Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose points to lack of hustle as catalyst in Knicks’ loss to Orlando

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derrick rose, knicks

The New York Knicks had several solid contributors in their most recent loss to the Orlando Magic, but that didn’t make watching the film any more exciting. With the team dropping their first game of the season to a lowly Magic team by a score of 110–104, going through the pain of watching such poor film should reinvigorate them as they prepared to take on the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday evening.

Derrick Rose detailed the pain of going through the film after the loss to Orlando, per the NY Post:

“Especially when you beat a team like we did the first time, it puts you in kind of a depression type of state where you’re thinking about everything that night. Then waking up, coming in, you dread coming in a little bit after you get your work in. The best thing about it though is everyone communicating while we’re going over film. By the end of film, it’s out [of] your mind. You know how these games come right back-to-back, so you gotta have amnesia and try to execute the game plan for tomorrow’s game.”

Having a bit of amnesia is not a bad concept for a team that must forget about their 27.1% shooting from three-point range and 37% shooting from the field on Sunday night. However, Rose was one of the positive contributors, posting 23 points, three assists, and two steals over 29 minutes. He shot over 50% from the field and connected on 5-of-8 three-point attempts.

Rose pointed to a lack of energy and proactivity as the Knicks’ biggest struggle in the defeat. Jogging and not sprinting back into position played a big part in their demise, which could just be early-season stamina issues, especially with a thin center position.

“When you look at the errors and all that, it’s a time to grow as a team and build chemistry,” Rose said. “You see the breakdowns, you see the jogging back and not sprinting back and all that. It gives you a baseline to see where you’re at and next game, you gotta improve on everything that you did wrong.”

With Tom Thibodeau as head coach, we should expect to see a reinvigorated and aggressive Knicks team, sprinting and displaying 100% energy against Philadelphia. Overcoming the 76ers and bouncing back would show resiliency for a team that has high expectations this season.

Tom Thibodeau coaches Knicks hard in preseason win against Pistons

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tom thibodeau, knicks

The game was practically over as the New York Knicks were up by 11 with 23 seconds to go. But Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau was still in a competitive and combative mood. He argued with the referee on what he felt was a non-call after a defender charged at his rookie guard, Miles McBride, that led to a turnover.

It was a recurring scene on an October night that had the intensity of June.

“Everyone has to be themselves. I’m not saying my way is for everyone. I know my way is for me, and everything matters to me,” said Thibodeau, explaining his serious approach to a preseason game that holds no bearing in the standing.

In the opening half, the Knicks were uncharacteristic and erratic, where an injury-plagued and a young Detroit Pistons team led by as many as eight points. They were a step slow against the Pistons, which played like a well-oiled machine despite missing eight players, including top overall pick Cade Cunningham (right ankle) and their top sophomores Saddiq Bey (left ankle) and Killian Hayes (concussion).

The Knicks had to dig deep and needed a big second half from Julius Randle to rally past the Pistons, 108-100, Wednesday night in the Garden and stay unbeaten in preseason.

They improved to 3-0 and 6-1 overall under Thibodeau in meaningless games (dating back to last year’s preseason) that mean everything to him.

“For us, we’re an organization that’s building right now. We want to get established. Our fight is continuing every day. And I love the fight in our guys,” Thibodeau said.

When push came to shove, the Knicks turned to their bread and butter that fueled their stunning fourth seed finish in the East last season — Randle and their defense.

Randle started slow after skipping Saturday’s win in Washington to attend to his wife Kendra, who delivered their second child last Friday. But he found his rhythm in the second half, leading the Knicks’ comeback.

The 26-year old forward was unstoppable in the third quarter, unloading 16 of his team’s 30 points.

Randle drilled in three straight three-pointers during a torrid stretch that enabled them to grab the lead. A 10-0 run to end the quarter turned a 56-52 halftime deficit into an 82-77 Knicks lead.

Their defense roared back to life in the second half and forced the Pistons to 38.6 percent shooting.

Matched up against Jerami Grant, the Pistons’ go-to guy that he beat for the Most Improved Player award, Randle flashed his All-Star and All-NBA form, finishing with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists in 34 minutes. Grant led the Pistons with 18 points and four rebounds in 31 minutes. 

“Every game is gearing towards the real thing, so that’s what it’s about,” said Randle, who didn’t mind the big minutes in the preseason, whereas around the league, the starters are either getting rested or playing token minutes.

“Actually, I’m happy we had a game like this where we weren’t shooting well and weren’t in a great rhythm and had to figure it out. So it’s a good test for us mentally to get ready for the season.”

The Pistons gave them everything they got. But no offense to Detroit, this game was supposed to be a walk in Madison Square Park. In their first two preseason games, New York won by an average margin of 19.5 points.

After throwing up 37 and 52 three-point attempts in their first two preseason wins, the Knicks were held down to 33 but still made 13 of them for still a respectable 39.4 percent clip.

