Quentin Grimes is lastly again.
One of the Knicks prime perimeter defenders was faraway from the inactive listing for the primary time this season Wednesday evening, logging 5 scoreless minutes of rubbish time as Tom Thibodeau eases Grimes again into the rotation.
“Just let him inject energy, let him see where he is,” Thibodeau mentioned after the Knicks misplaced to the Hawks, 112-99. “So I thought he gave us some pretty good minutes.”
Before the sport, Thibodeau labeled Grimes’ standing as “situational,” which is Thibodeau’s code phrase for only a few minutes.
“I think a lot of it is situational. So if your matchup is a guy off the dribble, he’s good at that,” Thibodeau mentioned. “He’s additionally superb at catch-and-shoot, locking and trailing folks, staying hooked up. So he’s received nice ft, he’s received anticipation, he’s received energy, so I believe that’s what makes him such a great defender. He doesn’t take any performs off. Full pace on a regular basis.
“Obviously he missed a lot of time,” Thibodeau added. “So he’ll be situational to start.”
Grimes missed the opening six video games — and three of the 4 preseason contests — due to a sore left foot, an ailment that had him listed as day-to-day for over a month.
The wing participant, who was drafted twenty fifth total by the Knicks in 2021, re-aggravated the damage whereas taking part in 16 scoreless minutes in preseason and, in accordance with the Knicks, solely returned to full observe this week.
Injuries have been the most important concern of Grimes’ younger profession, with solely 46 of 86 video games performed heading into Wednesday. But Thibodeau is a fan.
“Two-way player. Very competitive,” the coach mentioned. “I think shooting the 3 is a strength, but his ability to guard really three and sometimes four positions. But he’s a fierce competitor, and we need that.”
Now Grimes’ return opens questions concerning the rotation, particularly whether or not Cam Reddish will proceed to log minutes because the backup taking pictures guard.
Reddish was thrust into the rotation due to Grimes’ damage and performed properly within the opener in Memphis, the place he exploded for 22 factors off the bench. But Reddish wasn’t productive in consecutive recreation in opposition to the Bucks and Cavs, because the Knicks’ protection continued to bleed factors.
Reddish, who was questionable earlier than Wednesday’s recreation due to an sickness, scored six factors in quarter-hour. Since the Knicks didn’t prolong his contract, Reddish will change into a restricted free agent after the season and theoretically minutes may increase his commerce worth.
Coincidentally, Reddish confronted the group Wednesday — the Hawks — that traded him to the Knicks final season.
“It’s all about opportunity,” Hawks coach Nate McMillan mentioned. “They have a lot of players, really good players. Far as what I see he’s getting an opportunity and he’s trying to make the most of it.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com