The results may not have been what was desired. But the process soon became clear.
The numbers from the Knicks’ opening victory (119-111) over the Cavaliers on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden show how much Jalen Brunson’s role in the offense has changed.
He finished with 23 points, but shot a rough 5-for-18 from the field and 1-for-9 from 3-point range. However, the manner in which he got those shots demonstrated coach Mike Brown’s desire for Brunson to play off the ball much more.
Seven of those nine three-pointers were catch-and-shoot, according to the NBA’s official tracking stats, the most in any game he has played with the Knicks.
And according to PBP statistics, only 10 of those 18 field goal attempts (nearly 56 percent) were considered “self-created.” That’s the lowest of any game he’s had with the Knicks in which he’s made at least 15 shots from the field.
Brunson averaged 4.26 dribbles and 4.7 seconds per touch – both still team highs, but down significantly from the 6.04 dribbles per touch and 6.06 seconds per touch he averaged last season.
“It’s all about finding the right thing at the right time, reading each other and making plays,” Brunson said. “No matter who brings it up, everyone is still at risk of becoming aggressive.”
Brown wants to lighten the burden on Brunson, allowing him to move the ball down the field less and not always have to create his own shot.
Mikal Bridges and Miles McBride often raised the ball when Brunson was on the field. There were even times when OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns took on that responsibility.
The first possession of the game represented Brown’s vision as Towns was double-teamed and Brunson had gone to the right corner. Towns lofted a pass to a wide-open Brunson for a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer that he drilled.
“JB can play anywhere on the field,” Bridges said. “Even with his size, he can also post guys. He can do pretty much anything. I think everyone on our team is talented and can do a lot of things, and we can all dribble, read the right direction and try to do what’s necessary.”
Overall, other stats show Brown’s desire for pace and ball movement. The Knicks had 105 possessions on Wednesday. Last year they averaged 97.64 (fifth fewest in the NBA).
They completed 283 passes in the opener. Last year they averaged 281.2. That’s not a huge change, but there was significant growth in secondary assists (a statistic given to a player who passed the ball to another player who recorded an assist in one second without dribbling).
It is a good indicator that multiple passes are being made quickly in front of a bucket. The Knicks had seven, the most of any team in their first game. Last year, the Knicks averaged a 3.6.
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