NBA Realities

Quentin Grimes has unlocked a new level of performance during the early days of his tenure with the Philadelphia 76ers. He is averaging a career-high 21.9 points, shooting 50.7% from the field on 15.9 attempts per game in 19 appearances.

Why Quentin Grimes is having success

Unfortunately, Quentin Grimes’ performance is unlikely to be sustainable beyond this season. Grimes’ recent success is related to an increased role as a ball handler. He is averaging a career-high 63.7 touches per game with Philadelphia, a 132.5% increase from the rest of his career.

Grimes has used the increased touches to get an expanded role as a ball handler in the pick-and-roll or transition. He is spending a career-high 24% of his possessions with Philadelphia as a pick-and-roll ball handler, averaging 4.8 per game. The pick-and-roll has been the source for a significant portion of his offensive production.

He is averaging 3.6 points per game in this play type, shooting 36.4% on 3.5 attempts. Grimes has complimented his expanded role as a pick-and-roll ball handler with transition possessions. He spends 22.6% of his offensive possessions in transition, averaging 4.5 per game. Quentin has been able to generate 5.6 points, shooting 66.1% on 3.4 attempts.

Unfortunately, Quentin Grimes’s recent success has come without Joel Embiid and Paul George on the court. Joel and Paul have only shared the court with Grimes for five and nine games, respectively.

During the five games Grimes played with Joel, he averaged 16 points per game, shooting 47% on twelve attempts. The production difference with Joel on the court is related to a decrease in touches per game. He averaged 57 touches per game with him on the court, a 10.5% decrease from the rest of his time in Philadelphia.

76ers vs Bucks

The presence of Joel forced Quentin Grimes to spend more time standing behind the three-point line as a floor spacer. On February 9, Grimes stood on the right wing behind the three-point line with five minutes to go in the first quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks. 

He remained there for the entire position as Paul George dribbled the ball down the left side of the court until he got past the elbow. Paul George would then pass the ball to Joel Embiid, who hit a three-pointer from the left wing.

Consequently, if Philadelphia had a healthy roster next season, Quentin Grimes would likely be a role player because he would spend significant time standing behind the three-point line as a floor spacer.