Taj Gibson even hit one as he turned back the clock in a vintage performance.

Gibson exploded for 21 points in his third straight start and came one rebound shy of a double-double. When asked where he found the fountain of youth, the 36-year old Brooklyn native answered the question with a real New Yorker sense of humor.

“I guess it’s the New York’s Bodega’s bacon egg and cheese,” said a smiling Gibson referring to the menu staple of the small-owned, operated convenience stores in every corner of New York.

Gibson and his forever teammate Derrick Rose were the only bright spots in the Knicks’ sluggish first half.

Rose, who started for Kemba Walker (rest), scored 12 of his 14 points in the opening half. The former MVP added five assists and two steals in 30 minutes.

Veteran guard Alec Burks was the only New York reserve in double figures with 12 points.

In the second half, Thibodeau yanked rookie Jericho Sims in favor of undrafted Aamir Simms, who is vying for a two-way spot with the team.

Simms made a good account of himself, providing solid interior defense while contributing two points and four rebounds in 12 minutes. Sims, the 58th overall pick, was scoreless in six minutes.

Playing time for the two rookie big men and even Gibson would become scarce once Mitchell Robinson (broken foot) and Nerlens Noel (sore knee) return to the lineup, which could come as early as Friday’s preseason finale.

“At halftime, right before [Thibodeau] walked in, I was telling the young guys [whenever they miss a play] ‘do not look over to the sideline.’ Like if you look at him, it’s going to f–k up your game,” said Rose as the media room burst into laughter. “So do not look at him. Just raise your hand, everybody knows you messed up, you made a mistake, and just keep it going, and gotta give that same effort throughout the entire game.”

“When I was younger, I used to look over to the sideline a lot, and you feel his emotions, which is kinda strange, bro. I thought, ‘wow’ then I just raise my hand,” said Rose cracking a smile, “and put my head down. But even then, he’s a winner. So you can express yourself — how you want to — as a man. You could be vocal with him, yell, but right after that, you got to get right back on track to understand that the goal is to win the game, and that’s something Thibs is great at.”

Rose, who has become immune to Thibodeau’s outbursts, said that it’s just part of his competitive nature. And after each game, it’s like nothing happened, like his long-time coach is suffering from amnesia.

Thibodeau was yelling at his players, challenging calls, coaching them hard in every possession while completely ignoring the scoreboard. Preseason games may not count, but Thibodeau views them as opportunities to get better, which is what truly matters.

Meaningless games in early October is Thibodeau’s final test run before unveiling his refurbished toy, reloaded with new offensive weapons, that he hopes would work and grind its way to perfection and finally outrace the competition.

“We can’t fool ourselves into thinking that we’re ready,” Thibodeau said. “Being honest with ourselves, looking at the film, understanding why we either won or why we’ve lost. And to focus on that improvement is critical each day.”

At the end of his post-game presser, Thibodeau cracked a joke: “I’m just a laidback dude.”

But during the final seconds of an impending victory in a meaningless game that matters to him, Thibodeau was in all his glory with his hands up in the air and his head shaking.

“Are you all surprised? Nothing’s going to change, bro,” Rose said. “If you’re a winner, you can respect that all the way through.”

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Knicks center Mitchell Robinson could return Friday against Wizards

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mitchell robinson, knicks

There’s a good chance that Mitchell Robinson could return as early as Friday in New York Knicks‘ final preseason game.

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said that Robinson is close to being clear for full contact, according to SNY’s Ian Begley.

“Ideally, yes,” Thibodeau told reporters before Wednesday’s game against Detroit when asked if Robinson could play in their final preseason game. “Every day there’s more contact. There’s more to what he’s doing. And then you want to see how he responds the next day.”

Last week, Thibodeau said that Robison was cleared for some contact. But the Knicks have taken a cautious approach to avoid any setback in the 23-year old center’s recovery. Robinson’s physical activity has ramped up in the last week to get him into game shape.

“There’s still the conditioning element of it. And he’s done a lot. He’s come every night. He’s putting a lot of extra work in. So we feel good where he is,” Thibodeau said of Robinson.

It had been more than six months since Robinson underwent successful surgery to repair a broken bone in his right foot.

Meanwhile, Nerlens Noel will miss his third preseason game, but Thibodeau said he’s close to returning from a sore right knee injury. Noel has been a full participant in the Knicks’ practices since their road win in Washington over the weekend.

Noel earlier indicated that it’s more like a hamstring issue than his knee. Kemba Walker was given the night off as the Knicks will play the Pistons that are missing eight players, including top overall pick Cade Cunningham.

Derrick Rose will start in place of Walker.

The Knicks will wrap up their preseason campaign with a rematch against the Wizards on Friday in the Garden before opening their season against Boston Celtics next Wednesday.

Celtics coach Ime Udoka confirmed that Al Horford would be out against the Knicks after testing positive for COVID-19, per ESPN’s Tim Bontemps.

