Whole new Jalen Brunson on display for Knicks next era

The results might not have been what was desired. But the process quickly was evident.

The numbers from the Knicks’ 119-111 opening night win over the Cavaliers on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden show just how much Jalen Brunson’s role on offense has changed.

He finished with 23 points but shot a rough 5-for-18 from the field and 1-for-9 from 3-point range. The way he got those shots, though, demonstrated coach Mike Brown’s desire for Brunson to play much more off the ball.

Seven of those nine 3-pointers were catch-and-shoot, according to the NBA’s official tracking stats, the most in any game he has played with the Knicks.

And according to PBP stats, just 10 of those 18 field-goal attempts (nearly 56 percent) were considered “self-created.” That’s the lowest of any game he’s played with the Knicks in which he’s taken at least 15 shots from the field.

Brunson averaged 4.26 dribbles and 4.7 seconds per touch — both were still team highs, but are significantly down from the 6.04 dribbles per touch and 6.06 seconds per touch he averaged last season.

“It’s all about finding the right thing at the right time and reading each other and making plays,” Brunson said. “Regardless of who is bringing it up, everyone is still a threat to be aggressive.”

Brown wants to ease the burden on Brunson, allowing him to bring the ball up the court less and not having to always create his own shot.

Mikal Bridges and Miles McBride often brought the ball up when Brunson was on the court. There were even times when OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns handled that responsibility.

The first possession of the game represented Brown’s vision as Towns was double-teamed and Brunson had cut to the right corner. Towns swung a pass to a wide-open Brunson for a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer that he drilled.

“J.B. can play anywhere on the court,” Bridges said. “Even with him at his size, he can post up guys, too. He can do just about anything. I think it’s just everyone on our team is talented and can do a lot of things, and all of us can dribble-drive, make the right read and try to do whatever it takes.”

As a whole, other stats show Brown’s desires for pace and ball movement. The Knicks had 105 possessions Wednesday. Last year, they averaged 97.64 (fifth fewest in the NBA).

They made 283 passes in the opener. Last year, they averaged 281.2. That is not a major change, but there was significant growth in secondary assists (a stat given to a player who passed the ball to another player who recorded an assist within one second and without dribbling).

It’s a good indicator that multiple passes are made quickly before a bucket. The Knicks had seven of them — the most among all teams in their first game. Last year, the Knicks averaged 3.6.