New York Knicks: Derrick Rose Plans To Distribute More
New York Knicks point guard Derrick Rose plans on being more of a distributor this season running the offense.
The New York Knicks made a splash this offseason when they acquired former MVP point guard Derrick Rose from the Chicago Bulls. The trade landed the Knicks the point guard they have been desperate for in recent seasons, albeit one with question marks.
Injuries have derailed Rose’s career in recent seasons. It has sapped him of the athleticism that made him so dangerous; his ability to get into the paint and create looks diminished.
The Knicks are hoping Rose can regain something resembling his MVP form this season and that a change of scenery could help. That, and the fact he is still shaking off some of the rust from the injuries; he played in only 166 of 394 possible regular season games since winning the MVP after the 2010-11 season.
While Rose isn’t as explosive on the court, he still exudes confidence. Earlier in the offseason, he proclaimed that the Knicks were a super-team, along with the Golden State Warriors.
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People bashed Rose for that comment as the Knicks haven’t had consistent success in decades. The Warriors, on the other hand, have made it to two consecutive NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers. If this were 2010, the Knicks may have a super-team argument to make.
While Rose was vilified by some for those comments, his most recent comments are something people will like to hear.
While in Seoul, South Korea, Rose conducted an interview with some interesting tidbits. He touched on the super-team comment again, but the biggest takeaway is his plans for the upcoming season.
One of his responses was that he wants to distribute the ball more this upcoming season with the Knicks.
"“We have more options on this team. With the Bulls, we had more options too but the offense really went through me and Jimmy [Butler],” Rose said. “With the Knicks, we have [Kristaps Porzingis], we have [Carmelo Anthony], we have [Joakim Noah] rolling to the rim. We’ve got Courtney [Lee].”"
That is music to Knicks fans ears. Many people were concerned there would not be enough touches for Kristaps Porzingis to continue developing, but Rose’s words should quell some of those concerns. It is also encouraging to hear, as Rose is coming off the worst season of his career in terms of assists.
The 4.7 assists per game are the second lowest per game mark of his career, but he had his lowest assist percentage of his career at 25.5. His career average is 32 for assist percentage, which is an estimate of the percentage of teammate fields goals a player assisted while he is on the floor.
The Bulls are not without weapons as well, but they do not compare to what the Knicks have this season. Carmelo Anthony is the most talented offensive teammate that Rose will have played alongside, while he has a rapport with Joakim Noah already built. Porzingis is a budding star, while Courtney Lee can space the floor with three-point shooting and timely cuts.
Rose should see his assists increase based on that alone as the Knicks have arguably the most offensive talent around him that he has seen in his career.
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It is encouraging to hear Rose have confidence in himself and teammates. He, like many players on the roster, have something to prove this season. If they can come together with Rose running the show, the Knicks should have one of their most successful seasons in recent history.