In a thrilling Thursday night NBA showdown, the New York Knicks triumphed over the Boston Celtics, the NBA’s leading team, with a score of 118-109. This victory places the Knicks within striking distance of securing the Eastern Conference’s second seed just as the playoffs begin.
Despite their strong performance, concerns about the team’s dependency on Jalen Brunson linger. ESPN analyst Alan Hahn voiced these concerns on Friday’s “Get Up,” noting the Knicks need a strategy to cope when Brunson is off the court during playoff games.
Hahn emphasized that successful championship teams typically have a reliable secondary scorer, a role the Knicks have yet to fill solidly.
“They’ve got to figure out how to survive the minutes without Jalen Brunson in playoff games,” Hahn said.
Brunson has undeniably carried a significant portion of the team’s efforts, delivering spectacular stats with an average of 28.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 6.7 assists, shooting 48.1% from the field in his second season with the Knicks. His outstanding play has been a key factor in the Knicks’ 48-32 record.
The team boasts its deepest roster in years, notably with the addition of OG Anunoby, but Brunson remains the undeniable centerpiece. This reliance might pose challenges in the postseason.
During their recent victory over the Celtics, several Knicks players made notable contributions: Donte DiVincenzo scored 17 points, Josh Hart added 16, Bojan Bogdanovic contributed 14, and Anunoby scored 12.
While these performances are commendable, questions remain about whether they can sustain such efforts and secure wins should Brunson be sidelined.
As the postseason approaches, the Knicks face the challenge of diversifying their offensive strategies to ensure they can clinch critical wins even in the absence of their star player, Jalen Brunson.
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