The first week of the New York Knicks would pass almost unnoticed with the boxes of each other, the setbacks of the Los Angeles Lakers and the delicate beginnings of Ben Simmons at the Brooklyn Nets. And yet, the Manhattan franchise, often at the center of media attention but not always (rarely) for the right reasons, storms off with three wins in four matches.
What’s more, three consecutive successes! Three games won at Madison Square Garden to the delight of the local madmen. The Knicks are not necessarily talked about but their team finally seems really interesting to follow. They had not started the season with three straight wins at home since the 2012-2013 fiscal year.
That year, the New York team went to the second round of the playoffs after amassing 54 wins. The best season of the franchise since 2000. The Knicks will probably not do as well in a particularly tough Eastern Conference. But the point differential – plus 8.5 on 100 possessions, fifth in the NBA – remains an encouraging and promising sign for the future, even if the players of Tom Thibodeau faced several opponents a priori weaker on paper.
Successes against Detroit, Orlando and Charlotte after a narrow loss against Memphis in the opening. Three lottery contestants. We still had to win the matches. After a week, it already seems certain that the group is better, or at least more solid, than last season. Because those meetings, the Knicks might have (arguably) lost them a few months ago.
Because they no longer knew how to play in the most tense moments. With just 40% wins in matches decided by 5 points or less in the last 5 minutes, they were among the top 5 worst teams in the league in clutch time. “With even the worst net rating in the championship in these minutes: -24 points out of 100 possessions. This is no longer the case this season. Because now they have Jalen Brunson.
Jalen Brunson led the @nyknicks to their 3rd-straight win while dropping a career-high 13 dimes in their OT win!@jalenbrunson1: 27 PTS, 7 REB, 13 AST pic.twitter.com/3yoKrEs44t
— NBA (@NBA) October 27, 2022
Jalen Brunson, the new boss
“We are supposed to win games even when we are not playing at our best. It’s the sign of a team that works well, “says the former Dallas Mavericks player.
This is exactly what happened on Wednesday night. The Knicks didn’t play well against the Hornets. They squandered their lead. They suffered. Then their new star delivered them by scoring a crucial 3-point basket in the fourth quarter and then another in overtime. He scored 6 of New York’s 10 points in OT, finishing with a career-high 27 points and 13 assists.
“It is necessary according to each situation. It’s his DNA as a player. The opposing defense was pressing him to two and he read the game well. He scored important baskets that we needed, ”explains Tom Thibodeau about the point guard.
His presence takes the pressure off the shoulders of Julius Randle, ultimately not always comfortable with the status of go-to-guy. The All-Star inside knows how to create his own shot. But Brunson can control an entire attack. After Raymond Felton, Ramon Sessions, Shane Larkin, Toney Douglas, Pablo Prigioni, Frank Ntilikina, Chris Duhon, Trey Burke, Kemba Walker or Joseph Calderon, the Knicks finally have a point guard worthy of the name at the top of his game. A player capable of setting the game, scoring but also creating for others. And above all finally a general of the parquet floors capable of establishing himself as a leader.
“There are not enough words to say what Jalen brings to the team. He completely controls the game at times. During a match, we sometimes go through difficult periods. But he is so strong of character. The determination can be read in his eyes. He gives hope to the whole team,” continued Thibodeau.
Gotham executives paid dearly to get their hands on it. Over 100 million. But Jalen Brunson is already doing them well. The season is still long but the Knicks have many reasons to think they can enjoy it for a few months without getting depressed.
CQFR: Lakers sink, Giannis pound the Nets
