1. Derrick Rose
The New York Knicks recorded 17 assists to 18 turnovers during the regular season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Starting point guard Derrick Rose was the catalyst for all the wrong reasons.
Rose scored 17 points during the regular season opener, but he recorded just one assist to four turnovers during a game when New York needed a facilitator.
Though the injuries have hurt his reputation, Rose remains one of the more dynamic slashers in the NBA. His end-to-end speed borders on being uncontrollable and his first step is as quick and paralyzing as any you’ll find in the modern NBA.
The Grizzlies are too strong on defense to be defeated by a flurry of isolation possessions, however, and that’s where the need for a facilitator comes into play.
Brandon Jennings has done a solid job off the bench, but Rose can create consistent penetration. In doing so, he inevitably creates space for shooters along the perimeter and slashers along the baseline.
Rose has been productive in his scoring since 2014-15, but his effort has wavered as a facilitator.
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The Knicks will need the latter trend to end against Memphis.