Brunson’s Approach to Defenses

Jalen Brunson had a straightforward response to a question about how he plans to handle the double-teams from the Hawks. “Find the open man,” he said after practice on Monday. “There are two people on the ball, so someone needs to get open.

But for the Knicks, things get complicated. Outside of a strong first quarter in Game 1, Brunson hasn’t exactly been at his peak performance. Over the last 15 quarters, the team has managed just 29-for-78 from the field, which is around 37.2%. That’s not great. And his turnovers? They’ve been rising, with six in their Game 4 victory.

Defenders Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker have been effective in their coverage of Brunson throughout the series. When a screen is involved, the defenders usually come out aggressively, often leading to a blitz against him.

As the clock winds down or during crucial moments, teammates like Daniels and Alexander-Walker often bring an extra defender to double Brunson. It raises the question: should the Knicks keep Brunson in these double-team situations or pull the ball out of his hands to limit his scoring ability?

“It depends on feel,” said coach Mike Brown on Monday. “What we want is for Karl-Anthony Towns to handle the ball in various parts of the floor. That takes pressure off Brunson. Sometimes, you can use him as a decoy, or have him set screens while also finding ways to involve him again later.”

Brown went on to praise Brunson for being a great screen-setter, pointing out how his ability to change the pace of the game can create havoc for the defense.

Despite the increased turnovers, Brunson played well in Game 4. Most of the time, the Knicks centered their offense around Towns, who recorded 10 assists, contributing to a triple-double.

Miles McBride spoke highly of Brunson, mentioning how he draws multiple defenders effectively. However, balancing that role is tricky; Brunson needs to shine in this series if the Knicks want to see themselves as contenders for the title.

Teams really shouldn’t just double-team him and allow the Knicks to take the win easily. The players want to keep Brunson influential in the game, particularly during the second half. The problem? The Knicks lack another reliable playmaker besides Brunson himself. While the strategy of involving Towns worked in Game 4, it produced mixed results overall.

There are moments when Brunson’s offense falters when he relies too heavily on others for assistance. Having him as the focal point of the game, instead of merely a distraction, might yield better outcomes as the postseason progresses.

That said, Brunson is open to working off the ball when necessary. “No,” he answered when asked if he would prefer to be the center of attention. “Not when we executed the game plan we had last time.”

Ultimately, whether the success from Game 4 was a fluke or a new strategy for countering defenses remains uncertain.