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3 players the Knicks have and that the Cavaliers lack

By Josh Cornelissen

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Josh Hart #3 and Immanuel Quickley #5 of the New York Knicks in action against the Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden on March 29, 2023 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Heat 101-92. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Josh Hart #3 and Immanuel Quickley #5 of the New York Knicks in action against the Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden on March 29, 2023 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Heat 101-92. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Cavaliers
Immanuel Quickley, New York Knicks. Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images /

Player No. 3: Immanuel Quickley, two-way guard

The Cleveland Cavaliers have two of the best guards in the league, but neither is a defensive stopper. Both are playing hard and executing the scheme well, but ideally, the Cavaliers would have a guard they could deploy to match up with Jalen Brunson on the Knicks. Instead, the Cavs put Darius Garland on him for long stretches of Game 4, and it did not work out for Cleveland.

Isaac Okoro should be that player, but his complete inability to hit a 3-pointer or to be guarded on the perimeter is killing the Cavs’ offense. The bread-and-butter of Cleveland’s offense is the pick-and-roll, but the Knicks have essentially neutralized it by shading Okoro’s man deep into the paint. The Knicks are wholly unafraid of Okoro doing anything with the basketball, and certainly shooting a 3-pointer.

Caris LeVert has been a solid option for the Cavs in this series, but on Sunday he was needed on the hot-shooting RJ Barrett, and his 39 minutes were too many as it was. The Cavaliers don’t have anyone else they trust to turn to; Ricky Rubio continued a lackluster season in his six minutes.

The Knicks, on the other hand, have two-way guards in droves. Quentin Grimes starts at the 2, but even with him missing Game 4 due to a shoulder injury the Knicks had options to turn to. Immanuel Quickley was a headliner, a game-best +11 in his 19 minutes despite not scoring. His defense on Mitchell was smothering, and his shooting ability is such that the Cavs couldn’t just ignore him on the perimeter.

The Knicks have an abundance of riches, as Miles McBride is completely out of the rotation but came in off the bench for five minutes on Sunday, playing tough defense and hitting his only shot, a 3-pointer.

Next. 15 worst free agent signings in Cavaliers history. dark

The Cavs don’t have that two-way option available to them in the backcourt; the Knicks have three, and it’s a major reason they are down 3-1 in this series. Players such as Josh Hart, Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley have been critical to the Knicks, and the Cavaliers just don’t have the players to match them.