Jaylen Brown also tested positive for COVID-19 earlier, but his status on the opening night is unclear.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Knicks: A new portrait of Tom Thibodeau

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New York Knicks, Tom Thibodeau

There is this long-held portrait of Tom Thibodeau as a draconian and gruff coach who runs his players to the ground.

It’s hard to fault anybody who pictured Thibodeau that way after his messy exits in Chicago and Minnesota.

A Karl Anthony-Towns’ no holds barred interview after Ryan Saunders replaced Thibodeau as the Timberwolves coach in 2019 only exacerbated it.

“We think we have the best coaching staff possibly in the game right now from talent, experience, and just culture standpoint,” Towns told WCCO’s Cory Hepola at that time.

Towns added that he was very happy to introduce their then rookies to a family culture, taking a shot at Thibodeau’s all-basketball-and-nothing-else approach to team building.

“You know, I don’t think the situation before it would’ve been very beneficial for them, and that’s a disrespect and a slap in the face to their development, you know, and I want to make sure that they develop not only as players but as human beings and as men. And, uh, you know, that’s what we’re here to do,” Towns added.

“And in Minnesota, the thing, one of the biggest things where Ryan and with me is like, we have to make sure our culture is not based on just basketball. This is a family atmosphere. Everything we do here in Minnesota has to be able to have a family. A family backing and a family thought process. And building people’s personalities, characters and showing them more of themselves. And you’re more than basketball.”

Fast forward to 2021, and Thibodeau has reinvented himself and was back in the playoffs, ending the New York Knicks‘ eight-year playoff drought during his first year. But unlike his flameout in Minnesota, no drama developed. Only a family atmosphere which Towns craved.

Thibodeau did a soul searching following his ugly ending in Minnesota. In an interview with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, months before he assumed the head coaching post in New York, Thibodeau sounded like he’s changed.

“You learn from your experiences. I think it’s important to ask yourself, what can I do better? You are kind of making a better situation for everybody,” Thibodeau told Wojnarowski.

“We all learn probably more from our mistakes than we do from our successes, and I think that’s part of the equation. And so, I think the biggest thing, as I said, is the league is always changing, and so you want to make sure you’re adapting as well.”

There were trepidations that it was just a mirage. That Thibodeau can’t be the right coach for a young Knicks team. That an old dog can’t learn new tricks. But Thibodeau went into his latest coaching job with an open mind. He embraced analytics. He adapted to the modern style of play, searching for ways to increase three-point opportunities.

But more than the style of play, the change in his approach and management style without sacrificing the long-held beliefs that he dearly valued endeared him to this team. He commanded the total buy-in that he failed to get in Minnesota.  

Derrick Rose blossomed into the youngest MVP in the league a decade ago under Thibodeau’s demanding style. Then he developed into a solid sixth man during their reunion in Minnesota. He found a kindred spirit in Thibodeau.

Rose lived his early years in the fast lane, breathing and eating basketball until injuries changed his perspectives. Now he clocks in the gym and still leaves everything on the court. But once he clocks out, he enjoys his time with his family, especially his kids.

Thibodeau has no family. Basketball has become his wife. His life revolved around basketball. That’s why players who come at night for a shootaround find the lights in Thibodeau’s office still on.

Younger players, who were playing under Thibodeau for the first time, naturally gravitated towards Rose. But even Rose has noticed the not-so-subtle changes in his old coach.

“Yeah [younger players ask me about Thibs], but he throws me off sometimes too,” Rose said with a chuckle. “Like you never know. If anything, I think guys are saying a different side of him this year — seeing him actually crack jokes or like to open up like you know when he doesn’t like you if he’s not talking to you.”

Evan Fournier has extensive experience playing under a demanding coach like Thibodeau. After all, his former coach at Orlando Magic, Steve Clifford, is a good friend of Thibodeau and both coaches came under the coaching tree of Jeff Van Gundy.

“I think he’s exceptional in the work ethic that he installs in practice like the spirit,” Fournier said of Thibodeau. “We’re all tired. We’re all working really hard, but he somehow makes it fun. He knows when to f—k around, joke, smile, and bring a good and positive attitude.”

“And he knows when to be tough, makes sure we go harder, makes sure we understand what he wants from us, and he really demands us to give everything we have on each drill. And when he senses that, you know, not that we’re going through the motion, but we’re not necessarily going after it, that’s when he kind of stops and either asks us to do it again or talks to us and makes sure we go harder.”

Thibodeau has somehow found the balance that was long missing in his coaching.

There was a time when Thibodeau held practices past the traditional two-hour window. Van Gundy once told ESPN’s Ian O’ Connor, now a New York Post columnist, about the longest summer league practice ever. Thibodeau, an assistant coach at that time, was tasked to coach the Knicks Summer League team in the 2000s.

