Knicks' Jalen Brunson Outlines Response to Hawks' Double-Teams After Game 4 Win
New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson addressed defensive strategies from the Atlanta Hawks following Monday's practice. He emphasized finding open teammates amid blitzes and double-teams. Coach Mike Brown and guard Miles McBride also discussed Brunson's role in the ongoing series.
National Basketball Association / Wikimedia (Public domain)New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson spoke after practice on Monday, outlining his approach to countering blitzes and double-teams from the Atlanta Hawks. 'Find the open man,' Brunson said when asked how he combats such defenses. He added, 'There’s two on the ball.
' Brunson's performance has faced challenges in the series, with Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker guarding him throughout. He committed six turnovers during the Knicks' Game 4 win.
The Knicks coach spoke on Monday about the team's strategy, stating that decisions on whether Brunson plays through double-teams or passes the ball are made by feel. The coach noted that getting Karl-Anthony Towns the ball in different spots helped take pressure off Brunson. He also praised Brunson as a great screen setter with a good change of pace that can cause confusion.
Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 10 assists as part of a triple-double in Game 4, contributing to the Knicks' success. Knicks guard Miles McBride spoke on Monday, saying of Brunson, 'I feel like that’s who he’s been. I think he does a great job of gravitating multiple defenders to him.
Teams are gonna do that on purpose. These tactics helped in Game 4, where the team played through Towns as a hub.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
5 events- 2026-04-28
Jalen Brunson, Mike Brown, and Miles McBride spoke after practice on Monday.
1 sourcenypost.com - 2026-04-25
Knicks won Game 4, with Jalen Brunson committing six turnovers and Karl-Anthony Towns recording a triple-double with 10 assists.
1 sourcenypost.com - Series ongoing
Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker have guarded Jalen Brunson throughout the series.
1 sourcenypost.com - Past 15 quarters excluding Game 1 first quarter
Jalen Brunson shot 29-for-78 from the field at 37.2 percent.
1 sourcenypost.com - Game 1 first quarter
Excluded from Brunson's recent shooting stats.
1 sourcenypost.com
Potential Impact
- 01
Knicks may adjust offense to use Towns more as a hub, reducing Brunson's turnovers in future games.
- 02
Brunson's willingness to pass could improve team playmaking, addressing lack of other proven facilitators.
- 03
Continued double-teams on Brunson might force reliance on teammates, potentially affecting series outcome if inconsistent.
- 04
Successful decoy usage of Brunson could confuse defenses, leading to more open shots for Knicks players.
- 05
Strategy shifts could influence Knicks' postseason depth if replicated effectively against other teams.
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