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The New York Knicks struggled a bit against the Atlanta Hawks. Coach Mike Brown had a hard time notching the series win despite being heavily favored against Coach Quin Snyder. But, they resolved all the woes needed and are now the first team moving on to the second round in the Eastern Conference. How did they do it and what did the Knicks fix? It was all about being a better defensive team, Jalen Brunson posits.
Brunson knows Knicks improved a lot in defense after NBA Playoffs first round
The Knicks were not at at all a slouch when it came to defense during the regular season. Coach Mike Brown led them to a 113.3 defensive rating which ranked seventh in all of the league. But, the Knicks drastically improved on the defensive side of the court in their series against the Hawks. They rose all the way up to having a 103.9 defensive rating in the NBA Playoffs. Jalen Brunson credits this as their biggest improvement and could be why the Knicks win the Larry O'Brien trophy, via James L. Edwards III of The Athletic.
"I think, most importantly, a performance like this shows us what we’re capable of defensively. That’s really important. We still have a long road to travel, so staying locked in and knowing what we’re capable of is really important," the Knicks superstar said.
Brunson would be correct in how much the Knicks improved. If the Knicks had the same 103.9 prior to the NBA Playoffs, they would have led the league in defensive rating and would be massively ahead of the Oklahoma City Thunder which had a 106.5 defensive rating.
All of their efforts was highlighted when they decimated Coach Quin Snyder and the Hawks in Game 6. The Knicks forced them to have a 15-point first quarter while scoring 40 points on the other side. By the end, they won with a whopping score of 140-89. Regardless if they face the Boston Celtics or the Philadelphia 76ers, Brunson and Co. clearly have defensive edge that may take them to their first title since 1973.
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