Van Gundy said the practice was scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon, with the second one from 4 to 6 p.m. But Thibs held the first practice until 3:15 p.m. before yelling at players to “Get off your feet. Get some rest. Get something to eat.” Van Gundy was like, “Tom, it’s 3:15. They’ve only got 45 minutes.”

Two decades later, that would make the players revolt against the coach that could lead to dismissal. In an era when the league has become younger and player empowerment has grown so much bigger, Thibodeau has shed his old skin to get buy-in.

“So for him to open up,” Rose said after Friday’s practice. “And just like he ended up practice. We were still supposed to be on the court for like another half an hour or hour. But he cut it short just so that guys can get recovery. Back in the day, he wasn’t doing that. He was trying to maximize all the time that we had on the court because he wanted to win so bad. So it’s great to see him actually like adjusting, learning, and just knowing that it’s just a different league now.”

“The kids in the league now, they’re different. There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s just that basketball is in a different place. You look at the tempo of the game, it’s changed. So guys need that recovery, and you need that energy to go out there and play the way that the game is being played right now.”

During his second sabbatical, Thibodeau visited teams around the league and learned something new from his coaching fraternity. He couldn’t believe when Doc Rivers, the Los Angeles Clippers head coach at that time, was holding practice for their young guys while the older guys were getting treatment and recovery.

“The league never stays the same. It’s always evolving and changing. And you want to make sure you’re keeping up with the times,” Thibodeau said in Wojnarowski’s podcast.

Thibodeau looked in the mirror and had an awakening. He realized his mistakes and vowed to be better when the next coaching opportunity came. And he made good of that promise evolving into a warmer and friendlier coach in his return to New York.

“Him being aware of it, that’s the biggest thing. Like sometimes you know how it is you want something so bad that you overlook the little [things], the nuances of like what got you there. And for him to be aware of it and to be able to catch it like that’s huge. I think it’s huge for the team,” Rose said.

But some things never change. Thibodeau’s trademark maniacal work ethic is still there, which this Knicks team has fully embraced.

Immanuel Quickley is one of the young guys in the team whom Thibodeau said the Knicks player who’s spending the most time in the gym.

“Every time I come here at 9 o clock, 10 o clock, he’s always in his room waving to me. So it’s great to have somebody to have a coach that’s putting just as much as time spending just as much as you. You want somebody that’s dedicated to their craft, who’s going to push the group to be the best as they can be and as individuals to be the best they can be. And that’s a big thing why we appreciate him,” Quickley said after Friday’s practice.

Mellowed by time and softened by experience, the new Tom Thibodeau has managed to push the right buttons to accelerate the Knicks’ timeline. It’s the old school and new age of coaching intersecting in between Seventh and Eighth avenues from 31st to 33rd Street that made Madison Square Garden a basketball paradise again. It has rejuvenated both the franchise and Thibodeau’s career.

“A lot of people think Thibs is crazy, but you know he’s more normal to me coming from coach Cal (John Calipari),” Quickley said, which elicited laughter from reporters. “So you know it’s great to have somebody like I say all the time, that pushes you, challenges you mentally, physically every day to be the best you can be. That’s what you want especially coming in the first year, second-year guys.”

“I think more of the coaches around the league are more you know kind of subtle how they come to the game or maybe like kind of relaxed but coach Thibs is going to push you to the max and that’s what you want.”

Perhaps it’s time to change Thibodeau’s long-held portrait to a liberal and friendlier coach who pushes his players to reach the summit.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

How Derrick Rose is blooming in the Garden of Knicks

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knicks, derrick rose

New York Knicks backup point guard Derrick Rose turned 33 Monday, and he’s blooming in a different way in the Garden that has looked like a basketball paradise for most of last season.

After a tumultuous first stint with the Knicks in 2016, Rose’s game withered, and he was already out of the league until Tom Thibodeau came rushing to resurrect his career in Minnesota in 2018. Thibodeau watered and nurtured his game in a different role. Rose bloomed as a second unit leader of a young Timberwolves team.

Thibodeau brought him in the middle of last season to New York to reprise that role and instantly catapulted the Knicks’ bench into the league’s upper echelon. But his return to New York was initially met with some skepticism as the city has fallen in love with last year’s rookie Immanuel Quickley’s floaters and long bombs.

“People were kind of worried about me coming in stunting Quick’s growth,” Rose said during the NBA media day. “Coming in, I just wanted them to play free and understand that if they get the ball, they don’t have to look for me. I’ll find a way to do my thing while I’m on the floor or try to affect the game in my little way without hurting or stunting someone’s growth.”

So the first thing Rose did was set the record straight with Quickley when he approached him and Obi Toppin on his first team dinner with the team. Rose’s leadership pushed the Knicks rookies to flourish in the second unit, especially Toppin, and raised the team’s ceiling. Quickley’s game did not significantly drop as the naysayers have feared.

Quickley averaged 11.2 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 42 games since the Knicks acquired Rose in February, according to Stat Muse. It was on par with his production in 21 games before the Rose trade: 12.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists.

