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The New York Knicks aren’t a playoff team, but unlike seasons past, the franchise has a promising future. At the forefront is Kristaps Porzingis, but the lesser-known rookie Jerian Grant is the one who should be receiving the attention in the team’s stretch run. The franchise knows that Porzingis is the future; what they need to know is if Grant will be playing the point guard position alongside him.
In college, Grant was one of the best guards in the country because he could blow by any defender and get to the paint at will. He didn’t have to do anything else to score.
Grant’s shot was exposed at the pro level, especially from three-point range. It cost him minutes at the beginning of the season, but he’s been working on that area on his game and since the All-Star break it’s been much improved. In the 11 games since the break, the rookie is averaging 14.4 minutes, 5.3 points and 1.8 assists while shooting 48.8 percent from the field.
Grant’s offensive rating for the season is a lowly 95 (points per 100 possessions), but since the break it’s skyrocketed. His average has been a 102.0, but in the Knicks’ four wins Grant’s been fantastic, showing how valuable he can be to the team. It moves to a monster 116.2 as opposed to a horrific 89.8 points per 100 possession in the Knicks’ seven losses. Grant’s playing 18.4 minutes in Knicks’ wins (12.1 in losses) while shooting 50 percent from the field (47.3 percent), 40 percent from downtown (25 percent) and averaging 7.0 points (4.3) and 2.5 assists (1.6).
It doesn’t take an intelligent basketball fan to notice that the Knicks are better when Grant plays more. So why won’t head coach Kurt Rambis do it? Well, he claims he isn’t ready to give up on the playoffs. Considering Grant only played 13 minutes last night, that’s obviously still the case.
Hopefully the team comes to their senses and realizes they are better off showcasing the rookie point guard than grasping at a hopeless playoff dream.
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