Where the significant Mike Brown changes stand with Knicks season fast approaching

Significant changes in how the Knicks play are expected under new head coach Mike Brown.The idea is that these changes will raise their ceiling to that of a true championship contender.With the preseason over, some of those changes were already evident — and others are still a work in progress.Let’s take a look at where the most important changes stand:Last year, the Knicks had the fifth-lowest pace in the NBA, averaging 97.64 possessions per 48 minutes.

Brown’s previous teams have always ranked near the top of the league in that regard, and he was adamant he wanted to get the Knicks playing faster and more in transition.But, disregarding the international teams that featured in a few games across the league, the Knicks had the second-lowest pace among all teams in the preseason.They averaged 98.55 possessions per 48 minutes, so a marginal increase from last year’s mark, but not exactly the transformation Brown is looking for.Brown pointed to injuries as to why that development has been slower.“The guys that have been out, they’re the key pieces to what we’re trying to do,” Brown said after the 113-108 win over the Hornets on Friday at Madison Square Garden in the preseason finale.

“They haven’t gotten the reps and for us to jell together from top to bottom is gonna take a little more time than I thought.”The biggest change will come from the bigs.Mitchell Robinson is expected to start, with Josh Hart moving to the bench, as he did toward the end of the postseason last year.

That means Karl-Anthony Towns will be playing power forward rather than center.Towns and Robinson played three preseason games together — two wins over the 76ers and a win over the Timberwolves.Towns played 30 minutes a game and averaged 9.0 points on a rough 26.3 percent shooting from the field; he also averaged 6.3 assists.

Robinson played 14.8 minutes a game and averaged 4.7 points along with 10.0 rebounds (including 3.0 offensive rebounds).Brown wants Brunson to p...