{"id":74614,"date":"2024-04-23T15:58:08","date_gmt":"2024-04-23T19:58:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=74614"},"modified":"2024-04-23T15:58:08","modified_gmt":"2024-04-23T19:58:08","slug":"is-brunson-ball-the-best-strategy-for-the-knicks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/04\/23\/is-brunson-ball-the-best-strategy-for-the-knicks\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Brunson Ball the Best Strategy for the Knicks?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The New York Knicks are up 2-0 against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/e\/embiijo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Joel Embiid<\/a> and the Philadelphia 76ers in the First Round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs but it doesn\u2019t seem like they should be.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">When Embiid touted the Sixers as the better team following their Game 2 loss, it sounded like self-assuredness to some and self-aggrandizement to others. Known more for his hubris than humility, it could\u2019ve been both.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Embiid: \u201cWe should be 2-0. We\u2019re good. We\u2019re going to win this series.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/yM6L909cC8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/yM6L909cC8<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 PHLY Sixers (@PHLY_Sixers) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PHLY_Sixers\/status\/1782602335547424860?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">April 23, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">However, there\u2019s no doubt that Philadelphia has more talent on their roster. Even with Embiid hobbled, he\u2019s managed to average 31.5 points per game. Unfortunately for the Sixers, he\u2019s also shooting 39.2 percent from the field and 23.5 percent from 3, taking a heavy diet of tough shot attempts.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Though many of his teammates are less capable scorers, it may behoove Embiid to use his on-ball gravity to create easier opportunities for his teammates. This requires more purposeful ball-movement by Embiid and play-calling from Sixers head coach Nick Nurse. Yet, it doesn\u2019t call for them to do anything outside of their ability.<\/p>\n<h2>Is Brunson Ball the Best Strategy for the Knicks?<\/h2>\n<p>With that said, the Knicks may be up 2-0, but they\u2019ve encountered a similar issue.<\/p>\n<p>Breakout star <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/brunsja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jalen Brunson<\/a> is New York\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/04\/14\/where-jalen-brunsons-2023-24-scoring-output-ranks-in-knicks-team-history\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">best perimeter scorer<\/a> since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/a\/anthoca01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Carmelo Anthony<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>So far in the 2024 NBA Playoffs, Brunson is averaging a team-high 23.0 points per game. However, he\u2019s shooting just 29.1 percent from the field and 16.7 percent from 3. A high usage player, he\u2019s averaging 27.5 field goal attempts per game, nearly double the next-highest player\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/hartjo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Josh Hart<\/a> is averaging the second-most points (21.5) and field goal attempts (14.5) per game, making 53.3 percent of his 3-point attempts. A career 34.4 percent shooter from deep, Hart could regress towards the mean sooner rather than later. Nonetheless, while Brunson remains their best shot-creator, Hart has been their most reliable scorer.<\/p>\n<p>All of which brings to question if Brunson Ball is the best strategy for the Knicks.<\/p>\n<p>New York is 13-14 when Brunson attempts at least 25 field goals, suggesting that he should cut that number down. To that end, increasing Hart\u2019s output any further doesn\u2019t seem feasible. However, the Knicks have several players shooting at least 40 percent from 3 this series.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The Knicks are 13-14 when <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jalenbrunson1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@jalenbrunson1<\/a> takes at least 25 shots, per <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/statmuse?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@statmuse<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/pQYmSWgF8m\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/pQYmSWgF8m<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 qshironalbertie (@qshironalberti3) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/qshironalberti3\/status\/1782813049692238034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">April 23, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>If Brunson limits his more unlikely field goal conversions and makes a concerted effort to spray the ball to 3-point shooters, it serves at least three purposes.<\/p>\n<p>For one, Hart, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/divindo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Donte DiVincenzo<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bogdabo02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bojan Bogdanovic<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mcbrimi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Miles McBride<\/a> can continue to can their long-range attempts. These are the four players shooting at least 40 percent from 3 this season, with DiVincenzo and Bogdanovic the most proven deep threats.<\/p>\n<p>Secondly, increasing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/a\/anunoog01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">OG Anunoby<\/a>\u2019s 3-point attempts could get him in better rhythm. As the saying goes, the best way to get a shooter going is for them to keep shooting. Converting a paltry 16.7 percent from 3 on 3.6 attempts per game, Anunoby has caught a cold. Nonetheless, over the past four seasons, he\u2019s shot 38.2 percent from 3 on 5.8 attempts per game.<\/p>\n<p>Lastly, Brunson leaning into his playmaking should soften up the middle of the defense. As the Knicks\u2019 shooters make 3s, the Sixers will be more or less forced to stay home. That extra space could be all Brunson needs to get off a cleaner look than he\u2019s been getting.<\/p>\n<h3>Unleashing Isaiah Hartenstein<\/h3>\n<p>In creating easier shot opportunities, the Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau should consider unleashing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/harteis01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Isaiah <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/harteis01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Hartenstein\u2019s<\/a> passing game.<\/p>\n<p>Whether in the post or rolling, Hartenstein can find players beyond the arc or near the rim. Though averaging a career-high 2.5 assists per game in 2023-24, the center averaged a career-high 4.7 assists per 36 minutes with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2021-22. Learning <a href=\"https:\/\/hoopshype.com\/lists\/knicks-isaiah-hartenstein-on-free-agency-i-love-it-here-hopefully-well-figure-something-out\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">how to read defenses<\/a> from Denver Nuggets playmaker <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jokicni01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nikola Jokic<\/a> when they were teammates the previous season, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/03\/21\/analyzing-isaiah-hartensteins-impact-on-the-knicks\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">utilizing his full skillset<\/a> could make the game much easier for the Knicks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The New York Knicks are up 2-0 against Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers in the First Round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs but it doesn\u2019t seem like they should be. When Embiid touted the Sixers as the better team following their Game 2 loss, it sounded like self-assuredness to some and self-aggrandizement to others. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5008,"featured_media":74626,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12,1608,62,13],"tags":[993,1417,267,1004,596,1082],"class_list":["post-74614","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-knicks","category-basketball","category-nba","category-76ers","tag-isaiah-hartenstein","tag-jalen-brunson","tag-joel-embiid","tag-josh-hart","tag-nba-playoffs","tag-og-anunoby"],"modified_by":"Quenton S Albertie","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74614","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5008"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=74614"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74614\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/74626"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=74614"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=74614"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=74614"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}