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New York Knicks: Who Stepped Up Against Detroit Pistons?

By Maxwell Ogden

Nov 16, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas (91) and forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) react after scoring a basket against the Detroit Pistons during first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas (91) and forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) react after scoring a basket against the Detroit Pistons during first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 10, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Brandon Jennings (3) dribbles the ball during the third quarter against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks won 90-88. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Brandon Jennings (3) dribbles the ball during the third quarter against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks won 90-88. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

Brandon Jennings

Statistically speaking, Brandon Jennings had an acceptable game that won’t draw much praise. Beyond the numbers, Jennings came up with a pair of key defensive plays in the fourth quarter that were integral to the New York Knicks achieving victory.

Jennings needs to stop shying away from layups when he drives the lane, but his facilitating touch and defense played a defining role in this win.

Jennings failed to make a single shot, but he recorded seven assists, two rebounds, and a huge steal in 17 minutes. He led all Knicks players in assists and made a number of imperative dimes to put his teammates in scoring position.

For a second unit that’s been struggling to produce, the presence of a player who can pick up the slack as a facilitator is hard to downplay.

Jennings again struggled with his shot—and by that, I mean that he turned down a number of easy attempts to make passes out to the perimeter. It’d simply be impossible to ignore how valuable his clutch heroics were against Detroit.

Jennings can’t keep backing down from scoring opportunities, but his defense and facilitating played a critical role in New York’s victory

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