In past seasons, the Knicks couldn’t afford a subpar — or even quiet — Jalen Brunson performance.
They would struggle when it happened.
That’s no longer the case.
The latest example came in Monday’s 139-125 rout of the Raptors.
Brunson was held to 12 points on 4-for-13 shooting and went 0-for-5 from 3-point range.
It didn’t matter.
“I feel like it’s a blessing that JB doesn’t have to do what he did last game for us to come out with a win like we did [on Monday],” Karl-Anthony Towns said, referring to Brunson’s 39-point outburst in the Knicks’ previous win over the Pelicans. “It speaks to the growth of this team. He doesn’t have to have the whole city on his back every single night.”
The Knicks are 6-1 this year when Brunson fails to score 20 points.
The previous two seasons, they were 15-15.
Coach Tom Thibodeau’s team has more offensive options, whether it is Towns, Mikal Bridges or OG Anunoby, among others.
Brunson’s scoring is down this year, at 24.6 points from 28.7 a year ago, on an average of 4.4 fewer shots.
His assists (7.6) are up nearly one per game and his shooting percentages are a tick better, too.
“It’s great. I think it’s going to open it up for him even more,” Bridges said. “When you have to respect everybody, you can’t help as much. You don’t help, it’s going to be tough to guard him. Just trying to keep teams honest, so they have to play straight up, and that’s when JB will be in kill mode.”
Most importantly, the Knicks are ahead of last year’s win pace.
Through 29 games, they are 19-10.
Last season at this point, they were two games worse, at 17-12, and fell to 17-15 after 32 contests.
Brunson has repeatedly said all that matters to him is the end result.
So when he was asked about his low point total after Monday’s win, his answer was what you would expect.
“I’m just happy we got the win,” the Knicks’ captain said. “I don’t really give a crap.”
The Knicks are planning to re-sign sharpshooting wing Matt Ryan to a two-way contract and waive guard Boo Buie, the team announced.
