Bernard King thrilled Jalen Brunson keeps breaking his Knicks playoff records

NBA

By Stefan Bondy

INDIANAPOLIS — Bernard King has been observing his playoff scoring records fall in recent times and he’s glad it’s going down on account of Jalen Brunson.

“Records are made to be broken,” the Hall of Famer and Knicks legend instructed ESPN’s “NBA Today.” “But to have somebody like Brunson break those type of records and providing the leadership that he provides, and understanding the game and looking at how much he loves the game. And the crowd responds to him, it’s just wonderful. I love watching him play. So I’m delighted that he’s the one that actually broke those records.”

Brunson set the Knicks’ single-game playoff document with 47 issues within the first spherical in opposition to the Sixers, the primary of 4 consecutive video games with the purpose guard scoring a minimum of 40 issues.

It tied King’s streak of 4 immediately playoff video games with a minimum of 40 issues in 1984, when the All-Star ahead ruled Isiah Thomas’ Pistons.

Brunson additionally was the primary participant in NBA historical past with a minimum of 40 issues and 5 assists in 4 immediately playoff video games.

His streak stopped in Wednesday’s victory over the Pacers, in large part as a result of Brunson sat many of the first part with a sore foot.

Still, Brunson dropped 29 issues in 32 mins with King viewing from the entrance row at MSG.

For Friday’s Game 3 in Indy, the Knicks indexed Brunson as “questionable” with the sore foot.

“It’s amazing seeing it personally at the Garden as it’s taking place,” King stated. “The great thing about his recreation is he’s a scorer. He is aware of how one can ranking. He’s mastered the artwork of scoring. And what I all the time like to mention is it’s important to perceive protection if you wish to be an efficient scorer.

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“And he understands that very well. So he controls his defender and he gets to the spots he wants to to get his baskets. And if he’s double-teamed, he’s capable of finding the open man, whether it’s Josh Hart or [Donte] DiVincenzo. And they effectively win games.”

Despite the top reward, King wasn’t in a position to rank Brunson at the all-time Knicks record.

He did say it was once probably the most excited the town has been for the Knicks because the Patrick Ewing technology.

“I think that story remains to be told,” stated King. “You have to wait a period of time moving forward, maybe another five years before that story can really be told properly.”

King supported Tom Thibodeau from evaluations that he’s dressed in down his gamers.

The Knicks are besieged through accidents and leaning closely at the starters, with Hart averaging 49 mins within the final 4 video games.

OG Anunoby was the most recent addition to the DNP record after being dominated out of Friday’s Game 3 in Indianapolis on account of a hamstring pressure.

“A coach has to coach based on the personnel that he has,” King stated. “And the team that Thibs has under his guidance is a team he knows he has to primarily rely on his starting unit and the big seven more than anything else. And that’s the way you win basketball games. And these guys, they’re in great shape. They’re taking care of their bodies. And you don’t see them breaking down as a result of too many minutes.”