For probably the most half, the Knicks have been capable of reduce Jalen Brunson’s weaknesses on protection by having him camp out Detroit’s least dynamic gamers. To date, that’s meant matching up with Tim Hardaway Jr. and, to a lesser extent, Malik Beasley. However on the finish of Recreation 5, Brunson rolled his ankle. I’ll be watching Recreation 6 to see if Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff targets Brunson by ramping up Hardaway’s position as a screener or by changing him with somebody who will make Brunson transfer his ft on protection. A lineup of Cade Cunningham, Dennis Schroder, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, and Jalen Duren lacks taking pictures, however it could pressure Brunson to both guard the ball (Schroder) or field out somebody a lot greater than him (Thompson). Both means, it might work in Detroit’s favor. -via Substack / Might 1, 2025
