Inside Knicks’ major defensive shift that saved their season from spiraling

The Knicks’ dramatic defensive turnaround has been more than just effort — a schematic change has helped fuel it.

The results are glaring.

“I think,” Mikal Bridges said after the Knicks’ win over the Lakers Sunday night at Madison Square Garden, “it’s just a little bit more comfortable doing it this way.”

Under coach Mike Brown, defensive coordinator Brendan O’Connor and this new staff, the Knicks began the season with a system that emphasized forcing the ball into the middle — into the length they have in Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson and OG Anunoby. That type of system is rare and a departure from what most of them have done throughout their careers, including last year under Tom Thibodeau.