If it looks like Tom Thibodeau can’t coach a club unless he has Taj Gibson and Derrick Rose hanging around the locker room, well, so be it.
Gibson and Rose have a lot in common – Thibodeau’s quintessential disciples.
Both played for Thibodeau in Chicago and Minnesota. And this season, Thibodeau made a big effort to take the two to New York for a second pass.
On Sunday, the Knicks agreed in principle to exchange Rose in exchange for Dennis Smith Jr. and a runoff choice in 2021 to add more offensive firepower.
“I knew [Rose] my entire career – we arrived together, ” Gibson said after the Knicks lost to the Heat on Sunday. “He is a competitor. He’s a great guy. “
Gibson is little player nowadays, taking the place of central reserve when Nerlens Noel’s knee contracts. With Noel eliminated for the second consecutive game, the 35-year-old Brooklyn native had his best game since signing last month – scoring nine points, making 4 to 4 off the ground in 16 minutes.
Rose will have a bigger role, but, like Gibson, learning the system will be second nature.
“He’s one of those guys who already knows the system – just like me,” said Gibson, who did not play his first eight games after joining the Knicks. “We know what Thibs basically wants. As long as you give 100 percent effort every day, 110 percent on defense. At the same time, just stepping in and being vocal and understanding what you need to do. ”
It is unclear how serious Noel’s injury was. The experienced kicker loses matches to rest his knee. Therefore, Gibson’s role may be greater. Domingo marked the fifth game Noel lost this season.
“I thought he played really well and, when Nerlens comes back, he’ll be ready for any role we ask him,” said Thibodeau of Gibson. “It was always with him. Even at the beginning of your career, start with him, get him off the bench. Everything the team needed, he provided. He’s a great teammate, great leader. ”
The addition of Rose will not help Kevin Knox and Frank Ntilikina’s chances of returning to rotation. Knox did not play in his fifth straight game, while Ntilikina was left out in his eighth consecutive game.
The Pistons preferred that Knox be included in Rose’s business, but the Knicks may be reserving him for another business.
The Knicks complete home-and-home against the Heat on Tuesday in Miami.