3 players that have stepped up during the Knicks’ win streak
2: Immanuel Quickley
New York’s bench production has suffered ever since the loss of Derrick Rose, but Immanuel Quickley is finally starting to take up the torch. After an extended cold streak, the 22-year old has found his offensive rhythm once again.
Over the past three games, Quickley is averaging 19.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per night on extraordinary 52-43-90 shooting splits.
His increased three-point accuracy is always a welcome sign but perhaps the most impressive aspect of his hot streak has been his ability to finish at the rim. While his floater can be a weapon, he often relies on it far too much and it affects his overall field goal percentage.
He’s shooting 58% on two-point field goals over the three-game span, including some crafty finishes through contact.
In a year that can best be described as a sophomore slump, the two areas where Quickley’s improved the most have been his scoring inside the arc and his playmaking. He’s shooting 44% on two-point field goals as a whole compared to 40% as a rookie. He’s also averaging 5.0 assists per 36 minutes compared to just 3.7 in his inaugural year.
It appears that his shooting is finally starting to catch up with the other improvements, which is a great sign for the Knicks and benefits the team both now and in the future.