Jalen Brunson’s Isolation Play Burdens Knicks in Playoff Losses

Basketball is a team sport where five players work together to advance the ball and score. But in the final possessions of close games, the New York Knicks often abandon that principle.

In Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks, the Knicks lost by one point for the second straight game. Both ending possessions featured Jalen Brunson—first with an airball, then with a turnover. The sequence highlighted a recurring issue: Brunson’s isolation-heavy approach when the pressure is highest.

Brunson is an elite talent, and without him, the Knicks wouldn’t be competitive. But his offensive preferences—holding the ball, probing defenses with crossovers, hesitations, and pivots—often leave teammates standing still. When defenders collapse on him, Brunson frequently opts for a contested shot rather than a pass, even when teammates like Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges are available.

This tendency isn’t new. Under former coach Tom Thibodeau, the Knicks’ offense was criticized for stagnation. Current coach Mike Brown was hired to inject creativity, yet Brunson’s isolation still dominates in key moments. While Brunson’s shot-making may be preferable to a forced pass, the lack of ball movement and off-ball activity has become a point of frustration.

I don’t argue that Brunson’s isolation is inherently bad—sometimes it’s the best option. But the Knicks’ over-reliance on it, especially in playoff games, feels unsustainable. Fans deserve to see more purposeful movement, more ball rotation, and fewer possessions where Brunson is the sole decision-maker.

"I need to see the ball change hands. I need to see a non-Brunson Knick take footsteps more purposeful than shifting their weight from one foot to the other."

Perhaps a riskier pass or a designed play could lead to a worse outcome, but the current approach feels too predictable. The Knicks’ playoff struggles may stem from more than just Brunson’s shot selection—they reflect a system that hasn’t adapted to maximize its talent.