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3 reasons the Knicks can win a first-round playoff series

By Josh Cornelissen

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 24: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks heads for the net as Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers defends in the third quarter at Madison Square Garden on January 24, 2023 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 24: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks heads for the net as Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers defends in the third quarter at Madison Square Garden on January 24, 2023 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) /

Reason No. 2: Jalen Brunson can carve up likely opponents

Jalen Brunson is having an All-Star season, even if he missed out on making the actual team. The first-year Knicks point guard is averaging a career-best 23.6 points per game, along with 6.2 assists and 3.6 rebounds. He is shooting 40.1 percent from deep on a healthy number of attempts, and his 5.9 free-throw attempts per game rank 19th in the league. He’s killing it this year.

That’s why the Knicks should be looking at their likely first-round playoff opponents and rubbing their hands together maniacally, as one does. The Knicks will most likely face either the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round, and both of them have weak backcourts defensively to attack.

Whether it’s Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, or James Harden and Tyrese Maxey, both teams have a potent offensive pairing that will be fodder for Brunson to carve up. Brunson will either go to town offensively, or he will force those teams to keep their guard defenders on the court (Isaac Okoro for the Cavs and De’Anthony Melton for the Sixers) and reduce the minutes of their best offensive lineups.

Brunson’s specialty is roasting shaky guard defenders in the playoffs. He lit up Mitchell last year when the Dallas Mavericks took out the Utah Jazz and followed that up by eviscerating old man Chris Paul. He can do the same when facing the soft backcourts of the Eastern Conference contenders.

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