Three Jalen Brunson stats show how different Knicks offense is under Mike Brown

Charlie Baduini

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Three Jalen Brunson stats show how different Knicks offense is under Mike Brown image

The New York Knicks opened their season with a bang last night, taking down the Cleveland Cavaliers on their home floor 119-111.

New head coach Mike Brown impressed fans and analysts alike, playing 11 players up to eight minutes each, something the Knicks wouldn't do under former head coach Tom Thibodeau.

Even Jalen Brunson, the usual ball-centric point guard, saw a different type of usage than he's used to in years past. It will likely help New York's offense flourish as the 82-game season progresses.

Three Jalen Brunson stats show just how different Mike Brown's offense is

The All-NBA Podcast highlighted three key stats from last night's game to showcase Brunson's new role in the Knicks' offense and how his usage is being adjusted from years past.

First, Brunson took seven catch-and-shoot three-point attempts, the most in any game throughout his tenure in New York.

Clearly, the NBA's Most Clutch Player award winner is moving off the ball a lot more, something Brown emphasized over the offseason as something he wanted to implement.

Second, 56% of Brunson's field goal attempts were self-created, another career low for Brunson in his Knicks career.

In Thibodeau's offense, he rarely trusted the ball in anyone else's hands other than Brunson. Now, Brown is allowing his other players to set the star point guard up for scoring opportunities.

Third, Brunson saw an average of 5.3 feet between him and his closest defender when attempting a field goal.

The spacing of the new Knicks offense is creating cleaner looks at the basket, and although it's too early to say for sure if this season will be the breakthrough New York is looking for, they got off on the right foot in their season opener.

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