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New York Knicks: Who stepped up against New Orleans Pelicans on Dec. 30?

By Maxwell Ogden

NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 30: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks goes to the basket against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 30, 2017 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 30: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks goes to the basket against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 30, 2017 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – DECEMBER 30: Doug McDermott #20 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 30, 2017 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – DECEMBER 30: Doug McDermott #20 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 30, 2017 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Doug McDermott

The New York Knicks have consistently found ways to enable Doug McDermott to prove himself as more than just another three-point shooter. His off-ball work ranks amongst the best in the NBA, as he runs his man in circles and gets to whichever spot he’s aiming to reach.

Against the New Orleans Pelicans, McDermott had a significant hand in a first half that set the pace for the Knicks to survive the third quarter onslaught and ultimately win the game.

McDermott played 22 minutes, scoring seven points and pulling down five rebounds. He added an assist to his stat line, and played far better than his 3-of-9 shooting from the field and 1-of-4 shooting from three-point range would suggest.

For as solid as his scoring was off the bench, the key to McDermott’s value is the same as the key to Courtney Lee’s: Defense.

McDermott was one of the primary reasons why the Knicks were able to hold New Orleans to 6-of-26 shooting from beyond the arc. He may not be an on-ball specialist, but he competes and sticks with his assignment as an active team defender.

Without McDermott’s defense against a Pelicans perimeter that entered the game at No. 3 in three-point field goal percentage, the Knicks may not have won.

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