It’s actually quite simple for Jalen Brunson and the Knicks

Maybe this is a little obvious, and maybe it is a little harsh toward Jalen Brunson, who, despite multiple days of coverage indicating otherwise, has been the best player for either side across the first two games of this Knicks-Pistons series.

It felt like a warning of sorts, though, didn’t it, Brunson’s Game 2 performance in which he scored 37 points to lead both teams, but shot 12-of-27 from the field, turned it over six times and generally dominated the ball a little too much for anyone’s comfort?

The Knicks might not be built around their superstar in the way a lot of other teams are, which is to say they had five players average double-digits in scoring this season, that Karl-Anthony Towns’ usage was nearly as high as Brunson’s and that it’s possible for anyone to be a hero on any night (see: Payne, Cameron).

Over seven games, though? In a grind-it-out series against an upstart Pistons team that stole away home court on Monday night at the Garden, with a star of its own who can take control of a game?