After years of research, the Knicks finally found two stars to build like the tandem of Jalen Brunson And Cities of Karl-Anthony is a powerful punch.
Brunson and the cities are second by scoring (50.8 points) among any duo of the NBA and the two players were named as departure from the stars of the Eastern Conference. For the prospect, for half a century that New York had two stars when Earl Monroe And Walt Frazier accomplished the feat in 1975.
The Knicks have built an elite offense around the duo, that which is classified second in offensive efficiency by marking 119.9 points for 100 possessions. The offensive was a major reason for the New York 36-18 record for the stars’ break – tied for the fourth best note in the NBA.
The two stars have set up breathtaking figures this year. Towns finished his pre-all break with two consecutive 40 points games. The great man already has five nights over 40 points this season and is second in the NBA in rebounds (13.4).
Meanwhile, Brunson is not aside statistics either. The guard is ninth in the NBA in a score, with an average of 26.1 points and recorded at least 40 points three times. This includes a 55-point masterpiece against Washington Wizards in December.
When the Knicks traded to send Julius Randle,, Donte Divincenzo And a choice protected in 2025 in the first round in the Minnesota Timberwolves for the cities, it was clear that the combination of Brunson’s score with the shooting of the cities’s perimeter had potential. The two stars were good chemistry together in the pick-and-roll.
As the initiate Sny Nba Ian Begley underlined it in December, the BRUSON AND TOWNS PICK-AND-ROLL caused trouble to opponents. The shooting of the perimeter of cities opens everything for the attack in New York and allowed Brunson a little more space to attack one on one.
However, where the cities have helped the most, it is when Brunson is not on the ground. Last year’s Knicks team usually had trouble scoring when the leader was on the bench. In 497 minutes with cities on the ground and Brunson on the bench, the Knicks surpass the opponents of 15.7 points per 100 possessions, according to PBP statistics.
Unequal defense
Defense will always remain the central issue with Towns and Brunson as a team’s star players. None of the two players is a great individual defender. Brunson measures 6 feet 2 inches with a 6 -foot winged 4 inches, so there is only a large part of a positive impact on the defensive that he can have. Cities are adequate in some clashes, but its lack of lateral movement and the inability to protect yourself from the perimeter can cause problems on the defensive.
The Knicks tried to put a strong core of defenders in cities and Brunson. The club has three quality defenders on the wing in OG Anunoby,, Mikal Bridges, And Josh Hart. There are also rotation parts like Precious Achiuwa And Miles McBride who are solid defenders.
Defense this season has been at best modest. New York is equal to the 17th place in defensive efficiency, which gives 113.9 points per 100 possessions. Hope is that the wounded Mitchell Robinson – Who has not yet played this season – can have an impact as a defensive rim and rebounder protector.
Defense weaknesses have often presented themselves on the biggest stages, against the NBA elite teams. Stars like Boston Celtics Forward Jayson Tatum And Oklahoma City Thunder Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have sought to involve Brunson or Towns in each scenario of Pick-And-Roll. We even saw other stars such as Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young and pistons of Detroit ‘ Cade Cunningham Short circuit the defense of the Knicks by involving the defensive mission of Brunson and Towns as screening.
The two players fought against the constant weight of the care relentlessly sometimes. This is not a problem that will disappear anytime soon. If the Knicks are accompanied by an elite player from Pick-And-Roll in the playoffs, the team will have to find a solution.
Despite these concerns, the Brunson and Towns combination began to start in the first year. years.
