For the second straight November, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau already has dropped a major veteran from his beginning lineup.
Evan Fournier was changed by second-year taking pictures guard Quentin Grimes in Friday night time’s beginning 5 in Philadelphia, scoring simply two factors in a season-low 14 minutes off the bench in the Knicks’ 106-104 comeback victory over the 76ers.
The 30-year-old Fournier had began in all 80 of his appearances with the Knicks final season, and the primary seven video games this yr forward of Friday’s benching. Former All-Star level guard Kemba Walker equally was changed within the beginning unit with Alec Burks in late November of final season.
“It's what it's. I’m in Yr 11. So I do know numerous issues can occur,” Fournier stated after Friday’s win. “We see it yearly. Final yr with Kemba. So I’m going to do one of the best with what I've, attempt to influence profitable and be a superb teammate. That’s all you'll be able to ask for. Simply do my greatest. Be a professional and take it from there…By doing all your job.
“Nothing actually adjustments for the method of the sport. You've gotten the identical method. You need to do one of the best with what’s given. That’s it.”
Fournier, who set a franchise report final season with 241 made 3-pointers, stated Thibodeau knowledgeable him of the swap Friday morning. The Frenchman had registered three factors on 1-for-6 taking pictures in 19 minutes within the Knicks’ earlier recreation, a house loss to the Hawks on Wednesday.
“He doesn’t want to elucidate himself. He decided,” Fournier stated of Thibodeau. “We’re a staff and have to maneuver ahead.”
Showing in simply his second recreation after lacking the primary six on account of foot soreness, Grimes didn’t make a major influence on Friday’s stat sheet with two factors (each on free throws) and a minus-20 score in quarter-hour of motion.
Cam Reddish, who’d been seeing regular rotation minutes with the second unit whereas Grimes was sidelined, notably performed forward of Grimes and Fournier down the stretch of Friday’s win.
Reddish hit all 4 of his field-goal makes an attempt and completed with 11 factors in quarter-hour general. That included the ultimate 6:42 of the fourth quarter because the Knicks went with a small lineup that includes each Julius Randle and Obi Topping and overcame a 10-point deficit to halt their three-game skid.
After night their report to 4-4 with their first street win of the season, the Knicks have been slated to play the second finish of back-to-back video games Saturday night time towards the Celtics on the Backyard. Requested Friday if he deliberate to stay with Grimes as a starter, Thibodeau replied, “We’ll see. We’ll see how all the things [goes]. There’s nothing set in stone. It’ll be game-by-game, get a have a look at totally different guys.”
With Grimes and Reddish each seeing backcourt time, veteran guard Derrick Rose logged simply seven scoreless minutes in Friday’s win.
Fournier indicated his greatest adjustment with the second unit shall be lining up extra as a small ahead as a substitute of taking pictures guard, with these three gamers and Immanuel Quickley additionally vying for minutes.
“That’s what I’m going to have to determine with a little bit bit extra time. So I can’t inform you proper now,” Fournier stated about his altering function. “Clearly enjoying with totally different gamers. I’ll probably play the three now as a substitute of the two. So it’s positively going to be a couple of issues…I’m going to be in numerous spots and I’m going to be towards greater guys.”
The 6-foot-7 Fournier is assured $18 million this season and one other $18.9 million subsequent yr, with the Knicks additionally controlling a $19 million staff possibility for 2024-25.
“I believed we have been doing OK [as a starting unit]. The issue wasn’t beginning the sport in any respect in comparison with final yr. Actually I believed we have been doing nicely,” Fournier added. “However QG is again wholesome. I believe [Thibodeau] wished to offer him a possibility.”
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