Jalen Brunson has a simple explanation for his surprisingly slow Knicks start

The numbers are all down. Jalen Brunson’s field goal percentage (39.3 percent), 3-point percentage (33.3 percent) and free-throw percentage (73.2 percent) are all significantly down from last year.In fact, the field goal and 3-point percentage would represent the worst of his career, while the free-throw percentage would be second worst. The Knicks captain has uncharacteristically been misfiring. There isn’t some deep-lying issue or explanation, though.

Brunson believes it’s actually quite simple. “Missing shots,” Brunson said after practice Tuesday, “I normally make.” Brunson’s shooting was always a worry after he underwent surgery to fix a tendon issue in his left wrist during the offseason.He spoke before the season about how it disrupted his normal offseason workouts and caused him to take way fewer shots than he normally does. It is certainly understandable that there is early-season rust.

But, true to his character, he refused to use that excuse. “Not at all,” Brunson said when asked how much the surgery has affected his early-season form. The numbers reflect Brunson’s sentiment. His shot diet, in terms of the percentage of pullups vs.catch-and-shoot and shot distance, is similar to last season’s.

As are the percentages of open shots vs.tightly covered shots.

This is not a case of worse shot quality leading to worse results. There is one area in which there has been a big drop, though.He is struggling in what is usually his specialty.  Sign up for Inside the Knicks by Stefan Bondy, a weekly exclusive on Sports+.

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Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Brunson’s efficiency at the end of the shot clock is way down.He is shooting just 26.7 percent with between 7 and 4 seconds left on the shot clock and 35.7 percent with under four seconds left.

Last year, he was a...