ATLANTA — The most significant void on the Knicks’ roster has grown increasingly evident.
This deficiency has enabled the Hawks to effectively neutralize Jalen Brunson.
A primary objective for coach Mike Brown this season was to position Brunson off-ball, allowing other players to take on more frequent offensive facilitation. The intention was to alleviate some of Brunson’s responsibilities, generate simpler scoring chances for him, and keep his supporting cast more actively involved.
However, across the initial three contests of this first-round series—a series where the Knicks are down 2-1 and, as Miles McBride articulated, are “playing for our lives”—this crucial offensive element has been largely absent.
“We initiated it a few times, and credit must be given to Atlanta,” Brown commented on Friday. “They defended it effectively on the occasions we tried it. Nonetheless, we need to persistently try to integrate it, whether through designed plays or within the natural flow of our offensive strategy.”
The core issue stems from the team’s lack of ball handlers, aside from Brunson, who are capable of initiating and directing the offense. While Josh Hart possesses some ability, it’s not his optimal role. OG Anunoby is best utilized as a spot-up shooter. Karl-Anthony Towns is a capable passer, but he cannot independently dissect a defense. Mikal Bridges, despite Brown’s pre-season assertion that he would be the top candidate for this responsibility, has struggled significantly as a ball handler, particularly in Game 3 where he committed four turnovers and was sidelined for most of the second half.
Moreover, the team lacks any genuine backup point guards in the rotation. While McBride and Landry Shamet occasionally take on the role, neither is a natural fit. Jose Alvarado is, but his limited offensive capabilities have pushed him to the fringe of the rotation. Tyler Kolek is entirely absent from the rotation.
Consequently, the entire offensive burden has once again fallen on Brunson. This leads to reduced overall offensive movement. With the other four players largely static, awaiting Brunson to initiate every play, the Hawks find it easier to blitz him, deploy double-teams, and restrict his access to high-quality shot attempts. Typically, Dyson Daniels or Nickeil Alexander-Walker guards him, often with assistance from a second defender.
In Game 3, Brunson recorded a 3-for-11 shooting performance — including 0-for-3 from 3-point range — when defended by Daniels or Alexander-Walker, according to the league’s official tracking statistics.
“They are both excellent defenders,” Brunson stated. “You have to be intelligent, you have to be somewhat strategic in your actions. It’s about not solely focusing on what they are doing, but rather concentrating on your shot and executing the necessary steps to ensure I am comfortable taking the shots I desire and positioning myself favorably. However, you must commend them; they certainly make things exceptionally difficult.”
Throughout these playoffs, no player across the league has handled the ball more frequently than Brunson. He is forced to expend incredible effort for his shot attempts, almost none of which are open.
The Knicks possess hardly any players capable of bringing the ball up the court, a move that would enable Brunson to receive it in the halfcourt and mitigate some of his physical wear and tear. Daniels and Alexander-Walker are pressuring him full-court, meaning that by the time Brunson finally advances the ball into the offensive zone, he has already expended significant energy.
The situation showed a slight improvement when McBride was on the floor with Brunson, in place of Bridges. During an 11-0 Knicks run in the third quarter, McBride successfully advanced the ball up the floor on a few possessions. Conversely, Bridges’ attempts to do so proved to be a complete failure.
“Everyone must play aggressively, not solely by taking shots, but by aggressively attacking the paint [with drives],” Brown stated. “And if an opportunity doesn’t materialize in the paint, you have to kick the ball out. Our ‘sprays’—our kick-outs—haven’t been nearly as effective as we intended during these first three matchups.”
Brunson is also facing immense difficulty defensively, tasked with guarding CJ McCollum, who has consistently outplayed him throughout this series. The situation has become so pronounced that the Knicks were compelled to adjust their defensive strategy, assigning Hart to guard McCollum instead.
This dual burden of offensive overreliance and defensive struggles is leading to player exhaustion.