3 Reasons why the New York Knicks should MOSTLY run it back

Knicks: The return of Derrick Rose

The Knicks’ new front office has made many savvy decisions throughout their short tenure, but the best move may be the acquisition of Derrick Rose. While the price of Dennis Smith Jr. and a second-round pick wasn’t steep, many were still skeptical once the deal went down due to Rose’s disappointing first stint in New York.

Those worries have completely vanished as the former MVP has been a crucial part of the team’s success with the Knicks now holding a record of 18-7 in his 25 appearances.

His ability to break down defenses off the dribble and score at the rim helps open up the entire offense. He can either finish through contact or kick the ball out to an open shooter, usually making the perfect decision on each foray into the paint.

His per-36 minute averages of 18.9 points and 5.6 assists per game are similar to his 20.0 points and 4.9 assists when he first became a Knick, but the differences stop there.

According to NBA.com, Rose currently has the 6th highest defensive rating among guards in the league. (minimum 15 minutes per game, 25 games played) He’s been extremely active along the perimeter, even recording a handful of blocks through the team’s recent winning streak.

Rose has also been a major positive influence on both Knicks rookies, with Toppin and Quickley offering effusive praise for the veteran point guard. The bench trio of Rose and the two rookies have outscored opponents by 20.0 points per 100 possessions throughout the 185 total minutes that they’ve shared the court.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau clearly has faith in his former Chicago point guard, and that trust has paid off exponentially. While a fair amount of contending teams will surely try to recruit Rose in free agency, the Knicks should make an even harder push to keep their sparkplug off the bench for the foreseeable future.