New York Knicks stars Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns expressed optimism for the future despite their team’s 4-2 series loss to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals. Brunson, who called himself “overconfident,” said he has no doubt that his core group can take the next step towards a title.
The Knicks got off to a hot start but struggled against elite competition during the regular season, going 0-10 against the league’s top three 60-win teams. However, they made believers out of critics in the playoffs with four huge comeback wins, including two after trailing by 20 points and one after falling behind by 14.
Despite being favored to win the series, the Knicks were undone in Game 1 after blowing a 14-point lead at Madison Square Garden. They eventually cut their deficit to 3-2 but ultimately made too many mistakes in Game 6, including 18 turnovers that led to 34 points for Indiana.
Towns and Brunson acknowledged the team’s reliance on its top six players, with around 93% of the salary committed to them. However, they both expressed confidence in their ability to build on their first season together and improve over time.
“The high-level work ethic we have is what gives me confidence,” said Brunson. “I know what we’ve got, and I’m OK with that. I don’t care what people think about us on the outside.”
Towns added, “We’re blessed to play with Jalen Brunson. It’s a blessing and an honor.” The team’s focus on hard work and teamwork has left players optimistic for the future despite this disappointing end to the season.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45415453/jalen-brunson-utmost-confidence-knicks-core-contend