Per NBA.com tracking data, Rose was second, tied with Nerlens Noel, behind Toppin in the list of Knicks players who passed the ball frequently to Quickley last season. Rose was also second behind Julius Randle when it came to teammates who assisted the rookie guard with his shots.

While Rose tried to blend in, for the most part, he rose to the occasion in the playoffs when Elfrid Payton was unplayable, when Randle was shackled, and when Quickley’s game shrunk in the big stage.

When the Knicks needed a leader, the former MVP took over. Rose was the Knicks’ best player on the floor in their return to the NBA playoffs.

After Thibodeau handed him the keys to the Knicks backcourt during the playoffs — where he pushed himself and stamped his class — that was pivotal in avoiding an embarrassing sweep to the young but bold Atlanta Hawks, Rose said he’s ready to return to his old role.

Once the Knicks’ weakest link, the point guard rotation instantly becomes one of their strongest suits after Rose re-signed for another three years and former four-time All-Star Kemba Walker arrived in a relatively cheap two-year deal this summer.

Rose is handing the backcourt keys over to a newcomer but a player who’s earned his respect, a proud son of New York who was raised under the bright lights of the city’s playgrounds and the Garden.

Rose ended the debate on the Knicks’ starting point guard right on the first day of training camp. Walker appreciated the gesture.

“For me, I’ve always been a huge D Rose fan regardless if I’m starting or not starting. Whatever, like it, doesn’t even matter. I just want to win. And to have a guy like him — a former MVP, a guy who’s been through it all — to be on the same team with him is really special for me,” Walker said.

“D Rose is one of the biggest reasons why I came here, and I wanted to be around him. I wanted to get a chance to see how he prepares himself every day. You know, just really to the chance to pick his brain as best as I can.”

Walker hopes to learn from Rose how he took care of his body following long bouts with knee issues that almost ended his career prematurely.

Rose and Walker are of the same breed of dynamic point guards, yet they operate from the point of attack in contrasting styles. Miles McBride, the defensive-minded point guard out of West Virginia, is trying to pick up each of their strengths and roll it into one.

“[They are helping me by] Just reading the game. In college, I didn’t run as many pick-and-roll (plays), so I’m trying to learn that. Their pace coming off [the point of attack] is a lot different. Obviously, Derrick is a lot more explosive than Kemba. Kemba likes to use angles a lot more. So just learning kind of two different and trying to mash it into one,” McBride said.

Quickley had an extensive dry run as a point guard in the NBA Summer League, an insurance policy if ever Rose’s 33-year old body and Walker’s 31-year old knees break down during the course of a long season that is returning to its regular 82-game schedule.

Like McBride, Quickley is enthusiastic about continuing learning from Rose and soaks in Walker’s wisdom and experience.

“Two veteran guys. Two people that I can learn from competing with and just really pick their brains. All-Star, MVP, talking about high-caliber [players] that have been at the top of the league, still at the top of the league. So just in terms of play, how to be a pro, I feel like I can learn a lot from those two,” Quickley said during the NBA media day.

Thibodeau’s gift is his ability to create a team of leaders. It’s a staple of Thibodeau wherever he goes.

Thibodeau produced the league’s youngest MVP in Rose, a Defensive Player of the Year in Joakim Noah, a perennial All-Star in Butler, a two-time All-Star in Luol Deng, and several veteran leaders like Taj Gibson. Karl-Anthony Towns became an All-Star despite the reports that he resented Thibodeau’s hard coaching. Even Zach LaVine, who only played one season for Thibodeau in Minnesota, credited him for his development as one of the rising stars in the league. Last season, Randle became a first-time All-Star.

Thibodeau accelerated the Timberwolves timeline and ended a 13-year playoff drought with the leadership of his trusted veterans (Jimmy Butler, Rose, and Gibson).

He recreated that last year with Rose and Gibson lending experience to a Knicks young core that broke an eight-year playoff spell. This year won’t be any different.

Thibodeau had this knack of extending his coaching ropes to the young players through the veterans.

“The two guys have really been Kemba and D-Rose,” Grimes said. “They both helped me for sure just going in drills, telling me what to expect, competing every day in training camp, how it’s going to be during the season, just little things to do recovery-wise. Just having two big-time veterans like that, it’s going to be really good for my development for sure.”

Rose had gone a long way with Thibodeau. Throughout his time with him from Chicago to Minnesota and now New York, Rose grew from a timid dynamic scorer and playmaker to a vocal leader. Going into his first full season with the Knicks in his second go-round, the 33-year old veteran guard wanted to grow more in a leadership role.

“Just being a vet, being vocal, I would say, that’s the key point,” Rose said of his role. “Making sure that I’m steady talking and growing as a leader on the team, being the OG. Being honest with everyone that’s on the team.”

“That’s building a relationship with everybody. Just making sure I have a personal relationship with them, so I can be honest whenever I approach them about certain things on the floor or whatever I see.”

