Jalen Brunson, who averaged the fourth-most points in the NBA this season (28.7), has struggled in the first two games of the Knicks’ first-round series against the 76ers. Brunson, who has missed 39 of 55 field-goal attempts and 10 of 12 from 3-point range, has been swarmed by bigger bodies and affected at the basket by the 76ers’ defense.
Despite the Knicks’ 2-0 lead, Brunson acknowledges the need to adjust and be more poised against the 76ers’ defensive strategy. “The easy answer is I need to adjust and I need to be more poised, just understand what they’re doing and just flat-out be better,” Brunson said after practice Wednesday in Tarrytown. “There’s no gimmicks to it. It’s just, ‘Jalen, you need to be better.’ And it’s that plain and simple.”
The 76ers have mostly employed 6-foot-7 wing Kelly Oubre Jr. and 6-8 forward Nic Batum as the primary defenders on the 6-2 Brunson in the series, daring others to beat them. Brunson’s teammates, particularly Josh Hart, have stepped up to support him in the wins.
Brunson’s struggles are not entirely unexpected, as he shot just 40.3 percent against the Sixers in four regular-season appearances, although the Knicks also fared well in winning three of those matchups. Brunson had a 29-point effort against them on Jan. 5, but he was held to 34.6 percent shooting (18-for-52) in the other three games.
Despite Brunson’s struggles, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau remains confident in his star player. “I think he’s doing what he’s supposed to be doing,” Thibodeau said. “They overload, just make the play. We’re getting a lot of offensive rebounds because of that. Their zone principles are overloaded to the strong side.”
Brunson, who starred collegiately and won two NCAA titles at nearby Villanova, expects a hostile environment in Philadelphia for Game 3. “It’s fun. It’s a test to see where you are as a team. In those environments, you have no choice but to stick together,” Brunson said. “We know that it’s going to be loud, it’s going to be pretty cool to see their fan base, so it’s just another opportunity for us.”
The Knicks will need Brunson to bounce back in Game 3 if they want to maintain their lead in the series. Brunson has shown the ability to score in bunches, and if he can find his rhythm, he could be a major factor in the Knicks’ quest for a second-round berth.
