Derrick Rose
The New York Knicks will need starting point guard Derrick Rose to deliver on a nightly basis. He may not always go off as a scorer, but he must find a way to make a positive impact, whether statistically or otherwise.
During the regular season opener, Rose proved that he’s still one of the more lethal slashers in the NBA today.
Rose finished this star-studded battle with 17 points, three rebounds, one assist, and one block in 30 minutes. He did so on 7-of-17 shooting from the field, 1-of-2 from 3-point range, and 2-of-2 at the charity stripe.
It was concerning that Rose had one assist to four turnovers, but it was more significant that he moved with fluid athleticism.
Rose had the look of a one-man fast break, at times, using his still elite speed to blow by the Cavaliers’ athletic transition defense. In the half court, he displayed his creativity as a slasher and finisher.
Whether it was a flashy finish at the rim or a hard run to the rack with a powerful layup, Rose showed the form that few believed he was still capable of displaying.
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There weren’t many reasons to be happy about the game against Cleveland, but these players provided necessary reasons for optimism.