Adjusting Without Brunson

By Eddie Castro
The New York Knicks are in the middle of a challenging West Coast trip. As we go to press, the team is currently 1-2 with their lone win coming against the Sacramento Kings this past Monday. Unfortunately, the team will be without their top player, Jalen Brunson, not only for the rest of the West Coast swing but at least the next few weeks. Brunson sprained his ankle driving to the basket in a crucial time of the game. The Knicks would go on to lose that contest to the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night.

Brunson’s injury adds to a season that has been marred by notable absences to significant players missing time due to injury. Brunson’s injury comes at an important time of the season. New York will now have to piece it together and hope to get key step up contributions from players like Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges to name a few as the team tries to secure a top three playoff seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Knicks currently sit at the No.3 seed in the East behind the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers. There is no timetable for Brunson’s return. Life without Brunson will be a huge challenge but it is not impossible. In their first game without their star point guard, the Knicks may have found the formula to weather the storm and still be competitive despite missing the spacing and scoring ability Brunson provides on a nightly basis.

Monday’s win against the Kings was highlighted by a career-high in assists from Anunoby and Josh Hart knocking down four three-pointers, the first time he has done that in the new year. With impeccable passing and spacing the team displayed Monday night, the Knicks also got some timely baskets from Deuce McBride.

With Brunson out, McBride’s role is expected to increase. McBride’s play can be unpredictable, like the New York weather, but when he is able to make shots, he is a lethal weapon. In the Knicks wins this season, McBride is shooting 43.3% from the three-point line.

In losses, that percentage doubles down to just 24.7%. Along with McBride’s shooting, sharing the ball will be a major key for the Knicks to find success moving forward. On Monday night against the Kings, the Knicks dished out 34 assists on 45 field goals made. The third-most they’ve had since the new year.

Without their team captain, the Knicks’ spacing and ball movement will be top priorities if they are going to withstand a lengthy absence of Brunson. The team showed great ability to execute both against Sacramento, however, Sacramento is not the caliber team Boston and Cleveland are right now. Those are likely the two teams New York will have to go through if they hope to have a strong playoff run.

There should be more information provided regarding the most important ankle in New York sports today in Brunson. Even without Brunson, the Knicks’ roster is more than capable of collecting notable wins and securing their playoff spot in the east.

SPORTS NOTES: (Baseball) The injury bug continues for the Yankees as their ace pitcher Gerrit Cole will miss the 2025 season as he undergoes Tommy John Surgery to repair the Ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. His recovery time is expected to be around 12-18 months. Huge blow for the Yankees, who will already be without reigning AL Rookie of The Year Luis Gil until July with a lat strain. (FOOTBALL) NFL free agency has begun. The New York Giants made a few deals on Monday, re-signing receiver Darius Slayton (3 years/$36 million) and former Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland (3-year/$45.3 million). The Jets have their new quarterback agreeing to a 2-year/$40 million deal with Justin Fields. Fields, 26, had a pretty good season last year in Pittsburgh and now reunites with wide receiver Garret Wilson, whom he played at Ohio State.