Doubt a member of the team will say it publicly so we will:
No Knick is under more pressure to make something happen with his preseason opportunities than Cam Reddish. Perhaps we’re overlooking the fight for the final roster spots — whether it’s Ryan Arcidiacono or Svi Mykhailiuk or Jalen Harris — but the focus is on Reddish because of his talent, his pending free agency and the context of the Knicks trading a first-round pick for him less than a year ago.
If everyone is healthy, Reddish, as it stands, is likely out of the rotation. At best, he’s on the fringe. But the 23-year-old got the start in Friday night’s preseason contest because one guard was injured (Quentin Grimes) and another was resting (Evan Fournier).
The Knicks won, 131-114, and the starters overwhelmed Indiana’s. But Reddish scored just two points on 1-of-7 shooting in 22 minutes.
“I shot the ball terribly. But I showed flashes here and there,” Reddish said. “I did what I could. Obviously, it’s a lot different than what I’m accustomed to. But I’m trying to figure it out.”
Indeed, there were moments to confirm Reddish was ‘trying to figure it out.’ In the first quarter, for instance, he awkwardly ran into Julius Randle while pulling up for a jumper. He was scoreless at halftime on five shots.
“It’s hard as s–t,” Reddish said about adjusting to a new group. “But I feel like I’m mentally tough so I’m getting through it.”
Reddish made things happen in the second half. There was a deflection he turned into a nifty up-and-under lay-up, then a steal that led to an athletic assist.
Only three days prior, Reddish sprained his ankle by stepping on a referee — “he just stopped right in front of me,” Reddish said. But he recovered quickly because the swelling was minimal and, let’s face it, Reddish shouldn’t pass up opportunities to start, preseason or not.
“I want all our players to understand — you can play well without shooting well,” Thibodeau said. “[Reddish’s] length, his athleticism, running the floor, getting into the paint. I thought he had several good drives. And then I want him to read — if there’s a collapse, you’ve done your job. Now spray. And so I want to look at the film. But overall, I thought some real good things.”
Is it good enough for more minutes after the return of Grimes, who has been recovering from a foot injury since the start of camp? Doubtful. Thibodeau appreciates Grimes’ ability to spread the floor and play perimeter defense. He hasn’t placed as much faith in Reddish. Fournier is the starter until further notice.
“Just trying to find my niche,” Reddish said.
There was much hoopla over Obi Toppin’s under-the-legs dunk in the second half Friday, and deservedly so. He’s converted the same dunk a few times prior in regular season games but this one brought a new, and unexpected, twist.
Pacers guard TJ McConnell ran behind Toppin and nearly swatted the ball away. Toppin was mid-dunk when he noticed McConnell. There was no turning back.
“I better not miss it,” Toppin recounted. “I saw McConnell down there after I already put it between my legs. I’m like, ‘Please don’t hit the ball out of my hands.’ This is while I’m doing the dunk. I’m like, ‘Please don’t hit it.’ If I do it, I got to make it.”
Toppin converted the jam, which became the No. 1 highlight on “SportsCenter,” and appeared to point at McConnell. But Toppin denied taunting the Pacers guard.
“I was pointing at the camera,” he said.
Perhaps more encouraging — if not as impressive as the dunk — was Toppin hitting four 3-pointers Friday night after missing all four of his attempts in the previous game.
soulbrotha1
He needs to get stronger. Can’t finish through contact
nazrmo78
I like the fact that he said it was hard as shit. People are acting like there’s this grand decision to be made with Cam. He’s a rookie contract player who is learning how to play and is getting some opportunity to do so. His coach has made other rookie contract players better through competition. Cam will become a better player in all this. No need to get too high or too low with anything he does right now. You’ll get a good game and then a bad game, you’ll get a great half and a shit half. I saw some things I liked too. He is primarily a 3pt taker yet I saw two great moves to get to the basket. He isn’t finishing but I’m seeing break away ability and takes. I still think he’s got the tools that when he gets it he could be a solid player.
