Historically, the NBA’s best have proven their place in the basketball hierarchy with signature playoff moments. But after two postseason games, the New York Knicks are still waiting for Jalen Brunson’s challenge against the Philadelphia 76ers.
In his first two games, the All-Star point guard scored just 16 of 55 goals on a 29 percent shooting percentage.
The free throws brought his scoring average to 23 points per game, but Brunson wasn’t the player who terrorized the league all season. Philadelphia’s defense stifled New York’s individual offense.
When asked how to adjust the 76ers’ coverage before Game 3, Brunson told SNY’s Ian Begley the answer is simple.
“The simple answer is that I need to adapt and… be more balanced; understand what they’re doing and get completely better,” Brunson told SNY on April 23. There are no tricks. It’s just, ‘Jalen, you’ve got to be better.’ It’s so plain and simple.
Thanks to stellar play from his supporting cast, including Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart, the Knicks are ahead 2-0 in the series.
But heading into the hostile environment that is the 76ers’ home court for Games 3 and 4, that lead could very well be a tie when they return to New York for Game 5.
It won’t take Brunson to recalibrate to win the series, as the Knicks demonstrated in Game 1 and Game 2. But if they want to close it out on the road, it could very well lead to him returning to form.