Jalen Brunson didn’t endure a two-game segment in which he shot under 30 percent from the floor at any point during his breakout regular season.
The 76ers have done an impressive job of swarming Brunson with bigger bodies and affecting his looks at the basket, even if the Knicks still carry a 2-0 lead as the first-round series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Thursday night at Wells Fargo Center.
Brunson averaged the fourth-most points in the NBA this season (28.7), but he has missed 39 of 55 field-goal attempts — and 10 of 12 from 3-point range over the first two games of the series.
“The easy answer is I need to adjust and I need to be more poised, just understand what they’re doing and just flat-out be better,” Brunson said after practice Wednesday in Tarrytown. “There’s no gimmicks to it. It’s just, ‘Jalen, you need to be better.’ And it’s that plain and simple.”
Brunson finished 8-for-29 in Game 2 and missed his first five attempts from long distance before his side-step 3-pointer pulled the Knicks within two with 27.1 seconds remaining.
The first-time All-Star noted that “for the most part” he has been taking “the shots that I’ve been shooting … and making” all season.
The Sixers have mostly employed 6-foot-7 wing Kelly Oubre Jr. and 6-8 forward Nic Batum as the primary defenders on the 6-2 Brunson in the series, daring others to beat them.
Brunson’s teammates largely have picked him up in the two wins, led by Josh Hart, who is averaging 21.5 points, 14 rebounds and 45.0 minutes in the series.
“Those guys have been phenomenal. At some point, I’ll get up to their level,” Brunson said.
Said Hart: “Got to give Philly credit. Oubre and Batum, they guard [Brunson] full-court. I don’t think there’s anything he has to do different. … You shoot yourself into a slump and you shoot yourself out of a slump.
“So, for him, he has to just continue to shoot, continue to be aggressive. That’s what we need. Maybe we can play faster, try to get him cleaner looks where he’s not battling the holding — or try to push off, exert physical energy trying to get the ball and try to make something happen. Maybe we can play a little faster, get him some cleaner looks.”
Brunson shot just 40.3 percent against the Sixers in four regular-season appearances, although the Knicks also fared well in winning three of those matchups.
The $104 million point guard had a 29-point effort against them on Jan. 5, but he was held to 34.6 percent shooting (18-for-52) in the other three games.
When asked about the league’s Last Two Minute report finding that Brunson and Hart had fouled Tyrese Maxey twice during their last-minute comeback, Tom Thibodeau shifted his answer to a repeat of his season-long gripes about Brunson not getting enough calls.
“I’m more concerned with the 46-minute report. And I mean that,” Thibodeau said. “I knew they couldn’t call a foul there. I’m watching the way Jalen is being guarded.”
Still, Thibodeau flatly stated he’s “never” seen Brunson frustrated in these past two victories.
“I think he’s doing what he’s supposed to be doing,” Thibodeau said. “They overload, just make the play. We’re getting a lot of offensive rebounds because of that. Their zone principles are overloaded to the strong side.
“If you’re looking at what they’re trying to do with him is make him play in a crowd, so don’t force it. Take the shots that are there. The game will tell you what to do.”
Of course, Brunson starred collegiately and won two NCAA titles at nearby Villanova, having plenty of familiarity with Wells Fargo Center.
He expects it to be a hostile environment with the home team down 0-2, especially considering the circumstances late in Game 2.
“It’s fun. It’s a test to see where you are as a team. In those environments, you have no choice but to stick together,” Brunson said. “We know that it’s going to be loud, it’s going to be pretty cool to see their fan base, so it’s just another opportunity for us.
“[It will take] a lot of mental toughness, poise and just being focused. There’s going to be times where things aren’t going our way. It’s just how we respond to every situation and making sure we have the right mindset in everything that we’re doing.”
