WASHINGTON — Jalen Brunson didn't lay down in three straight games before getting the double-nickel gem in the Capitals.
His scoring average has dropped from nearly 29 points per game last season (more than 32 in the playoffs) to less than 25 points through 31 games this season.
Still, the Knicks, now the hottest team in the East, continued to win, and no one could blame Brunson for playing poorly.
One of the more encouraging trends for the Knicks (22-10) is their balanced scoring. Perhaps historical statistics illustrate it best. New York became the first team in history to have four players score 40 points or more in a game before Jan. 1. Brunson joined the club after scoring 55 points in Saturday's OT win over the Wizards.
The others include Karl-Anthony Towns (44 points against Miami on October 30th, 46 points against Chicago on November 13th), OG Anunoby (40 points against Denver on November 25th), and Mykal. Bridges (41 points against the Suns) was there. Antonio at Christmas).
“I don't know how you guys figured that out,” coach Tom Thibodeau said with a laugh, presumably drawing the line under the Jan. 1 stipulation. “I love it when there are a lot of these qualifiers.”
Still, Thibodeau and the rest of the Knicks understand the importance of what it represents.
Offensively, they are playing “the right way,” in the coach's frequent phrase.
What that means, in summary, is not forcing the issue.
Everyone in the starting lineup has their own weapons.
For Towns, it's a 3-point shot.
For Brunson, it's clever dribbling, getting to the foul line, and versatile shot-making.
For the bridge, it is midrange and corner 3S.
For Josh Hart, it's elite finishing at the rim.
In Anunoby's case, it's defense, dunks and, more recently, unreliable outside shooting.
The end result was the NBA's second-best offense, behind the Cavaliers' 120 points per 100 possessions.
“This is a testament to all of them because it's all about their willingness to sacrifice for the betterment of the team,” Thibodeau said. “And then one night, somebody's going to be better, or somebody's going to have a better game, whatever it is. And a lot of times it depends on the game as to who makes the shot. So make the right play. Just play to win. And if you do that and prioritize the team and winning, good things will come out of it.”
Brunson remains the top Snake, the franchise's best point guard since Walt Frazier, and usually the smartest player in the arena.
For reasons explained only by their tanking strategy, the Wizards refused to double-team or blitz Brunson, who pulled teams apart in the fourth quarter and overtime of Saturday's victory.
So Brunson scored.
a lot.
What if they were double?
“I have a lot of trust in my teammates to make sure they hit open shots,” he said. “So whatever the defense is, we're going to adapt and… find a way.”
The numbers back it up. Brunson is shooting fewer shots (21.4 vs. 17.8 per game) and averaging more assists (6.7 vs. 7.7) than last season.
There's a reason he was the last of the four to join the team with 40 points.
“The beauty of his game is that he can provide whatever the game needs,” Thibodeau said. “His shooting from 3 wasn't great, but if we need more scoring, he'll provide it. If we need more playmaking or if someone has a good matchup, Or if someone else is going ahead with it, he'll seek that guy out.
“I think that's how our team is playing. It's a very balanced offense and we have four guys who can have big scoring nights.”
The big thing to keep in mind is the cake schedule.
After Monday's rematch with the Wizards, the Knicks will have had the easiest game in the NBA, judging by their opponent's record.
That will change eventually.
There are still six games left against the Celtics and Cavaliers.
Another caveat is how over-reliance on the starting lineup and the injuries the Knicks have fortunately avoided could affect their incredible balance.
It's working fine at the moment, and the easiest way to understand it is: The Knicks have won seven straight games and 17 of their last 21 games.
