The outcomes won’t have been what was desired. But the method quickly was evident.
The numbers from the Knicks’ 119-111 opening night win over the Cavaliers on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden show just how much Jalen Brunson’s role on offense has modified.
He finished with 23 points but shot a rough 5-for-18 from the sector and 1-for-9 from 3-point range. The way in which he got those shots, though, demonstrated coach Mike Brown’s desire for Brunson to play rather more off the ball.
Seven of those nine 3-pointers were catch-and-shoot, in keeping with the NBA’s official tracking stats, essentially the most in any game he has played with the Knicks.
And in keeping with PBP stats, just 10 of those 18 field-goal attempts (nearly 56 percent) were considered “self-created.” That’s the bottom of any game he’s played with the Knicks during which he’s taken at the least 15 shots from the sector.
Brunson averaged 4.26 dribbles and 4.7 seconds per touch — each were still team highs, but are significantly down from the 6.04 dribbles per touch and 6.06 seconds per touch he averaged last season.
“It’s all about finding the proper thing at the proper time and reading one another and making plays,” Brunson said. “No matter who’s bringing it up, everyone remains to be a threat to be aggressive.”
Brown desires to ease the burden on Brunson, allowing him to bring the ball up the court less and never having to at all times create his own shot.
Mikal Bridges and Miles McBride often brought the ball up when Brunson was on the court. There have been even times when OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns handled that responsibility.
The primary possession of the sport represented Brown’s vision as Towns was double-teamed and Brunson had cut to the proper corner. Towns swung a pass to a wide-open Brunson for a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer that he drilled.
“J.B. can play anywhere on the court,” Bridges said. “Even with him at his size, he can post up guys, too. He can do absolutely anything. I feel it’s just everyone on our team is talented and may do a number of things, and all of us can dribble-drive, make the proper read and take a look at to do whatever it takes.”
As an entire, other stats show Brown’s desires for pace and ball movement. The Knicks had 105 possessions Wednesday. Last 12 months, they averaged 97.64 (fifth fewest within the NBA).
They made 283 passes within the opener. Last 12 months, they averaged 281.2. That will not be a significant change, but there was significant growth in secondary assists (a stat given to a player who passed the ball to a different player who recorded an assist inside one second and without dribbling).
It’s a great indicator that multiple passes are made quickly before a bucket. The Knicks had seven of them — essentially the most amongst all teams of their first game. Last 12 months, the Knicks averaged 3.6.
The outcomes won’t have been what was desired. But the method quickly was evident.
The numbers from the Knicks’ 119-111 opening night win over the Cavaliers on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden show just how much Jalen Brunson’s role on offense has modified.
He finished with 23 points but shot a rough 5-for-18 from the sector and 1-for-9 from 3-point range. The way in which he got those shots, though, demonstrated coach Mike Brown’s desire for Brunson to play rather more off the ball.
Seven of those nine 3-pointers were catch-and-shoot, in keeping with the NBA’s official tracking stats, essentially the most in any game he has played with the Knicks.
And in keeping with PBP stats, just 10 of those 18 field-goal attempts (nearly 56 percent) were considered “self-created.” That’s the bottom of any game he’s played with the Knicks during which he’s taken at the least 15 shots from the sector.
Brunson averaged 4.26 dribbles and 4.7 seconds per touch — each were still team highs, but are significantly down from the 6.04 dribbles per touch and 6.06 seconds per touch he averaged last season.
“It’s all about finding the proper thing at the proper time and reading one another and making plays,” Brunson said. “No matter who’s bringing it up, everyone remains to be a threat to be aggressive.”
Brown desires to ease the burden on Brunson, allowing him to bring the ball up the court less and never having to at all times create his own shot.
Mikal Bridges and Miles McBride often brought the ball up when Brunson was on the court. There have been even times when OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns handled that responsibility.
The primary possession of the sport represented Brown’s vision as Towns was double-teamed and Brunson had cut to the proper corner. Towns swung a pass to a wide-open Brunson for a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer that he drilled.
“J.B. can play anywhere on the court,” Bridges said. “Even with him at his size, he can post up guys, too. He can do absolutely anything. I feel it’s just everyone on our team is talented and may do a number of things, and all of us can dribble-drive, make the proper read and take a look at to do whatever it takes.”
As an entire, other stats show Brown’s desires for pace and ball movement. The Knicks had 105 possessions Wednesday. Last 12 months, they averaged 97.64 (fifth fewest within the NBA).
They made 283 passes within the opener. Last 12 months, they averaged 281.2. That will not be a significant change, but there was significant growth in secondary assists (a stat given to a player who passed the ball to a different player who recorded an assist inside one second and without dribbling).
It’s a great indicator that multiple passes are made quickly before a bucket. The Knicks had seven of them — essentially the most amongst all teams of their first game. Last 12 months, the Knicks averaged 3.6.
