Having scored 20 points in the Chiefs' 25-14 win over the Blues at Eden Park, McKenzie said the emphasis on reducing the time the ball is held at the back of rucks was an example of how the game has sped up.
"Teams are tiring a lot quicker. And every team is not at their peak match fitness, so that could be a factor.
"Teams are playing a lot of expansive rugby and the way the ball speed is up at the rucks is allowing more chances to score tries and defences are tiring a little more."
He didn't know whether that would continue for the rest of the competition, and it had to be remembered that teams hadn't played rugby for a long time.
"It's the eagerness, the keenness to get back and just throw the ball around a little.
"It does help when you're playing this time of the year in dry conditions, apart from Saturday night, but usually it helps early on in the year."
Facing the Crusaders at home over the weekend, their first home game since last year's quarterfinal was exciting as they looked to build on their first-round win.
"We've got a fierce rivalry with them, like any other Super team in New Zealand, so we're looking forward to that."
Lock Josh Lord said playing the Crusaders was a huge game for the Chiefs because of their Super Rugby record over the last eight years.
"We love playing at home and having our supporters backing us. We're hoping we can get a huge crowd."
Lord said beating the Blues was a good building block, but it was only the start of the season.
"We set the standard of where we want it to be and we want to keep on improving as a forward pack. We did a good job to lay a platform for the backs to do what they do best, and we'll to do that again this weekend."
Assistant coach David Hill said it was traditional for higher points scoring early in the competition with drier grounds, the sun still out and teams settling into routines.
As a defence coach, Hill said that while he enjoys a good spectacle as a rugby enthusiast, he also doesn't want to see tries being scored.
He supports the efforts being made to speed the game up, with fewer stoppages and the referees moving the games along.
"It's a different challenge defensively because you'll have to deal with some fatigue and the ball speed, while the ball and players are a little higher and faster.
"You have to be aware of those challenges."