New York Knicks: Derrick Rose Has Plenty Left In The Tank
![Feb 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) scores as Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) defends during the third quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 106-95. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports Feb 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) scores as Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) defends during the third quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 106-95. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/b746396df110f870fd15123f8aabfc65b20f3ca6a5aa63d97ad3dba92acacf1d.jpg)
1. Rising Production
Derrick Rose finished the 2015-16 NBA regular season with rather pedestrian averages and underwhelming shooting marks. He averaged 16.4 points and 4.7 assists in 31.8 minutes on a slash line of .427/.293/.793,
If all you’re looking at is the season averages, then you’re missing out on Rose’s return to being one of the more dangerous scorers at his position.
Rose averaged 17.4 points on a slash line of .468/.375/.784 after the 2016 All-Star Break. That’s a healthy sample size of 21 games, which implies that Rose could produce at a similarly efficient level in 2016-17.
In 49 games without the protective mask that blurred his vision, he averaged 17.3 points on 44.9 percent shooting from the field.
If the Knicks can get 17 points on 45 percent shooting out of Rose, then they can call this a successful acquisition. If not, then it’s worth noting that only 10 point guards averaged more points per game than Rose’s 16.4 in 2015-16.
Of those 10 point guards, four shot the same percentage as Rose or worse, and six shot below 44 percent from the field.
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Contrary to what you’ve been hearing from his critics, Rose is already on the cusp of Top 10 production from a point guard.