New York Knicks: Derrick Rose Taking Resurgence Step By Step
Derrick Rose is focused on making consistent improvements. Find out how the New York Knicks’ starting point guard envisions the 2016-17 season playing out.
The New York Knicks play before a fan base that’s desperate for a winner. No Knicks team has won an NBA championship since 1973, made the NBA Finals since 1999, or reached the Eastern Conference Finals since 2000.
If ever there were a time to display patience, however, it’d be the 2016-17 NBA regular season.
The Knicks have 10 new players, three new starters, a new sixth man, and a new head coach. One could argue that the most important new addition has been point guard Derrick Rose, who’s progressively improving.
According to Peter Walsh of SLAM Online, Rose outlined his vision for his individual progression in 2016-17.
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.
Given everything Rose’s knees have been through, this is a rather stunning turn of events.
Rose is driving to the basket with as much consistency and efficiency as any player in the NBA. He’s No. 11 in the NBA in drives per game amongst players who have appeared in at least 10 games, and No. 6 in points via drives per game.
That checks the box of Rose’s first step: trusting his body and attacking the basket by reacting instead of overthinking.
That video is a prime example of just how dynamic Rose still is.
The second step will be to improve his jump shot, which Rose previously stated as a goal of his during a recent interview. He’s worked his midrange game to near perfection in the clutch, but has struggled on a possession-by-possession basis.
If Rose can become a more reliable threat from beyond the arc by the playoffs, then he’d be the perfect point guard for Jeff Hornacek’s offense.
With an average of 17.3 points per game over his past 10 appearances, Rose is already beginning to look the part.
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