Rose is content and comfortable with his role over a decade since becoming the league’s youngest MVP at 22.

John Calipari relayed a story during their time in Memphis back in February that encapsulated Rose’s selflessness.

”[Derrick] would never take a picture unless his teammates were with him. He didn’t want the stuff by himself,” Calipari told Empire Sports Media when the Knicks re-acquired Rose.

Thibodeau continues to experience that humility to this day.

“For the guys that have been around him, and you guys will get to know him better as we go along here, he’s always been that way,” Thibodeau said last week.

“He was totally selfless and happy for his teammates. His teammates have always loved him. He’s always cared about them, and so he’s always been a team-first guy. He’ll do whatever you ask of him, and that’s what makes him special.”

The Knicks will have two of the most selfless leaders at the backcourt next season. The hope is Thibodeau can lean on Rose and Walker when the lights are at their brightest toward next summer.

Rose has the opportunity this season to join Bill Walton as the only NBA player to transform into a Sixth Man of the Year after becoming the league’s MVP. But that will only come as a bonus, not the goal.

“The team and winning have always been first for [Derrick]. Kemba is that type of guy too. I think his teammates will love playing with him,” Rose said. “Derrick has always been happy for his teammates when they’ve done well as he is for himself. So if someone has a big game, he’s the first guy to congratulate him, and he understands how important that is.”

”A truly great player not only brings the best out of himself, but he also brings the best out of the group, and Derrick has always been that guy.”

Rose reinvented his game to stay afloat in the league that has evolved dramatically since his 2011 MVP run. But at the core of his transformative journey is being true to himself and avoiding the pitfalls of becoming full of himself.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Knicks News: Julius Randle is a man of the people, Derrick Rose’s presence is enough to attract stars

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new york knicks, julius randle

One of the more impressive accomplishments the New York Knicks have enjoyed the past two years is the building of a culture on the backs of great people. The first step in changing the course of the franchise was to alter their trajectory in the locker room regarding mentality and discipline.

Head coach Tom Thibodeau has done a phenomenal job implementing his style, which focuses on strict defense and practicing at 100%. He has no worries running a player into the ground with significant minutes, which some have questioned in the past, but ultimately brings out the best in those who embrace it.

The one player that saw his talents take a jump to the next level is now All-Star power forward Julius Randle, who signed a lucrative four-year extension this off-season to stick with the Knicks. When the extension kicks in after the 2021-22 season, Randle will earn about $30 million per year. The contract lands at $117 million, making him a free agent in 2026. The deal includes a player option during the 2025-26 campaign and a 15% trade bonus if the Knicks elect to part ways prematurely.

Interestingly, the two sides agreed on a deal well before the season began, electing to capitalize on his performance from last season instead of betting on himself and seeking a contract even more impressive in stature (Dennis Schroder set the stage for that mistake). The Knicks felt confident executing this contract mainly because of how Randle has reinvented himself, becoming a leader and face of the franchise.

Julius is not only a ferocious player on the court, but he’s a man of the people off the screen. He spent his day off reading to children at his son’s school, setting an example for players on the team.

The culture the Knicks have built revolves around discipline and respect for one another. New acquisition Kemba Walker already indicated one of the main reasons he joined the team was because of Derrick Rose’s presence within the roster. Rose alone is capable of attracting big names, given his experience and wisdom at the point guard position.

Rose has already submitted the starting job to Walker, indicating he will help the team in any way he can, whether it be with the starting team or the reserves. With so many mentors to help curate a learning environment for the younger players like RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin, Quentin Grimes, and Miles McBride, the sky is the limit for this team. If they can remain positive and motivated, they might even be able to push beyond the first round of the postseason this upcoming year, which would really set the stage for a franchise that is headed toward a renaissance.

Knicks’ Kemba Walker raves about togetherness of team and winning mentality

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immanuel quickley, rj barrett, new york knicks

The New York Knicks are on the right path toward becoming a more prominent team in the NBA after years of struggling. The 2020-21 season represented a shift in culture and mentality, aiding in the acquisition of several big names this off-season, including Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker.

Walker has expressed his excitement about joining the Knicks, his hometown club, after being raised in the Bronx. Walker has spent the last few seasons with the Charlotte Hornets and Boston Celtics, eventually being bought out and finding his way back to New York.

Walker’s new team has welcomed him with open arms, and the veteran point guard has reciprocated his excitement. He’s noticed how his new teammates are focused on developing and establishing a winning mine said before the season begins.

“It’s been fun. Guys work hard. And these guys are really together … For the most part, the things that I’ve noticed is how guys pick each other up in practice.”

They say practice makes perfect, and the Knicks undoubtedly take that to another level with their intensity. All-Star power forward Julius Randle mentioned several days ago how the team has been scrimmaging before training camp began — exerting maximum effort to prepare themselves for a grueling 82 game season.

