Derrick Rose
Derrick Rose didn’t shoot very well against the Charlotte Hornets, which is reason to keep him off of this list. He attempted 20 shots, made just six of those field goal attempts, and had a +/- of -9 in 34 minutes.
This was an incredibly well-rounded effort, however, which is an encouraging sign for a Knicks team that needs Rose to be able to contribute more than points.
Rose finished with 18 points, eight assists, eight rebounds, five offensive boards, two blocks, and a pair of steals. He hit a 3-point field goal, went 5-of-6 at the free throw line, hit a pair of clutch free throws, and committed just one turnover in his 34 minutes.
It’s hard not to be upset with Rose shooting as poorly as he did, but he played an exceptional all-around game and continues to improve defensively.
Rose is still one of the most explosive athletes in the NBA, which is the type of presence New York has been longing for. When his shots are more under control than they were tonight, he’s the perfect complement to Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis.
6-of-20 is tough to ignore, but when a point guard has eight assists, eight rebounds, five offensive rebounds, two blocks, and two steals, it’s hard to downplay.
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The Knicks are 8-8, one of the Top 8 teams in the Eastern Conference, and playing with better effort on the road.