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New York Knicks: Who stepped up against the Memphis Grizzlies on Dec. 6?

By Maxwell Ogden

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 6 : Kristaps Porzingis #6 and Courtney Lee #5 of the New York Knicks shake hands against the Memphis Grizzlies at Madison Square Garden on December 6, 2017 in New York,New York. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 6 : Kristaps Porzingis #6 and Courtney Lee #5 of the New York Knicks shake hands against the Memphis Grizzlies at Madison Square Garden on December 6, 2017 in New York,New York. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK,NY – DECEMBER 6 : Enes Kanter #00 of the New York Knicks goes up for the shot against the Memphis Grizzlies at Madison Square Garden on December 6, 2017 in New York,New York. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK,NY – DECEMBER 6 : Enes Kanter #00 of the New York Knicks goes up for the shot against the Memphis Grizzlies at Madison Square Garden on December 6, 2017 in New York,New York. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Enes Kanter

With Kristaps Porzingis adjusting to his first game back, the New York Knicks trusted Enes Kanter to shoulder a heavy workload. Kanter did his job, crashing the boards and playing from the post against one of the best centers in the NBA: Marc Gasol.

Had Kanter not stepped up with the type of contributions he provided, the Knicks wouldn’t have climbed back into this game following the dreadful first quarter.

Kanter joined Jarrett Jack in the double-double club, posting 12 points and 12 rebounds in 28 minutes of court time. He added an assist and a block, shooting just 4-of-10 from the field, but converting all four of his free throw attempts.

Kanter’s +/- didn’t jump off the page at a +2, but he was matched up against an All-NBA center, and he more than held his own—on both ends of the floor.

Kanter’s ability to control the tempo with his rebounding enabled the Knicks to limit the Grizzlies to a mere four offensive rebounds. Kanter matched that production on his own, pulling down four offensive boards and scoring six second chance points.

Kanter isn’t the flashiest of players, but he’s the definition of an irritant—and throughout the win over Memphis, players like Gasol looked as irritated as ever.

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