Here are three things to keep an eye on during the Knicks-Cavs playoff series…
GRIMES TIME?
Tom Thibodeau wants the Knicks playing their best basketball going into the playoffs. Quentin Grimes understands the assignment.
In his last six games, Grimes is averaging 20.8 points per game, four assists per game, 1.2 steals per game and 4.8 rebounds per game.
He’s shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc on 9.7 three-point attempts per game and 52 percent overall.
Grimes did all of this while often guarding the opponent’s top perimeter players.
“He’s always ready to make big plays and helps this team,” Jalen Brunson says. “He always has the right mindset.”
Grimes will be playing in his first postseason. If the Knicks can get something close to what Grimes has given them the last six games, he will be a breakout star of the first round of the playoffs.
Grimes will be asked to guard Donovan Mitchell during the series. New York will probably ask Josh Hart to defend Mitchell as well. So Grimes goes into the series with a significant assignment.
If you listen to Thibodeau, it’s clear that the Knicks have full confidence in the second-year guard.
“We felt he got established last year,” Thibodeau said earlier this week. “Then to see him in the gym every day all summer — see, you can’t fake that stuff. That stuff, you see it. You see the commitment to the work, to the team, and you see how well he shoots the ball. We track every shot. The volume of shots he puts up, you know he’s gonna be a very good offensive player.
“And then to play the way he plays defensively, to take that challenge, we’re seeing him put the ball on the floor more, so we’re seeing a lot of really good things from him. That intensity is important for us.”
BY THE NUMBERS
The Knicks and Cavs are both in the top 10 in offensive efficiency (NYK is fifth and CLE is seventh). Based on points allowed per 100 possessions, Cleveland has the top defense in the NBA; the Knicks rank 18th.
But New York is third in opponent field-goal percentage; Cleveland is eighth. There is a gap in the way both teams have defended beyond the arc. New York ranks 10th in opponent field goal percentage, while Cleveland is 24th. Another area the teams diverge on: offensive rebounds. The Knicks rank third in offensive rebound percentage; the Cavs are 19th.
Both teams are bottom five in pace. Both do a good job defending the paint. New York is No. 1 in opponent points in the paint, while the Cavs are fifth in that category. Both teams capitalize on second-chance points: the Knicks are second in second-chance points, and the Cavs are fourth.
When the Knicks are at their best, they are taking care of the ball. That will be important against the Cavs. Cleveland ranks fourth in opponent turnover percentage and third in points off turnovers. If the Knicks are sloppy with the ball, they would be playing to one of the Cavs’ strengths.
Obviously, most of the Knicks’ stats were accrued with a healthy Julius Randle. It’s unclear if Randle will be available for Game 1 of the playoffs. His ankle sprain will be re-evaluated on April 13.
Without Randle, the Knicks will be missing a pivotal part of their half-court offense.
“To be successful in the playoffs… you need easy baskets, but you also need execution in the half court,” Thibodeau said earlier this week when talking about Randle. “You have to have guys who can go off the dribble. You have to have guys who can play back-to-the-basket. You have to have the balance of it all.
“I laugh when people say, ‘you’ve gotta play fast.’ Well, yeah, we want to play fast, but the other team also has something to do with that. You have to have balance. Balance wins. If you look at the final four teams each year, they’re balanced. So you want to play fast, but you want to execute in the half court.”
HART-HARTENSTEIN-QUICKLEY LINEUP
Individually, Hart, Immanuel Quickley and Isaiah Hartenstein have played pivotal roles in the Knicks’ success. All three players have a plus/minus of more than plus-150. (Quickley leads the group with a plus-282).
Not surprisingly, the Knicks have had success when Quickley, Hartenstein and Hart share the floor.
In 316 minutes, New York has outscored opponents by 122 points with those three on the floor (They are often sharing the floor with at least one other starter).
Given the success of this combination, you will probably see it at times against Cleveland. Hart likes the versatility of those lineups.
“I think we have a lot of stuff covered in terms with guys who have energy, can score different ways, can stop other guys from scoring. Just playing smart basketball,” Hart said earlier this week. “We have three guys coming off the bench that could start on different teams. Obviously, that’s a great attribute to have. It’s just confidence. And we’ve been doing it. And we’re comfortable playing with each other. Obviously don’t have a huge sample size. But we’re growing in confidence.… It’s just been good.”