Walker raved about the emotions and feelings of being with the Knicks back in the city:

“Every team gives you sweatsuits and bags. My New York sweatsuit just hit a little bit different. I just feel like me being from here — like, I’m really, really from here. Born and raised in the Bronx, you know? So, it’s definitely just a little bit more special.”

Some of the younger players on the team are looking forward to working with Kemba and fellow veteran Derrick Rose. Rookie Quentin Grimes is ecstatic he will have two of the league’s most famous players at his fingertips to learn from and follow.

“Having two big-time veterans like that is going to be really big for my development”

Head coach Tom Thibodeau has done a great job bringing in talented players who can also act as mentors and leaders for the younger guys on the team.

Knicks: Tom Thibodeau explains why Kemba Walker will start over Derrick Rose

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knicks, kemba walker

On Wednesday, New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau confirmed that Kemba Walker would be the opening night starter.

Derrick Rose, an early Sixth Man of the Year favorite, will reprise his role as the second unit leader, giving the Knicks a solid point guard rotation they lacked last season.

“Pretty much [Kemba Walker will start]. I had an idea going in what we wanted to look at,” Thibodeau said on the second day of the training camp. “The one thing I feel very strongly about is that our second unit played very well together last year. So I want them to stay intact.”

“But that doesn’t mean it will stay that way. A lot of these guys are interchangeable. So yeah, they’re gonna play with both groups. And I’ve never really been concerned with who starts as much as I am with who finishes. So the guys who give us the best chance to win will gonna finish.”

The Knicks front office, led by team president Leon Rose, had assembled arguably the deepest roster that Thibodeau will handle since 2011 when he coached the MVP Rose-led Chicago Bulls to a 62-20 record on their way to the Eastern Conference Finals. That team featured a starting lineup consists of Rose, Keith Bogans, and Luol Deng as the constants while Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah, Kurt Thomas, and Taj Gibson rotated in the starting frontline with CJ Watson, Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer, and Omer Asik coming off the bench.

Looking at this year’s Knicks depth chart, they resemble that depth or arguably even better in terms of a combination of talent, veteran leadership, and depth. This Knicks team is two to even three-deep in each position.

One of the Knicks’ strengths last season was their bench depth. The Rose trade proved to be a masterstroke that swung their playoff chances to their favor. The Knicks went 24-11 with Rose in the lineup.

Their bench scoring jumped from 23rd (33.9 points) to fifth in the league (39.7 points), per NBA stats tracking data, since acquiring Rose from Detroit in February.

According to Cleaning the Glass, the lineup of Rose, Quickley, Burks, Toppin, and Noel had a plus differential of +6.3 on a total of 78 possessions which ranked in the 85th percentile. That quickly jumped to +17.9 on a total of 252 possessions, ranked in the 99th percentile, when you swapped Noel with Gibson. A small sample of that second unit with Robinson in the middle had the biggest plus differential of +20.0 on 10 possessions, ranking in the 100th percentile.

Last season, there were times when the Knicks bench outplayed the starting lineup, which relied heavily on Randle. The addition of Walker and Fournier is expected to balance out a starting unit that was lacking in shot creation.

With Rose leading the way in the second unit and Quickley and Toppin expected to make a leap in their second year, Thibodeau hopes that continuity will lead to more productivity.

Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo

Knicks’ Derrick Rose details who will be the starting point guard to open the season

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New York Knicks, NYK

The New York Knicks have decided who their starting point guard will be, according to Derrick Rose, who signed a three-year, $43.5 million extension this off-season. Rose indicated that newly acquired point guard Kemba Walker would be the starter to open the year, but the veteran will do whatever it takes to contribute and help the team win games.

“He’s starting,” Rose said to reporters on Monday. “He’s starting and I’m doing whatever it takes to change the game. I’m not worried about minutes, playing time or anything like that. I know Thibs is going to handle that.”

Walker signed a two-year, $17.9 million deal with the Knicks this off-season after a buyout with the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder. Last season, Walker played in just 43 games with a knee injury that has continuously bothered him over the past few seasons.
Walker, who is making his return to MSG after spending the last 10 seasons in Charlotte and Boston, averaged 19.3 points, 4.9 assists, and shot 42% from the field last year. Curating a balancing act between Walker and Rose is likely for head coach Tom Thibodeau, who will try to mitigate fatigue for both players.

