New York Knicks: 5 Burning Questions Following The Preseason

2. Which Derrick Rose Will Show Up?

Derrick Rose opened the 2016 NBA preseason with a 16-point and five-assist performance that ignited the passion of New York Knicks fans everywhere. He proceeded to miss the next five preseason games due to legal issues.

Rose was cleared of all charges in the civil suit, but one can’t help but wonder which version of Rose the Knicks will be getting in 2016-17.

Rose may have looked like his old self against the Houston Rockets, but a preseason opener is far from a defining performance. He missed invaluable time with his new coaches and teammates, during which he could’ve been learning more about the schemes and strategies.

Most importantly, Rose could’ve been developing an understanding for his new teammates’ tendencies—crucial knowledge for a ball-dominant facilitator.

Rose looks strong physically, but his learning curve just became even sharper and more difficult to overcome. Many felt he needed a full preseason to both build his confidence and acclimate to his new surroundings.

Rose is going to be learning by fire, as Jeff Hornacek put it. The Knicks begin the 2016-17 NBA regular season less than a week after he rejoined the team.