Fisher's Squad Overcomes Rough Start to Advance · The Official Web Site of Derek Fisher . Analyst . Coach . Five-Time NBA World Champion

For the first time in his young coaching career, Derek Fisher faced some true adversity on Thursday night.

After going 3-0 in pool play, the No. 2 seed New York Knicks took on the No. 15 seed D-League Selects in the second round of the NBA Summer League tournament, and a rough start nearly doomed Coach Fisher’s squad. But a defensive rally sparked a turnaround, and New York advanced to the quarterfinals with an 80-73 win.

The Selects used a 16-2 run early to open up a 13-point first-quarter advantage, thanks in-large part to the efforts of Tony Mitchell, who led the squad with 20 points. To make matters worse in the first, New York’s top draft pick for 2014, Cleanthony Early, was tripped in transition, busting his chin open. He left the game briefly to have his wound stitched up before returning in the second quarter.

Tim Hardaway Jr., who led New York once again with 25 points, credited Early’s vehement return, along with the efforts of Langston Galloway and others of the bench, in the team’s revival.

“Cleanthony came out and had a little bump and bruise, but he came back and fought through it,” Hardaway said. “He raised the intensity level when he came in, so everybody fed off him and Langston and a lot of the guys coming off the bench, and that gave us the extra push.”

That extra push was just what the Knicks needed to overcome the rough first frame. After trailing by nine going into the second, Fish’s young squad reversed its deficit and knotted things up at halftime. Hardaway, who canned a game-tying three late in the second quarter, said that, in addition to the injection of energy from Early and Galloway, a defensive uptick was a major driving force behind the comeback.

“Defense had to turn up,” Hardaway said. “We got really fortunate to come back in the first half and tie the game up. Coming into halftime, we wanted to make sure everyone realized it was 0-0. Coming out in the third quarter we wanted to raise the intensity level a little bit.”

Guard Shane Larkin was a big source of that intensity after the break. The second-year man out of Miami (Fla.) finished with 14 points, five steals and five assists, and wreaked havoc all over the floor throughout the night.

While the young players were getting after it Thursday, veteran Shannon Brown was also there to provide a spark off the bench.

Brown played alongside D-Fish with the Los Angeles Lakers from 2009-11. The former Michigan State standout has been shuffled around the league the past few seasons, going from Phoenix to Washington to San Antonio before finally landing with the Knicks.

After dropping 10 points in the victory Thursday, he commented that he’s happy to be back on the court and working with this young N.Y. squad.

“It’s actually been fun,” Brown said of the Summer League. “Coming here and helping out with the triangle and being able to get out there and play some basketball has been great for me. We have a lot of young, hungry guys who want to go out there and win.”

Brown’s presence on the young team as a player who has played successfully in the triangle in the NBA has been a boon for the coaching staff, allowing them to help get their messages about the system across to those players who are unfamiliar with it. Brown says, however, that the learning process for the youthful Knicks has been smooth thanks to the coaching staff.

“We’re working together as a team, that’s the main thing,” Brown said. “The coaches are doing a great job of explaining the triangle and what we’re trying to accomplish out there and we’re making it happen. We’re just out there having fun playing basketball and learning in the process.”

After tying the score before halftime, the young, hungry New York squad held the D-League Selects to just nine points in the third quarter to open up a 15-point lead going into the final frame. That lead swelled to 18 early in the quarter before the Selects made their final run. The last offensive outburst brought the D-League squad close, but the Knicks were able to close out the victory and advance.

After the win that sent New York to the quarterfinals, Brown gave a quick analysis of the job done by Coach Fisher, who saw his squad move to 4-0 thus far in Las Vegas.

“I’m happy for him,” Brown said of Derek. “The transition from player to coach isn’t easy but he’s been poised. He knows the triangle and he teaches the guys all the intricate details and i think that’s a huge part of hit. And I’m happy for him.”

Larkin, who the Knicks acquired from Dallas just a few weeks ago noted that the Knicks players have grown close during their brief summer league run as they all seek to learn the new system, hone their skills and make an impression. He told reporters that the coaching staff has emphasized chemistry and support for your teammates as a key component to success.

“If you’re not playing, you’re just as important as the guy on the court making the plays,” he said. “That’s the kind of guys we brought in, but also the emphasis the coaching staff put on that side of the game.”

Jeremy Tyler, who played in 41 games for the Knicks in the NBA last year lauded Coach Fisher’s approach to building that chemistry.

“The first thing he always says is trust your teammates and play for each other,” Tyler said.

Hardaway Jr., who is one of the Summer League team’s elders despite entering just his second year, is enjoying the time as well, saying he’s glad to build a relationship with his teammates and new head coach, while seeing a lot of tough play out of the new additions on the floor.

“A lot of first-year guys coming in are giving a tremendous amount of effort, and that’s all we can ask for,” Hardaway said. “It’s great to have a first-year coach come out here, and we’re just winning ball games for him. We just have to come out Saturday ready for Charlotte.”

The Knicks will have a day of rest before taking on a familiar opponent in the No. 23 seed Charlotte Hornets. New York crushed the Hornets 95-72 in pool play, but the Charlotte squad has turned it around since, upsetting No. 10 seed Dallas and No. 7 seed New Orleans to make the quarters.

The rematch is set for a 4 p.m. EDT tipoff Saturday and will be broadcast on the MSG Network and through the NBA Summer League Live.