Your reigning champ New York Knicks have started their title defense 0-3.

New York has lost to LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers, Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics, and now the Paolo Banchero-less Orlando Magic. One of those is not like the other, but I digress.

Mike Brown’s team is 30th in points per game, 23rd in pace, and 20th in net rating.

But it’s not all bad. There are some silver linings, if you squint hard enough.

How about a palette cleanser?

No contract, no problem for KAT

Players can handle contract negotiations in a myriad of ways. Karl-Anthony Towns is choosing to show up and go to work.

Through the first three games, Towns is averaging 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. He’s shooting 62% from the floor, 45% from deep, and 70% on free throws.

And in all likelihood, he’s the reason things haven’t been much worse for New York.

According to Fadeaway, the Knicks are -0.6 with Towns on the floor, boasting a 110.5 offensive rating and 111.2 defensive rating.

But with the big fella on the pine? New York is -17.4, scoring just 93.1 points per 100 possessions, and allowing 110.6.

Yes the foul trouble is ongoing. But who’s to say where the Knicks would be without Towns this season? Believe it or not, 0-3 can look worse, if nothing else.

Team defense is ever present

New York is the league’s worst offense for all intensive purposes. They’re boasting a putrid 51.1% true shooting percentage, and scoring just 101.7 points nightly.

But on the defensive end, the Knicks are holding their own. Opponents are scoring just 108 points per game, which is the eighth-lowest in the NBA.

The secret to the sauce? New York has somehow managed to put a lid on the rim.

According to NBA.com, the Knicks are allowing just 36.7 points per game at the basket, which is the best in the NBA.

Yes, you read that right; your favorite 0-3 team is best in the league at something!

Furthermore, the defensive rebounding hasn’t missed a beat in Mitchell Robinson’s absence, with New York grabbing 72.7% of defensive boards, 4th most in the NBA.

If the offense is what you’re waiting on as a team, you’re probably going to be okay. Maren Morris once said “the house don’t fall when the bones are good,” and that holds true as ever for this Knicks team.

The shots will start to fall. In the meantime, just do your damndest on the other end.

Larry O’Brien isn’t going anywhere

Remember when the Knicks went 16-3 in the playoffs and won it all?

That was just four months ago.

And while I haven’t checked in the last 20 minutes, I’m confident the Larry O’Brien trophy is still sitting pretty up at MSG.

Quoth the great James Spader playing Ultron in Marvel’s VisionQuest: “You get to be the next version of who you once were.”

The next step of the Knicks’ evolution as a group is on the other side of everything we’re seeing. Mike Brown will look to get his team in the win column on Wednesday, when New York hosts the Detroit Pistons. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 pm EST.