Quentin Grimes complains about not seeing a ball anymore!

Launched into an attacking game against the Bucks, the Knicks exploded in the second half, and they were unable to respond to the deluge of 3-point shots. While Damian Lillard and his teammates scored a superb 23 out of 38 from a distance, Tom Thibodeau's players only scored 7! House specialist in 3-point shooting, Quentin Grimes finished with a delicate 0 out of 1 on shots in 18 minutes…

“It’s hard to go the whole first quarter without touching the ball, the whole second quarter without touching the ball… And then you get a shot and you have to put it in.”, describes Quentin Grimes. “It's difficult to go on the field and stay in a corner for the whole match. You then have to make your shot even though you only touch the ball once or twice per match. It's like that… “.

Called back to the bench at the slightest failure

The Knicks guard lets his frustration explode because the situation did not date from last night. It's been seven games in a row that he has scored 4 points or less with a maximum of six shots. His only shot of the evening was in the 3rd quarter, and Tom Thibodeau didn't put him into play at all in the last quarter…

“It seems like if I don’t hit my shot, I go straight out” continues Quentin Grimes, whose stats have been halved. “Consequence: every shot I take weighs very heavy, and if I don't take it, and the defense doesn't compensate behind, I know I'm going to go out. »

For Quentin Grimes, a shooter cannot find his rhythm with so few shots! Any player needs to have the ball in their hands, even if only in terms of sensations. Last season, Quentin Grimes saw the ball more often and that allowed him to be more comfortable when he had to shoot.

Tom Thibodeau kicks into touch

“I feel like I need to take more shots. We can’t find rhythm without shooting,” he recalls. “I know I'll probably only get one or two shots, and it'll be tough because I have to make them or I know I'm going to go out. So it's tough, but I know it won't last forever… Last year RJ missed a lot of games. Jalen missed a few games. So I had the ball in my hands a little more often. I knew I wouldn't get out. I knew I was going to be out there and get more shots, play the whole first quarter, the whole third quarter. I knew I had the opportunity to get the ball and take shots. Today it’s just a question of whether I’m going to see the ball…”

What does his coach think? “I’m looking at how a five works” Tom Thibodeau defends, before kicking into touch. “ I would say that tonight we didn't play well, and blaming Quentin for that is unfair. Tonight, no one played really well. We are capable of doing much better. We win together, we lose together. We focus on what we can improve, and we prepare for the next match. »

A right-hander in the middle of the Barrett-Brunson-Randle trio

Fortunately, Quentin Grimes can count on the support and promises of Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson.

“He has a difficult role, and we have to do better to try to find positions for him” believes the strong winger, while the leader points out that the starting five is made up of three left-handers. “We have three players who all start on the left, and who do similar things. Quentin will be open, and he will have things to do. Sometimes when trust is at its lowest, it's the end of the world. But as teammates, we have to help him and make sure he gets back on track. »

How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.