New York Knicks: Cleveland Loss Proves Derrick Rose Is The X-Factor
The New York Knicks’ loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers further established what’s been true throughout the 2016-17 season: Derrick Rose is the X-Factor.
Nov 2, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks point guard Derrick Rose (25) talks with New York Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The defending NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers have handed the New York Knicks their two worst losses of the 2016-17 NBA regular season. The first was forgivable, as New York was playing its first game with its new starting lineup—on the road in the season opener, no less.
The second time around, however, the Knicks were blown out at Madison Square Garden—a learning experience that proved how valuable Derrick Rose is to New York’s season.
Rose missed Wednesday’s game against Cleveland after suffering a back injury on Tuesday against the Miami Heat. He missed the final 18 minutes of game time against the Heat with back spasms.
The fact that the Knicks had to come home for the second night of a back-to-back and play the defending NBA champions certainly didn’t help his availability.
Rose’s MRI came back negative for structural damage, which implies he should be able to return after a reasonable amount of R&R. The Knicks need him to be healthy and available once his back issue clears up, as he could be the difference between the postseason and the draft lottery.
The question is: what exactly is it that makes Rose so valuable to the 12-10 Knicks?
Nov 30, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose (25) dribbles past Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) during the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
5. The Third Option
There’s a reason why teams have bought into the theory that contenders need a Big Three. The salary cap prevents most teams from adding more than three stars, yes, but the benefit is that, if one star goes cold, there are still two to pick up the slack.
In the case of the New York Knicks, Rose is the bridge between Carmelo Anthony, Kristaps Porzingis, and a roster that’s flush with players who aren’t yet reliable for 20 points in a pinch.
Rose is currently averaging 16.7 points per game on 45.0 percent shooting from the field. Those numbers have jumped to 18.8 points per game on 45.8 percent shooting over his past 10 appearances.
Much bigger than the season averages, however, is the fact that Rose has been the opportunistic scorer who has kept the offense flowing at a steady pace.
Anthony and Porzingis are both good for 20-plus points per game, but every player has the occasional poor performance. The key to a team being able to overcome however, is to have a third player who can complement one of the two stars who’s still scoring at a high rate.
With Rose, the Knicks not only have a player who can be that type of complement, but a player who can take over a game entirely.
Oct 4, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose (25) looks to pass the ball during a game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
4. Facilitating
The New York Knicks have one of the better facilitators in the NBA in backup point guard Brandon Jennings. When just one player is relied upon to create ball movement, however, teams tend to fall apart over time.
Even with Joakim Noah in the mix, the Knicks need Rose for his uncanny ability to collapse a defense and find the open man.
Rose is averaging 4.8 assists per game, which isn’t an elite mark by any stretch of the imagination. He’s becoming a more willing passer as the season progresses, however, and is beginning to better recognize his available options.
Rose is playing this season in stages—getting comfortable with his body, finding his midrange shot, and so forth—and distributing will fit into the equation.
Rose and Jennings are currently combining to create 24.1 points per game via assists. That may or may not be the number Jeff Hornacek is aiming for, but both players are creating upwards of 12.0 points per game and no other Knick is averaging more than 6.6.
Whether it shows up in the assists column or not, Rose is critical to the Knicks’ ability to keep the ball in motion.
Nov 25, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose (25) drives to the net during the third quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at Madison Square Garden. New York Knicks won 113-111. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
3. Transition Offense
The New York Knicks did an atrocious job of getting out in transition for quick and efficient buckets in 2015-16. Jeff Hornacek is pushing the pace in 2016-17, and Brandon Jennings undoubtedly helps, but it’s Rose who’s the key to getting that extra boost.
After all of the injuries he’s endured and overcome, Rose is still a one-man fast break who simply cannot be stopped when he gains a full head of steam.
The Knicks are currently No. 25 in the NBA with an average of just 10.0 fast break points per game. That makes Rose’s uncanny ability to pick up the speed and go from coast-to-coast all the more important to team success.
Rose may not do that as consistently as a Russell Westbrook or a John Wall, but he tends to pull out that impressive trick when the Knicks’ offense goes cold.
When Rose picks up the pace, opposing defenses focuses entirely on him. He can still beat a vast majority of NBA players in a foot race and has the power and finishing ability to complement that speed.
Rose’s ability to be a one-man fast break is nothing short of invaluable to a Knicks team that otherwise struggles to get out in front of the defense.
Nov 26, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose (25) and guard Brandon Jennings (3) react to a call after Rose is charged with a foul during the second half of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center. Hornets win 107-102. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
2. Making The Depth Count
The key to a team possessing depth is having the first line of players available and ready to play. Depth becomes lost when the starters go down and the players who thrive in their defined roles are forced to play bigger and broader minutes.
Brandon Jennings proved capable of handling the workload of a starter, but the harsh reality for the New York Knicks is that there isn’t a third point guard on the roster.
Together, Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings give the Knicks two point guards who can create for themselves and others. With one sidelined, however, New York faces the harsh reality that there isn’t a third point guard to back the sidelined player up.
That alone is reason to believe that Rose is of immeasurable value to the Knicks, as they suddenly go from he and Jennings to Jennings and shooting guard Sasha Vujacic.
Furthermore, the Knicks have a team that consists of excellent passers. The likes of Carmelo Anthony, Willy Hernangomez, Justin Holiday, Courtney Lee, Joakim Noah, Kyle O’Quinn, Kristaps Porzingis, and Vujacic can all create for others.
The key to their being able to create those shots, however, is the the space they receive via Rose and Jennings collectively doing so over the course of a full game.
Nov 25, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose (25) drives through Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) during the third quarter at Madison Square Garden. New York Knicks won 113-111. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
1. Creating Penetration
The New York Knicks learned in 2015-16 just how ineffective an offense can be without the ability to create penetration. Even the best shooting teams in the NBA need at least one player who can consistently get to the rim.
For as strong as the Knicks have looked in 2016-17, the 126-94 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers was a clear display of how lost the offense is without Derrick Rose.
As a team, the Knicks average 21.4 drives per game—No. 29 in the NBA—and 15.1 points via drives per game—No. 24 in the NBA. As an individual, Rose averages 9.8 drives per game—No. 14 in the NBA—and 7.7 points via drives per game—No. 8 in the NBA.
In other words, Rose accounts for 45.8 percent of the Knicks’ drives and 51.0 percent of their points via drives on a per game basis.
The numbers aren’t lying here; Rose is creating more than half of the Knicks’ team offense via penetration. That doesn’t even account for the fact that Rose is averaging roughly an assist per game via drives, which adds even more points to his tally.
Though it’s often the other way around, the statistics prove what the game film shows: Rose is the only member of the Knicks who can consistently create penetration.
The loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers may have stung, but all it really did in the long-run was prove how valuable Derrick Rose is to the New York Knicks.
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