New York Knicks: Cleveland Loss Proves Derrick Rose Is The X-Factor

2. Making The Depth Count

The key to a team possessing depth is having the first line of players available and ready to play. Depth becomes lost when the starters go down and the players who thrive in their defined roles are forced to play bigger and broader minutes.

Brandon Jennings proved capable of handling the workload of a starter, but the harsh reality for the New York Knicks is that there isn’t a third point guard on the roster.

Together, Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings give the Knicks two point guards who can create for themselves and others. With one sidelined, however, New York faces the harsh reality that there isn’t a third point guard to back the sidelined player up.

That alone is reason to believe that Rose is of immeasurable value to the Knicks, as they suddenly go from he and Jennings to Jennings and shooting guard Sasha Vujacic.

Furthermore, the Knicks have a team that consists of excellent passers. The likes of Carmelo Anthony, Willy Hernangomez, Justin Holiday, Courtney Lee, Joakim Noah, Kyle O’Quinn, Kristaps Porzingis, and Vujacic can all create for others.

The key to their being able to create those shots, however, is the the space they receive via Rose and Jennings collectively doing so over the course of a full game.