3 Comments
Doubt a member of the team will say it publicly so we will:
No Knick is under more pressure to make something happen with his preseason opportunities than Cam Reddish. Perhaps we’re overlooking the fight for the final roster spots — whether it’s Ryan Arcidiacono or Svi Mykhailiuk or Jalen Harris — but the focus is on Reddish because of his talent, his pending free agency and the context of the Knicks trading a first-round pick for him less than a year ago.
If everyone is healthy, Reddish, as it stands, is likely out of the rotation. At best, he’s on the fringe. But the 23-year-old got the start in Friday night’s preseason contest because one guard was injured (Quentin Grimes) and another was resting (Evan Fournier).
The Knicks won, 131-114, and the starters overwhelmed Indiana’s. But Reddish scored just two points on 1-of-7 shooting in 22 minutes.
“I shot the ball terribly. But I showed flashes here and there,” Reddish said. “I did what I could. Obviously, it’s a lot different than what I’m accustomed to. But I’m trying to figure it out.”
Indeed, there were moments to confirm Reddish was ‘trying to figure it out.’ In the first quarter, for instance, he awkwardly ran into Julius Randle while pulling up for a jumper. He was scoreless at halftime on five shots.
“It’s hard as s–t,” Reddish said about adjusting to a new group. “But I feel like I’m mentally tough so I’m getting through it.”
Reddish made things happen in the second half. There was a deflection he turned into a nifty up-and-under lay-up, then a steal that led to an athletic assist.
Only three days prior, Reddish sprained his ankle by stepping on a referee — “he just stopped right in front of me,” Reddish said. But he recovered quickly because the swelling was minimal and, let’s face it, Reddish shouldn’t pass up opportunities to start, preseason or not.
“I want all our players to understand — you can play well without shooting well,” Thibodeau said. “[Reddish’s] length, his athleticism, running the floor, getting into the paint. I thought he had several good drives. And then I want him to read — if there’s a collapse, you’ve done your job. Now spray. And so I want to look at the film. But overall, I thought some real good things.”
Is it good enough for more minutes after the return of Grimes, who has been recovering from a foot injury since the start of camp? Doubtful. Thibodeau appreciates Grimes’ ability to spread the floor and play perimeter defense. He hasn’t placed as much faith in Reddish. Fournier is the starter until further notice.
“Just trying to find my niche,” Reddish said.
There was much hoopla over Obi Toppin’s under-the-legs dunk in the second half Friday, and deservedly so. He’s converted the same dunk a few times prior in regular season games but this one brought a new, and unexpected, twist.
Pacers guard TJ McConnell ran behind Toppin and nearly swatted the ball away. Toppin was mid-dunk when he noticed McConnell. There was no turning back.
“I better not miss it,” Toppin recounted. “I saw McConnell down there after I already put it between my legs. I’m like, ‘Please don’t hit the ball out of my hands.’ This is while I’m doing the dunk. I’m like, ‘Please don’t hit it.’ If I do it, I got to make it.”
Toppin converted the jam, which became the No. 1 highlight on “SportsCenter,” and appeared to point at McConnell. But Toppin denied taunting the Pacers guard.
“I was pointing at the camera,” he said.
Perhaps more encouraging — if not as impressive as the dunk — was Toppin hitting four 3-pointers Friday night after missing all four of his attempts in the previous game.
He needs to get stronger. Can’t finish through contact
I like the fact that he said it was hard as shit. People are acting like there’s this grand decision to be made with Cam. He’s a rookie contract player who is learning how to play and is getting some opportunity to do so. His coach has made other rookie contract players better through competition. Cam will become a better player in all this. No need to get too high or too low with anything he does right now. You’ll get a good game and then a bad game, you’ll get a great half and a shit half. I saw some things I liked too. He is primarily a 3pt taker yet I saw two great moves to get to the basket. He isn’t finishing but I’m seeing break away ability and takes. I still think he’s got the tools that when he gets it he could be a solid player.