This one Mike Brown connection could push Knicks to the next level

Sacramento Kings v Atlanta Hawks | Todd Kirkland/GettyImagesIf the New York Knicks want to take the next step, they need to lean into what their new head coach, Mike Brown, knows best, which is elite, versatile defense. That is why the answer is not chasing another scorer; it should be targeting Gary Payton II.

Mike Brown’s once-promising formula needs one key piece

Coach Brown helped shape one of the smartest, most intense defensive systems in the NBA during his time with the Warriors. One of the key pieces in that machine was none other than Payton II. The two already have chemistry, built through deep playoff runs and a shared understanding of what it takes to win at the highest level. If…