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SportsCenter: BIG APPLE BRUNSON The Knicks take a 1-0 lead after a dominant series opener vs. Philly
Jaylen Brown: “You know how many players do that? That is such the common basketball play. Every player does it. So why are you targeting me? It clearly had an agenda. Maybe because I had spoken, I was critical of the refs in the regular season. So, you know, how they responded: like, ‘We’re going to call every—we’re going to—you’re going to lead the playoffs in offensive fouls.’ That was the response from the officiating crew. You could clearly tell. And I actually spoke to some refs, and they said it was an agenda going into each game. So, anytime Jaylen brings his arm up, just from reputation, just call it. Paul George does the same thing. Jalen Brunson does the same thing. I can go down the list.”
He has a ritual: Jalen Brunson sits down, wipes the sweat off, gathers himself and then reaches behind him where an assistant coach is waiting to hand him his iPad. Brunson stares intently for minutes. He’ll flip from one play to another. His finger drags forward on the screen to see something new or backward to see something for a second, third time. By the time Brunson is ready to check back in, he tends to have a better understanding of how he can be better. “It’s reminding myself of technique stuff, for me,” Brunson said. “Small things can make a big difference when it comes to shooting or reads. Just being able to see things and learn from them quickly.”
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The Knicks — coming off three of their best efforts of the season, including a 140-89 beatdown of the Hawks to reach the second round for the fourth straight season — will have had three days off before Monday’s game at Madison Square Garden against the 76ers and oft-injured nemesis Joel Embiid. They return a core that broke a 25-year conference finals drought. Now, there is no question of the team to beat in the East. “I haven’t heard of it,” Jalen Brunson said Saturday, “and I don’t care.”
Knicks Videos: Jalen Brunson is asked if the Knicks are preparing to face both the Celtics and Sixers as they practice: "Both" A follow-up on if that is difficult to do: "Yeah"
Knicks Videos: Jalen Brunson is asked if the Knicks played championship-level basketball against the Hawks: "It was a level to get out of the first round" On if they have another level to reach: "You want to improve every single day"
Knicks Videos: Jalen Brunson is asked about the narrative that the Knicks should be the favorites to come out of the East: "I haven't heard it and I don't care."
For the game, the Knicks held the Hawks to 37.8 percent shooting from the field and 25.7 percent shooting from 3-point range. They recorded an absurd 16 steals along with six blocks. “We were able to get stops, run in transition, get layups,” Jalen Brunson said. “It really came down to our defense. It allowed us to play fast. Allowed us to play in transition. And we made shots. “Most importantly, it shows us what we’re capable of defensively. I think that’s really important.” Josh Hart, who was questionable for the game with a back injury, once again guarded CJ McCollum and completely neutralized him. McCollum was just 1-for-5 from the field when Hart guarded him, per the league’s official tracking stats. In total, McCollum finished with just 11 points on 4-for-13 shooting from the field.
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Oh No He Didn't: Jalen Brunson on the hesi move being a part of his game: "I've always known that I've had the ability to do that. There's a lot of players who are taller or faster or stronger than me so I gotta keep them off balance somehow"
Courtside Buzz: KNICKS WIN GAME 5! Jalen Brunson TOOK OVER THE GAME, leading the New York Knicks to a 126-97 WIN vs. Atlanta with 39 Points on 15/23 FGM! 39 PTS (17 in 4th), 8 AST, 3 REB, 15/23 FGM, 3/5 3PM, 1 TOV, 35 MIN, WIN Karl-Anthony Towns: 16 PTS, 14 REB, 6 AST, 2 STL, 2 BLK, 5/7 FGM, 34 MIN Knicks lead Hawks, 3-2! Who wins the series?
Knicks Videos: Mike Brown says Jalen Brunson is "as coachable as they come," before joking that Rick Brunson is the opposite: "If I had to coach his father, it might be different" Brown on the Brunson argument in Atlanta: "They have a unique relationship, and I enjoy every aspect of it"
