The New York Knicks needed Quentin Grimes to have a solid game on Wednesday night and he delivered, playing in all 48 minutes of the team’s 112-103 win. The 23-year-old was awarded the play of the game, but if we’re telling the truth, it’s a play that never should’ve happened.
If you’re confused by that statement, that’s understandable. However, if Bam Adebayo would’ve been whistled for a moving screen as he should’ve been, Grimes (on one leg) never would’ve stolen the ball from Jimmy Butler.
How does Bam keep getting away with this? https://t.co/NDVYSPr3F9
— Daily Knicks (@DailyKnicksFS) May 11, 2023
Grimes deserves all of the praise in the world, but once again, the officials letting Adebayo do what he wants led to what could be another costly injury for the Knicks. The shooting guard was clearly in pain at the end of the game and with New York having a quick turnaround before Game 6 on Friday in Miami, the last thing that the Knicks need is another guard to be sidelined.
If you’re keeping track, Julius Randle missed Game 1 after he sprained his left ankle (again) against Cleveland, Brunson was listed as questionable ahead of Game 2 with right ankle soreness, Immanuel Quickley was out for Games 4 and 5 after spraining his ankle in Game 3, and now Grimes’ status for Game 6 could be up in the air.
Quentin Grimes’ play of the game could come at a cost for the Knicks
The curious case of Bam Adebayo’s moving screens isn’t anything new. Jimmy Butler and the Heat overpowered the Bucks in the first round, but Adebayo’s screens were a topic of discussion amongst the Milwaukee fanbase then.
Bam Adebayo and setting moving screens pic.twitter.com/w6MwuZD1sc
— 🥤 (@34for2) April 27, 2023
On the one hand, can you fault Adebayo for continuing to set moving screens since he gets by with it? Heat fans will argue no, but when it puts opposing players at risk of getting injured (and it does), you actually can blame Bam. You can blame the officials, too, who turn a blind eye to it 98% of the time.
Bam Adebayo questionable screens in game 1 (h/t @BenRitholtzNBA). These were the worst ones I rarely saw him set an actual set screen pic.twitter.com/L6Rb8dk7vS
— Teg🚨 (@IQfor3) May 2, 2023
Knicks fans would like to hope that Game 6 will be different when it comes to Bam Adebayo’s moving screens, but unfortunately, that would require a miracle.
Extremely questionable playoff officiating continues to screw Knicks
Although the Knicks have dug themselves into a 3-1 deficit in the second round against the Heat, the officiating hasn't done them any favors.