Despite Jalen Brunson shooting just 33.9% from the field in the NBA Finals, the Knicks hold a 2-0 lead on their way back to Madison Square Garden.

With the help of Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby, New York hasn’t needed the Captain to play at his very best in the first three quarters.

In quarters 1-3, Brunson is shooting an abysmal 28.9% from the field and 23.1% from 3-point. 

His fourth-quarter heroics in Game 1 and game-winning steal and free throw in Game 2 have saved his struggling performances, but can we expect the Jalen Brunson of old to close this series out?

The Spurs’ backcourt has given Jalen Brunson the most struggle of any matchup since joining the Knicks. In the 40 possessions guarded by Stephon Castle, Brunson is averaging just 15.1 points per 75 possessions.

The physicality of this series, with the constant pressure and bumps 94 feet up every play, is getting the best of Brunson.

It’s obviously affecting him early on, as in the first quarter of both games, he’s shooting just 20% from the field while averaging 1.5 turnovers.

My solution is simple: let someone else take the ball up, play Brunson off-ball; whether it’s Bridges or Towns with the starters, or Deuce McBride after the first sub.

We saw this in the final possessions of Game 2: Brunson was in the corner, coming off screens rather than taking the brunt of the force passing half-court.

The possessions were longer with the occasional turnover, and Towns wasn’t the primary ball handler, but that’s due to him having to limit his physicality on offense not to draw his sixth foul. 

In Game 1, Towns beat Victor Wembanyama off the dribble at will. 

Bringing this offense back to the forefront will draw defenders in, allowing Towns to kick out to Bridges, Anunoby, or Brunson, and we’ve seen how well Towns can do that.

Playing this type of offense early on would also allow for more Brunson one-on-ones down the stretch.

Winning two on the road with your best player not playing up to his standard is a privilege; the New York Knicks must refuse to settle.