New York Knicks: Is Bing Bong the New Knickstape?!
By Mark Wessol
New York Knicks: Is Derrick Rose this year’s JR Smith?
We saw it firsthand last season Derrick Rose was a menace on our second unit. He can be a starting point guard on a lot of NBA teams, probably including the Knicks, but him coming off the bench and us not skipping a beat is a true advantage.
All it took was Dennis Smith Jr. and a draft pick, talk about a steal.
Through four games, Rose has been sensational averaging 12.3 points while shooting an absurd 54.2% from behind the arc. That is crazy… obviously as the season goes on that percentage will lower, but still shooting that efficiently has been a huge help in our early success.
Just like how this whole roster reminds me of the 2012-2013 Knicks, Derrick Rose is giving me major JR “Swish” Smith vibes as a sixth man. During that 2012 season Smith was awarded sixth man of the year, rightfully so. He averaged 18.1 points per game while bringing in 5.3 rebounds.
Like Smith did so many times, Rose hits big shot after big shot, and gives us that “spark” when the starters are in a slump. Typically once an NBA’s second unit comes onto the court the talent and scoring dips a bit. That is not the case with the Knicks and Derrick Rose.
Derrick Rose finished third place in votes for sixth man of the year last season, losing to winner Jordan Clarkson. So we know Rose is embracing this bench role and is extremely good at it. A pro’s pro.
If he wins the award this year, don’t be surprised.