Brunson is King! Knicks Snap Skid, But Questions Linger

Brunson is King! Knicks Snap Skid, But Questions Linger

The New York Knicks finally stopped their losing streak, beating the Memphis Grizzlies 130-119 last night. This win came after three straight tough losses. Josh Hart’s message about needing to turn things around was clearly heard by the team.

While the win was a relief, the conversation quickly turned to who really makes the Knicks tick. Carl Anthony Towns had a big night, scoring 20 points with 11 rebounds and 11 assists. This was his fourth career triple-double and second with the Knicks. OG Anunoby added 25 points, and RJ Barrett chipped in 24. The Knicks are currently third in the Eastern Conference standings.

Stephen A. Smith Weighs In: Brunson is the Closer

But Stephen A. Smith wasn’t impressed by the win, pointing out that the Grizzlies are a struggling team right now. “The team damn near losing on purpose, if not literally,” Smith said about Memphis. He highlighted that the Knicks haven’t beaten a team with a winning record in nearly a month, going 4-8 against winning teams since the All-Star break.

Despite Towns’ triple-double and strong performances from Anunoby and Barrett, Smith made it clear who he believes is the most crucial player for the Knicks. “The answer to this is easy. It’s Jaylen Brunson,” Smith declared. He explained that Brunson is the engine that drives the team. “He is the dude that starts this engine. Everything goes where Jaylen Brunson takes you,” Smith stated. The key reason? “When it’s time to close, Jaylen Brunson will close for you. And that’s a big big deal.”

Knicks: Good, Not Great?

The discussion then shifted to the Knicks’ overall season. “The Knicks are a good not great team right now,” Smith observed. He noted that despite investing heavily in the roster, the team hasn’t reached the elite level many expected this year. “This season has sort of been unfortunately characterized by” being good, but not great.

Smith recalled the team’s initial offensive plan to move the ball more and not rely so heavily on Brunson’s dribbling. However, the reality this season has been different. “Brunson’s usage rate is higher than ever. It’s higher than it even was last year. The ball’s in his hands more than ever.” This shift has left players like Carl Anthony Towns with fewer shot opportunities. Towns has had his fewest shots in games since his rookie year.

Adding to the concern, the Knicks’ defense, which was once a top-five unit, has fallen off in the last month. “Their defense has collapsed down the rankings,” Smith pointed out. He admitted he’s struggling to find a clear answer for the team’s inconsistencies. “I don’t have a clean answer, and I don’t think they do either.”

Concerns About Key Players

Looking at the numbers, Smith highlighted some troubling trends. Jaylen Brunson is averaging slightly more shots but shooting less efficiently (46.5% compared to 49% last season) and getting fewer assists. Carl Anthony Towns is playing fewer minutes, taking fewer shots, scoring less, and his three-point shooting has dropped by 5%.

“You knew you were going to suffer there [defensively] because Tibs is brilliant defensively,” Smith said, referring to former coach Tom Thibodeau. “But you were supposed to elevate offensively. And your two primary dudes haven’t elevated.” He added that if other players around them are struggling, it should be to the benefit of Brunson and Towns, but that hasn’t happened.

Upcoming Schedule and Playoff Picture

The Knicks face a crucial stretch with games against the Bulls, Hawks, and Celtics. “We’ll learn a lot in the next seven years,” Smith said, though he quickly corrected himself to days. Based on what he’s seen, he expects the Knicks to go 1-2 in those upcoming games. Others on the panel offered more hopeful predictions of 2-1 or even 2-3.

Lakers Face Tough Tests

The conversation then shifted to the Los Angeles Lakers, who are facing two important games against the Oklahoma City Thunder. These games are seen as major tests for the Lakers, who have been playing well, winning 15 of their last 17 games since March 1st.

The Lakers are being led by MVP candidates LeBron James and Anthony Davis, while the Thunder are powered by MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. These matchups are seen as crucial for the Lakers to prove they can compete with top teams in the Western Conference. The Lakers are currently the third seed in the West but are closely followed by teams like the Denver Nuggets.

Playoff Matchup Musings

There’s also speculation about potential playoff matchups. The Lakers might prefer to avoid a first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who eliminated them last year. A matchup against the Houston Rockets, who have struggled in clutch situations, could be a more favorable option for Los Angeles.

However, the tight race in the Western Conference means the Lakers might not have a choice in their seeding. The final weeks of the season will be key in determining who faces whom in what promises to be a competitive postseason.

Source: Stephen A. believes Jalen Brunson's the key to success for the Knicks 🔑 ‘HE CLOSES!’ | First Take (YouTube)