ASK any coach worth his salt what the best way to break a press is, and the answer is always the same:
Pass. Move the ball, and move it fast.
A ball that is passed moves faster than a ball being dribbled. That’s basketball’s law of motion, kept close to heart by players and coaches, like gospel from basketball gods, who frown upon those who openly defy the sport’s established canon, and Jalen Brunson’s apostasy was the reason why the New York Knicks failed to ascend.
It might seem odd that someone like Brunson, who has consistently displayed high basketball IQ, would repeatedly try to break Indiana’s ball pressure by dribbling through swarming double teams during their best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals matchup.
It wasn’t a smart move. Odd, yes—but not out of character.
That’s how he’s played his entire career. He made a name for himself as a speedy, left-handed dribbler, who could wriggle free from defenders and create his own shot. He reached the Eastern Conference Finals by staying true to that identity.
This isn’t the first time Brunson is a revelation in the postseason. During the 2021–2022 Playoffs, he was thrust into the spotlight as the interim leader of the Dallas Mavericks in Luka Dončić’s absence—and he delivered.
It’s difficult to say the same three years later.
Brunson now has more experience. He’s surrounded by better players.
That’s what makes the disappointment sting more.
Brunson hit a wall—both literally and figuratively. His response? Stubbornness. He would muscle his way through, or go down trying.
And he did try. Over and over again. But he failed—again and again—until the Knicks’ title hopes flatlined, with minutes still left on the clock.
Persistence wasn’t the problem. Adaptability was. He needed to apply that same dogged determination to a smarter strategy—one that could’ve countered Indiana’s relentless defensive aggression. The answer was obvious.
Pass the ball.
It’s not like Indiana’s plan to pressure Brunson was some well-kept secret. The Pacers clamped down on him all series long. Coaches and players discussed it openly in postgame interviews. The Knicks knew it was coming since Game 1.
But New York believed in Brunson. He’s earned their trust. In New York, the motto is “trust the ballhandler.”
I know Brunson is a smart player. That’s why I was surprised to see him so convinced he could muscle past a physical defense that had clearly figured him out. He’s 6’2”. The help defender? Tyrese Haliburton—6’5”, with a 6’8” wingspan.
We’ve all heard the saying: “It’s not the size of the man, but the size of his heart that matters.” Brunson has the heart of a fighter. But his size—and more importantly, his ego—were exploited.
He was determined to beat the pressure. He wanted to prove a point. And every time he failed, it only deepened his resolve to try again. Meanwhile, his four teammates stood waiting—for a pass that never came.
And that pass, if you’re a New York Knicks fan (and not just a Jalen Brunson fan), isn’t just a pass. It’s a signal that Brunson is willing to adapt. More importantly, it’s a sign that he trusts his teammates. That he’s willing to let others take the lead when the situation demands it.
Why is that pass so hard to make? It’s not even a game-winning moment.
Michael Jordan lived for the spotlight. He was up to the challenge when coaches sent bigger defenders to swarm him. But he knew that winning a championship was not just a battle of the brawns, but a battle of the brains as well. He showed them toughness, but he was determined to outsmart them.
When the double team came with 28 seconds left on the clock in Game 6 of the 1997 NBA Finals and with the game on the line, Jordan, notorious for burying game-winning shots, made a surprise move when he passed the ball to St eve Kerr and trusted him to take the winning shot.
That shot cemented Kerr’s reputation as a clutch shooter. But it didn’t diminish Jordan’s legacy as a scorer or as the Bulls’ unquestioned leader.
Brunson is a talented player. A regular-season star. If the Knicks stay healthy and intact, he’ll likely be back in the Playoffs next year—and perhaps for many more to come. But it will only get tougher from here.
Now that teams know what breaks him, he should expect opponents to put pressure on his ballhandling and his ego.
If New York hopes to finally break through the Eastern Conference Finals next season, both the Knicks—and Brunson—must embrace a new philosophy.
Don’t just trust the ballhandler. Trust the ball movement.
Trust the pass.
