The New York Knicks had the chance to win Summer League rings. Sadly, the Knicks would lose to the Portland Trail Blazers 77-85.
Make sure to catch the whole Knicks Fan TV Postgame show on all major podcast platforms below:
• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts
• Google Podcasts
• Stitcher
The New York Knicks lost the Summer League championship finale to the Portland Trail Blazers 77-85. Portland’s stout defense and superior size made the difference for a second meeting between the teams. The Blazers focused on chasing the Knicks off the three-point line and attacking the rim. However, New York’s ball-handlers never found a rhythm, and the Blazers took home the rings.
There’s a lot less to note in a 77-point performance. But let’s take a peek at how the NBA hopefuls on the roster responded to adversity.
Knicks’ starters fail to beat Portland’s pressure
Miles McBride: 17 PTS (4/10 FG, 2/5 3PT, 7/7 FT), 3 AST, 6 REB, 1 STL, 2 TO in 30 mins
Portland pressed and trapped New York’s ball handlers, forcing them to make quick decisions with the ball. Miles McBride seemed comfortable passing out of these situations but didn’t consistently beat the pressure off the dribble. Yet, when he decided to drive, he often managed to draw contact and get to the line.
McBride was the only ball handler to log more assists than turnovers. He didn’t force many possessions, helped on the boards, and generally made positive things happen when he took command. My main issue was that McBride easily handed over control to other ball handlers. He was New York’s most productive player when he attacked, but he could have been more aggressive.
A good screen and solid ball movement can beat even a quality defender at the point of attack. McBride held his own defensively, but the Williams and Watford pick and roll found continual success against him. He wasn’t bad, but his excellent defense lost out against a better offense.
Quentin Grimes: 19 PTS (5/16 FG, 2/11 3PT, 7/10 FT), 3 AST, 3 REB, 1 STL, 4 TO in 33 mins
Quentin Grimes was the clear focal point of Portland’s defense, and he struggled in response. The Blazers played heavy ball denial and threw doubles and traps at Quentin Grimes from the opening tip to close. Because of that, Grimes forced some shots and rushed some possessions throughout the first three quarters.
But there weren’t many options for the Knicks otherwise. Grimes still managed some of the nicest offensive plays in the game, especially in transition. By the fourth quarter, he finally found a rhythm and started to produce. But unfortunately, it was just too little too late.
I don’t have much to add to Grimes’ defensive performance. He’s always good on that end. He’ll be a reliable defender as long as he plays. But it’s worth noting that Grimes took on an enormous offensive burden throughout Summer League, and his defense never slipped.
Trevor Keels: 3 PTS (1/4 FG, 0/2 3PT, 1/2 FT), 2 AST, 4 REB, 3 TO in 26 mins
There were opportunities for Trevor Keels to put a stamp on this game. The Blazers pressed to get the ball out of McBride and Grimes’ hands, which meant more touches for Keels. But his decision-making seemed a step behind, leading to as many turnovers as field goals and assists combined.
My positive note for Keels is that he tried a variety of attacks. He’s willing to shoot or dribble, finish or pass. But his skills need sharpening to succeed at the next level.
Feron Hunt: 10 PTS (4/10 FG, 1/2 3PT, 1/2 FT), 2 AST, 7 REB, 2 STL, 3 TO in 30 mins
This was Feron Hunt’s most disappointing performance in my book. The Blazers’ size managed to thwart Hunt whenever he attacked off the dribble. Their pressure led him to drive into traffic which meant his shots were blocked, passes were stolen, and attempts were missed. Hunt looked frustrated, though I commend him for refusing to quit attacking.
Hunt’s defense also seemed to lapse. The Blazers used big power forwards, and Hunt appeared overmatched at times. He couldn’t contain the post. His weakside defense and rotations weren’t strong enough to make up for those struggles.
Jericho Sims: 13 PTS (4/5 FG, 5/9 FT), 3 AST, 4 REB, 3 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO in 29 mins
I loved Jericho Sims’ effort throughout this game. He fought for position and was a constant threat inside, forcing the Blazers to foul him repeatedly. Sadly, this worked in the Blazers’ favor because of Sims’ shoddy free throw shooting.
He also tried a few things from the perimeter. Again, the developing big man continued to dribble into space, though it lacked much impact this time. He even tried a pull-up jumper from a few feet away that rimmed out.
Defensively, the Knicks put way too much on Sims’ plate. Portland’s bigs pulled him away from the basket and set screens that often left him switching onto smaller ball handlers. With Sims away from the basket, the Knicks failed to cover for his rim protection and rebounding. Sims’ defense held up for the most part, but without his interior help, the Knicks couldn’t recover.
Only one notable performance from New York’s bench
Micah Potter: 10 PTS (5/6 FG, 0/1 3PT), 3 REB, 2 TO in 11 mins
Micah Potter provided the only notable support off the bench. He got extra burn because Jericho Sims ran into early foul trouble and held his own. Consider that the rest of the bench made one field goal attempt in nine tries. Potter’s performance looks golden by comparison.
A familiar issue from Dice Yoshimoto, stubborn with rotations
I hoped to see more adjustments from Dice Yoshimoto than we got in this game. Yoshimoto stuck to his rotations even as Keels and Hunt struggled. Jeffries may have helped with the spacing for the starters. Yoshimoto could have given Amir Simms extra minutes to address the size gap. But he stuck to his rotation even as struggles from New York’s first loss against Portland repeated themselves.
Portland has given me a bit of concern because they pressured ball handlers, chased shooters off the line, and out-hustled New York’s guards. That recipe has beaten Tom Thibodeau’s offense for the past two seasons and beat Yoshimoto in Summer League. I hope a combination of more dynamic ball handlers and new wrinkles to the offense will help avoid more futility.
Closing thoughts
Just like that, we’re back to life without basketball for a while. Unfortunately, the last game had to be an ugly one. But that tough performance was a friendly reminder of the work that New York’s young prospects still have to do to earn more prominent roles. Summer league was an excellent opportunity for McBride, Grimes, and Sims to work on skills and roles they probably won’t see for a long time. But they each flashed upside and potential to develop.
McBride’s playmaking could take a leap if he can create more separation off the bounce. As the game slows down for Grimes, he could become a more dynamic weapon than his 3-and-D moniker out of college. Jericho Sims looks like a bundle of unrealized potential with his physical prowess and willingness to attack space despite lacking some polish.
The Knicks’ news will center on trading for Donovan Mitchell for the next few days, weeks, or even months. But New York’s young prospects will continue working while that saga plays out. They’ll be building on their games and hoping to fill whatever roster openings form in the aftermath of a trade. If no trade forms, they’ll still be ready in case of injury.
I think this Summer League’s success is proof of concept. New York’s philosophy with picks has been to target culture and focus on work ethic. We’ve seen how that translates to growth. It means that even if Donovan Mitchell doesn’t end up in a Knicks jersey, New York will have the depth of talent to reach out for any superstar that becomes available.
I’ll see you when the preseason begins with recaps of all the action Knicks’ fam. It will be a while, and the roster might look different. But as long as the jerseys say, “New York,” you’ll know where to look for discussion and analysis. See you next time, Knicks fam!
Stay tuned to KnicksFanTV.com for the latest Knicks news, rumors, and recaps throughout the 2021-22 NBA season. And in case you missed it, check out Kevin the Uber Driver going off on the New York Knicks!
