The New York Knicks season is officially over after losing Game 6, 96-92, last week to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. However, the post-season gave them a clearer understanding of the ceilings and floors of their young talent.
More specifically, the Orange and Blue have learned that Quentin Grimes is the type of player with a high floor and an unknown ceiling.
Across nine postseason contests, Grimes averaged 26.9 minutes, 5.1 points, 1.0 steals, and 2.8 rebounds. In the fifth must-win game against Miami at the Park, Grimes played all 48 minutes, scored eight points, collected eight rebounds, and collected fifteen cents. The battered and bruised 23-year-old stole the ball from Jimmy Butler for his strongest playoff performance, and helped anchor a 112-103 win that momentarily kept New York alive.
It’s easy to criticize a Houston product’s playoff outcome based on its scoring numbers. Although it should be noted that he spent a good amount of his second round minutes guarding Jimmy Butler and focusing on energy-saving methods on the defensive end of the field.
“One thing about Quentin, I think, is that he lays the ground for us differently. He’s a two-way player,” manager Tom Thibodeau told The Guardian. New York Post After winning Game 5. “He’s a loud player. Jimmy’s going to make you work, and you have to make him work.
Grimes He was one of the Knicks’ best three-point shooters during the regular season. He had the fourth-best three-point field goal percentage for a team, and made the second-most number of shots from behind the arc. By comparison, he shot a clip of only 24.3% of range in the playoffs.
It is entirely possible that increased defensive responsibility and a lackluster body contributed to Grimes’ poor offensive play in the postseason. Experience can be vital in helping him develop into a more complete playoff player, and it’s encouraging that he’s already shown a willingness to play confused perimeter defense.
Regardless of whether the Knicks choose to keep Quentin Grimes or include him in a larger trade package this season, it’s clear that he’s worth a lot more after a skilled postseason. At his worst, Grimes is a reliable defender. It is not yet known who will be at his peak.