At least for one night time, the Knicks’ protection was revitalized they usually didn’t want Donovan Mitchell.
With the summer time’s failed commerce negotiations serving because the backdrop, the Knicks turned up the depth and toppled Mitchell’s Cavaliers on Sunday, 92-81.
Mitchell, who scored a ho-hum 23 factors on 8-for-23 taking pictures, was stifled by Quentin Grimes, who logged 40 minutes and is lastly wholesome sufficient to stay as much as his defensive stopper label. Grimes acknowledged the matchup was private after a number of teammates have been being dangled in commerce talks.
“It’s kind of just what everybody knows, just everything that was going on with the chatter over the summer. And adding how we lost the last game (on Saturday against the Mavericks). This was kind of a must-win for us for sure today,” Grimes mentioned, including, “I think people are lying if they say they’re not coming in with an edge and a chip on their shoulder.”
On the heels of that blowout defeat to Dallas — and driving a five-game house dropping streak — coach Tom Thibodeau tinkered along with his rotation by eradicating Derrick Rose and Cam Reddish. Both logged their first wholesome DNPs of the season. Miles McBride was the primary substitute however Thibodeau went heavy with the starters, with all 5 enjoying over half-hour.
Rose and Reddish weren’t made out there by the Knicks after the sport.
“I wanted to get it to nine-man rotation,” mentioned Thibodeau, who added that Rose’s demotion could also be short-term and as a result of relaxation on the second night time of a back-to-back. “It worked a lot better.”
The outcomes have been certainly encouraging, particularly on protection. Entering the night time permitting over 116 factors per recreation, they held the Cavaliers to their season low on a putrid 35% p.c taking pictures.
It was a pleasant response to stem the unfavorable movement pouring from the Knicks (11-13), however the victory received’t be related to the ultimate willpower on their resolution to go on Mitchell. Back in August, Knicks president Leon Rose obtained skittish over relinquishing too many future draft picks. It allowed Cavs president Koby Altman to swoop in and land Mitchell for younger gamers and three unprotected first-round picks.
According to a number of sources, Thibodeau was gung-ho about dealing for the three-time All-Star, believing he may make it work with a small backcourt of Mitchell and Brunson.
But negotiations stalled close to the end line, and Mitchell’s homecoming story was deserted.
“I grew up coming here. I grew up hearing organ that plays defense (in MSG). The little things,” mentioned Mitchell, a Westchester product who performed AAU ball in Manhattan. “I grew up watching Amar’e Stoudemire, who was here (at the game Sunday), Carmelo (Anthony), JR (Smith), even Kristaps (Porzingis), which is weird to say. But just coming up watching the games and then just playing here it’s always great to play back at home. But I’m really pissed we didn’t get the win tonight because we were right there man. But it’s great to always come back home and play in front of this crowd.”
So Mitchell was the customer Sunday and the loser.
“What’s done is done, and I’m happy as hell to be where I’m at,” he mentioned. “At the end of the day, this decision was made and I don’t think I’ve been happier since I’ve been in the league. But I think for me it’s always going to be motivation to come back and play well in my hometown, but you could say that about anybody. But with what happened this summer, it’s over with, it happened and I’m happy to be with the Cavaliers.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com