The Knicks have a great plan in place at one of their most important positions:

Ultimately, if the team can maintain their health, they will have a fantastic duo at the PG position, just one year after featuring Elfred Payton as the primary starter to open the season. Rose can be a solid contributor off the bench at nearly 33-years-old, as he contributed 14.9 points, 4.2 assists, and shot 48.7% from the field last season over 35 games. Running the second-team offense will give Rose more youth to work around, but don’t be surprised to see him featuring with Julius Randle and RJ Barrett on the floor frequently.
After Rose coined Kemba as the starter, the new acquisition was taken aback by his comments. Walker explained how big a fan he is of Derrick and how winning is the primary goal this upcoming season, whether he’s starting or not.
“I mean, I wouldn’t know about that. I don’t know yet, but that’s pretty cool,” Walker said. “For me, I’ve always been a huge D Rose fan. Regardless, starting, not starting, whatever, it doesn’t even matter. I just want to win. To have a guy like him, a former MVP, a guy who’s been through it all. To be on the same team as him is really special for me.
Kemba also explains how Rose is one of the biggest reasons he elected to come to New York, making the veteran point guards extension that much more important.
“D Rose is one of the biggest reasons I came here. I wanted to be around him, wanted to get a chance to see how he prepares himself every day. Just really get a chance to pick his brain as best as I can while I’m here.”

Grading the Knicks’ NBA 2K22 Ratings: Are they accurate?

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knicks

With the release of NBA 2K22 last Friday, we finally have our first look at the 2021-22 New York Knicks roster in 2K. This also means that Miles McBride and Quentin Grimes are playable for the first time ever. Let’s dive into these ratings and see if 2K got it right.

The Ratings

Julius Randle, 87

Can’t really complain about this one. Coming off the best season of his career where he won Most Improved Player(MIP), Randle has earned his place among the top ratings in the Eastern Conference. He should probably be at an 88 or an 89, but his performance in last year’s playoffs definitely played a factor in this year’s rating.

Grade: B

RJ Barrett, 83

This one was really surprising. Not because of how he isn’t higher, but because 2K finally decided to show RJ some respect. 83 is honestly a really great jumping-off point this upcoming season for the 21-year-old. The rating isn’t too low or too high, it’s perfect.

Grade: A

Kemba Walker, 83

Unsurprisingly, this is the lowest rating Walker has had since NBA 2K16. The 5-time All-Star had one of the worst seasons of his career last year and looks to bounce back on his hometown team. His dynamic scoring and playmaking abilities could transform the Knicks’ offense, leading to a ratings boost down the line. However, whether it be from his knee issues or just a regression of his skills, there is also a chance 83 isn’t the lowest we see his rating throughout the year.

Grade: A-

Derrick Rose, 83

After a terrific playoff series against the Hawks last season, D-Rose earned this 83 rating. Although he’s tied for the 2nd highest rating on the team, the former MVP will be coming off the bench this season. Look for him to make a real run at 6th Man of the Year and for this rating to stay pretty much the same all season.

Grade: A

Mitchell Robinson, 80

There’s no question about it: When the 7’0 Robinson is healthy, there are not many other players in the league who can match his level of athleticism and energy. However, he’s coming off multiple injuries, the latter of which saw him miss the final 26 games of the regular season, including the series against the Hawks. If he’s able to stay healthy, there’s little-to-no chance that this rating stays the same. For now, it does make sense after not playing half of last season.

Grade: B+

Evan Fournier, 79

This is the first one that’s way off. 2k has had a tendency in the past to underrate guards/wings that can score in a multitude of ways. Any guard they perceive to not be able to defend well and not have playmaking abilities will have a hard time getting a rating over 80, especially if they play for the Knicks. This one just doesn’t make sense, though. It could be due to the fact that the devs may have been taking his stats with Boston into account too much. Before his trade to the Celtics, Fournier was putting up almost 20 PPG in only 30 minutes per game. Fournier is at least an 82, maybe even an 83. The intangibles he brings on offense, including his shooting and finishing skills, are better than any other 79 in the game. This rating isn’t accurate at all.

Grade: F

Immanuel Quickley, 78

As one of the biggest steals in the 2020 NBA Draft, Quickley improved his rating from a 71 last year all the way up to a 79 by the end of the year. This is why this rating doesn’t really do it for me. To drop down a point after an entire offseason doesn’t make much sense. We’ll see how it unfolds for the second year from Kentucky, but there’s little doubt that he improves enough to get this rating over 80 by the playoffs.

Side note, Quickley is REALLY good at NBA2K.

Grade: C

Nerlens Noel, 78

As the defensive anchor of the Knicks throughout the final stretch of last season that culminated in the team making the playoffs for the first time in 8 years, Noel proved that he wasn’t your average backup center. Defensively, Noel is an incredibly reliable option off the bench. However, his offensive woes will always hamper any rating he’ll ever get from 2K.

Grade: A-

Obi Toppin, 76

If it weren’t for the competency and confidence shown by Obi Toppin at the end of the season last year, there’s a chance he’s nowhere near the 76 that he finds himself right now. The potential is clearly there, but will he find the ability to become more offensively dynamic? Only time will tell. But until we see him take a big leap, the rating he currently holds will stay the same.

The Rest:

Taj Gibson, 76

Kevin Knox, 72

Quentin Grimes, 71

Luca Vildoza, 71

Dwayne Bacon, 71

Miles McBride, 70

Overall, the Knicks have a team rating of 83, which is the highest rating they’ve had since NBA 2K14.