The New York Knicks is coming out in an impressive way on the Indiana Pacers, bringing them to 0.500 and even to the Toronto Raptors at the Eastern Conference.
In victory, All-Star Julius Randle scored 20 points, second year player RJ Barrett scored 24, and young Immanuel Quickley also contributed 10 points and hit 3 of 4 in addition to the hoop.
However, a veteran quickly climbed the rankings, making a significant impact. Some may say that the Knicks have already made their valuable acquisition outside of the season, and their name is Derrick Rose.
Rose played 38 minutes against Indiana, scoring 17 points and registering 11 assists. He has been an absolute threat in defense, and his vision on the court has helped the Knicks in the transition and find open kicks consistently.
Thanks to a close relationship between Rose and coach Tom Thibodeau, his adaptation to their style was perfect and efficient.
“Whenever you have spent the time we have spent together and to have all the experiences we have had – we have had some big ups, some lows – there is only one appreciation for him,” Thibodeau said Friday. “I think this is one of the best parts of coaching, as you get to know people for a long time, you appreciate all the things that they bring.
Thibodeau knew what Rose would bring to the team, including an improved view of the court, the ability to take the ball to his primary scorers and a tempting defense. With that said, at 32, the Knicks are using Rose significantly and need to be careful not to overwhelm him.
“I think it is very important, especially when you have a coach like Thibs, he is a martinet type guy,” said Rose on Friday. “He is very serious. He knows the classification and will remind you that this is a team that, if we get to the rewards, we can end up facing them.
Defined mines and mindset tend to be half the battle, and Thibodeau makes a point of reminding his team what they are fighting for and what the season is aiming for.
Historically, Thibs has been known to take his teams to the playoffs, even if it means working twice as hard as everyone else and playing a vigorous defense. The Knicks, so far, have done well in both categories, taking exponential steps forward, despite several factors working against them. The acquisition of Rose, however, was one of the positive points of this season.