It's hard to maintain the "element of surprise" after enduring a tough 82-game season. At a certain point, opponents know what to expect and how to counter different parts of the team's plan. While the rest of the NBA should be aware of the many ways the New York Knicks' offense can thrive, there may be one asset that can confuse teams going forward.
All-Star Jalen Brunson scored just 16 points while shooting 5 of 18 from the field and 2 of 5 from distance in a 103-100 loss to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Despite these modest numbers, the Villanova product was able to impact the game with his passing. He collected 15 assists on the night, and showed another way he can lead the attack.
Brunson's status as a leading scorer will be as important as ever, but his ability to facilitate and set up teammates can turn lackluster nights into serviceable nights, and potentially make elite evenings part of a story that ends with a parade.
Knicks head coach Mike Brown told reporters after the game, "Good basketball game. I thought our guys, they could have turned it around at any time." "We were down by double digits. I liked our competitive spirit."
Jalen Brunson's identity focuses on scoring
Must be stated clearly. The Knicks are at their best when Brunson is one of the team's leading scorers. In 58 games this season, Brunson is averaging 26.5 points while shooting nearly 47 percent from the field and nearly 38 percent from distance.
Brunson can usually score with ease from all three levels, but he struggled to do so against the Thunder. They scored only two points in the first half and only three points in the last quarter. One of the guard's key misses occurred late in the fourth quarter when he missed a three-pointer that would have tied the contest.
"I feel like I missed a lot of shots that I would normally take," Brunson told Jared Schwartz of the New York Post.
If the 29-year-old had put more points on the board when making key passes, it's possible the Knicks would have defeated Oklahoma City and re-established their identity as an NBA Finals contender.
Jalen Brunson's demise could help Knicks win ugly games
Any team worth its salt would love to be firing on all cylinders every night, but playoff basketball often demands that teams find different ways to win when things don't go according to plan.
If Brunson were to experience a poor shooting night during the tournament, his passing could be a skill that could allow the Knicks to steal a game they might otherwise lose. Teammates like OG Anunoby, Landry Shamet, Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns can score in a variety of ways. Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander highlighted the Knicks' overall firepower after running away from Madison Square Garden with a win.
"Good team. Obviously, a good attack, then they also have really good defenders, so they're well balanced," Gilgeous-Alexander said after the contest. "They're obviously on top of the East for a reason. They're a good team, a playoff team. Really good roster."
Even if Brunson stumbles, others could pick up the slack and take advantage of the New Jersey native's demise. While this isn't the ideal path to victory for New York, it does provide another reason to be optimistic about a team whose results have been shaky for much of the campaign.
