Mike Brown had an interesting comparison to make about Jalen Brunson.
The New York Knicks battled through a desperate Philadelphia 76ers team to take a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference with a 108-94 victory and even though the 76ers showed fight throughout the game, they simply had no answer for the Knicks' offense, especially Jalen Brunson.
The New York star scored 33 points while shooting 11-22 from the field while adding five rebounds and nine assists. Brunson has been the Knicks' strength this entire season, providing a sense of constancy and security to the offense at times where there lulls from the rest of the team.
That ability to set the tone for the rest of the team has made him the most depended on member of the am by far and in times like Game 3, where the 76ers were intent on fighting back, it's Brunson's offense that the Knicks can rely on to turn the tide and swing momentum back in in New York's favor.
Brown Makes Peanuts Analogy
It's that kind of reliability that led Mike Brown to make an interesting analogy about Brunson's impact on the team.
"What's the dude's name on Snoopy? Linus? He got a blanket? I'm Linus and Jalen's my blanket. He helps me relax at a lot of different times throughout the course of games, but that's what great players do. They keep you poised. They make things easier for everybody else and they get you through the stretch," Brown said via (SNY).
To tie it back to Charlie Brown, Linus' blanket gives him security and it's something that he can't live without and that's exactly what the kind of impact that Brunson has on the Knicks and it seems, on Mike Brown's mental state.
Brunson's Reliability
Even at times when the Knicks look like their effort is lacking or they can't find their rhythm, a strong performance from Brunson can sometimes be all that the Knicks need to get back on track.
With the way that Brunson has been playing these playoffs, the Knicks have been on a rhythm that has made them look unstoppable. When a team's best player is performing exactly like he should be, it's easy to see why the Knicks have been on such a role.
Ideally, the Knicks will keep playing at a level that won't require Brunson to carry such a heavy load for the team, but it's nice for the team and for Brown to know that Brunson, like Linus' blanket, can be relied on.