
Derrick Rose
In contrast to what was expected of him, Derrick Rose has done more to help the New York Knicks than hurt them early in 2016-17. His ability to consistently create penetration has been a breath of fresh air for the Knicks.
Though Jose Calderon did many things well offensively, Rose’s ability to drive the lane when the offense stalls is a game-changer.
Against the Toronto Raptors, Rose finished with 21 points, four rebounds, four offensive boards, and four assists in 38 minutes. He shot 10-of-20 from the field and posted a +/- of an even zero for a Knicks squad that needed a slasher.
Though Rose wasn’t as proficient as a passer as he’d been in recent games, his scoring ability was a positive factor for New York.
Rose is still a work in progress as far as filling his role within Jeff Hornacek’s offense is concerned. He’s been one of the more reliable players for the Knicks in 2016-17, however, and his performance was helpful against New York.
Rose needs to do a better job of keeping the ball in motion, but his play in the fourth quarter has been tremendous in 2016-17.
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If the Knicks can turn these individual performances into improved team play, then victories will come far easier.