. I want them to go 13 deep for the first month and a half of the season. Tighten it up a little bit if you keep losing, but I just don't think the Knicks are. I'm not concerned at all right now, guys. Look, Drummond is the backup center Tuesday against Detroit. Brown said so himself. And if Drummond plays his minutes and bursts and plays like he usually does, well then there's not going to be a problem here and the Knicks are going to start winning games. What I'm watching for Tuesday is simple. Does Drummond get back in transition? Does he rebound in his bursts? And does James Wiseman get another look or does he go back to the end of the bench? If those answers are yes and no, then this was a one night story, but I don't think it is. I think they're going to use all their guys. The front office wants to know what they have in Wiseman. they don't want to out they don't want to you know take away Drummond's entire energy in the season Drummond does not have a great gas tank this all makes sense tell me in the comments what do you want to see out of both Drummond and Wiseman let me know your thoughts like this video subscribe turn on post notifications have a great day guys and go Knicks