New York Knicks point guard Derrick Rose gave an interview to Slam Magazine on the state of the team, his individual play, and of course Russ.
Derrick Rose has gotten off to an up-and-down start with the New York Knicks (9-9). The expectations were cautiously high because while he’s injury prone Rose is by far the Knicks best point guard in over a decade.
Rose has remained healthy and started all 18 games, averaging 32.1 minutes, 16.4 points, and 4.8 assists, on .437 shooting. The Knicks have plenty of problems, but Rose isn’t near the top of the list.
The former MVP gave an interview to SLAM Magazine where he talked about how the season has gone so far, his future in New York, the Thibs reunion, etc.
When asked if the Knicks recent success (a 6-4 record in their last 10 games after a miserable 3-5 start) means that the mostly new roster is developing chemistry Rose said that his squad still needs time develop together, including him.
It’s taking time, man. Everyone is getting comfortable with each other and figure out a new system without making things hard for each other on the floor. Of course, I can’t play the same way I played in Chicago with this team, like coming out and firing right away. I’ll look dumb shooting all those shots I shot in Chicago with this team and with the talent we have with this team. It’s about being patient, taking our time and letting it all click. At some point in the season, I know I’ll be able to play the way I normally know how to play. First we gotta learn how to win.
The interviewer asked Rose about his now famous comments about “Vintage Rose” being gone and him seemingly being content with that. That’s when Rose dropped the most memorable line of the interview.
I can still hoop, man. There’s a time and place for all that. Me coming out and being aggressive, Coach wanted me to play like that and he wanted me to matchup with Westbrook. Then there’s a game like last night in Minnesota where I only shot 12 times and we still won the game.
Finding out how we’re going to win games, we got 10 new people on the team—it’s not like they had a foundation here and we came right into it. We’re building the culture. We’re building the foundation now. I’m under a one-year contract so of course I want to play the rest of my life here. But it takes time, it takes patience to figure out how every one is going to fit, if it is going to fit and going from there.
“I want to play the rest of my life here.”
To Rose, that may have just been an off-hand comment, but in print, it looks like it means something. He has a lot to prove on this one-year deal, and after playing the majority of his career in a big market (Chicago), he’d like to continue in another.
Rose was asked about his aggressiveness on drives and his ability to shy away from contact. He spoke about the improvements he’s making to add to his offense for the later part of the season.
Yeah, that and putting different parts in my game to attack without thinking. The last three years I had injuries and when you’re on the floor after you have injuries, you’re thinking on the floor instead of reacting. Right now I’m attacking the rim. Second part of the season I’m going to have my jump shot. Third part of the season and the playoffs I’m going to have the trey ball. I’m working on pieces of my game so I’m improving and helping the team along the way.
It’s good that Rose is putting in the work. Currently, the point guard is just .267 from three-point range and .333 on two-point attempts greater than 16 feet from the rim.
According to Basketball-Reference.com, his average shot distance is 9.2 feet from the rim (a career-low) signifying he’s shying away from jump shots.
And last but not least, Rose talked about Wednesday’s big reunion with former head coach Tom Thibodeau.
Yeah, I talked to him a little bit. I think things are going to work out well. Thibs, he’s got a young group over there. I think we both have room and space for opportunity. We both work so hard at our craft and what we do that nothing but good is going to come from it. I think we’re good people and we obsess for greatness. I think he wants success and when you have that and good people around you, I think you find your way to success.
Rose and the Knicks square off with Thibodeau’s Minnesota Timberwolves again Friday night at Madison Square Garden.
