LOS ANGELES — You may have noticed the recent shift in Jalen Brunson’s stat lines. It’s rather dramatic.
The point guard known for isolations, his 3-pointer and scoring 61 points in a single game, has become a subpar shooter but a high-volume and highly composed facilitator.
It can be explained three different ways:
- Brunson is drawing more attention from the defense than ever, and he’s acting accordingly by passing out of double teams.
- Brunson is adjusting to his own shots misfiring, finding ways to create offense for teammates who have displayed greater efficiency lately (ahem, OG Anunoby).
- Brunson’s chemistry and trust with his teammates — along with his comfort in a slightly different offensive system — has grown over the five months of this season, allowing the All-Star to find others in their preferred spots for rhythm shots.
“He’s taking what the defense is giving him,” coach Mike Brown said. “They’re switching, they’re blitzing, they’re trying to throw the kitchen sink at him. And he’s doing a great job of getting off [the ball and passing].
