New York Knicks: NBA Analyst Questions Whether or Not Jalen Brunson Can Lead Them to the NBA Finals

The New York Knicks are currently the third seed in the Eastern Conference with a 37-21 record this season. New York is behind the Boston Celtics and the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Standings. Before the season started, many people believed that the Knicks were going to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.

With the way things have been shaping up, many are wondering if they are going to win the east. New York is 0-3 this season against Detroit and the games have not been competitive against them. If the Knicks were to stay in the third seed, they could potentially be facing a Celtics team who could potentially have Jayson Tatum back from his torn Achillies injury.

New York will have a huge game on the road on Tuesday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cleveland has a 36-22 record this season and they are currently the fourth seed in the east. This is a game that the Knicks have to win. Can Jalen Brunson lead this team to the NBA Finals or are there too many obstacles in the way for them?

NBA Analyst Wonders If Jalen Brunson Can Lead the New York Knicks to the NBA Finals or Not

Many people are wondering if the Knicks are serious contenders or not this season. They made it to the Eastern Conference Finals last season before losing to the Indiana Pacers in six games. They fired Tom Thibodeau as head coach and hired Mike Brown as head coach last offseason.

They made this move believing this could get them an NBA Championship. Well, there is no guarantee that this team will make it back to the Eastern Conference Finals this season. Cbssports.com writer Brad Botkin wonders if Brunson can lead them to the Finals or not. Botkin said, "Brunson, meanwhile, has been up and down of late himself. He's got two 40-pieces this month but his 43/31 shooting splits since Feb. 1 leave a lot to be desired. He went 4 for 20 and 0 for 8 from 3 in a 38-point loss to Detroit a couple weeks ago. 

Nobody is questioning Brunson's offensive greatness, but it is a real question whether that's enough to make up for his own, and largely by extension New York's collective defensive ails, particularly if Towns doesn't get the shot going. All of these questions are happening in the context of what feels like the Knicks' best chance to make the Finals with this team. Can they seize it? These next six weeks won't tell us everything (anything can happen in the playoffs), but they will tell us a lot."

Brunson has played in 53 games this season for the Knicks. He is averaging 26.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, and 6.2 APG. Brunson is ninth in the NBA in points per game. He can no doubt lead this team to the NBA Finals. The question will be, can New York play enough defense and will Brunson get enough help from Karl-Anthony Towns. If not, the Knicks will not be there once again.