Josh Hart Urges Knicks to Accelerate Pace Against Pacers

In Indianapolis, Josh Hart addressed the New York Knicks' sluggish start following a pre-training camp injury. Speaking after Friday's game against the Indiana Pacers, Hart stated that his own performance along with teammates Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby suffered due to the team's slow tempo of 95 possessions per game—the league-lowest pace. All three players shot under 40 percent during this period. Hart explained that a slower pace reduces rim opportunities and hinders Bridges, whom coach Mike Brown calls the best runner in the league. He advocated for quicker ball movement even if it requires Jalen Brunson to run without receiving passes, citing poor paint shooting as evidence of stagnant half-court flow. While Karl-Anthony Towns contributed significantly with second-chance points, Hart emphasized that his teammates need more breakaway opportunities.