[ad_1]
It’s not typically Paul Pierce admits he’s fallacious. However he was fallacious about Jalen Brunson and has owned as much as it.
Pierce had a guess that the Knicks wouldn’t make it previous the primary spherical and that Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid had the group lined.
The Celtics champion had Maxey and Embiid as the highest two gamers within the collection, with Brunson as his third-best.
He has now realized he was gravely mistaken.
“First off, I wish to apologize to the Knicks and Jalen Brunson as a result of I’ve proven them no respect,” Pierce stated on Undisputed. “However after this [first-round win], my hat off to them. I didn’t see this coming Skip (Bayless), I actually didn’t. After I regarded on the collection earlier than it began, I assumed Philadelphia simply had an excessive amount of manpower for the short-handed Knicks.”
Brunson took the Knicks on his again for the reason that group’s different major offensive participant, Julius Randle, was out for your entire collection.
“Did I do know that Jalen Brunson was going to play effectively?” Pierce stated. “I assumed he would play effectively. I didn’t know he was going to play this effectively.”
He continued, “I’m nonetheless shocked. Honestly {that a} man like Jalen Brunson who’s had an amazing yr, phenomenal yr ought to be on the All-NBA First Staff arguably. You may make a case for that proper now. Jalen Brunson might be probably the most dominant participant, he’s the most effective participant within the playoffs proper now. I imply not the most effective participant however he’s taking part in the most effective.”
The Knicks guard had an excellent postseason and is averaging the very best PPG (35.5) of any participant within the playoffs after the primary spherical.
His subsequent problem will in opposition to the Pacers and their greatest scorer Tyrese Haliburton.
If New York does make it deep into the postseason, count on Brunson to be a agency Finals MVP candidate.
READ MORE: NBA 2024 Playoffs: Dates, Times, Where to Watch, Conference Semifinals Matchups
[ad_2]
Source link
