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Tim BontempsESPN
Derrick Rose said that when he decided he wanted to leave the Detroit Pistons, the only choice in his mind was to reunite with former coach Tom Thibodeau and executive William Wesley with the New York Knicks.
“Of course,” Rose said after scoring 14 points in 20 minutes in her debut Tuesday night, a 98-96 loss to Miami against the Heat. “Even though I couldn’t say that at the time, I just wanted to feel comfortable. Like I said, I’ve known these guys since high school, 8th grade, high school, so coming here, like I said, is family. I never really thought about anything other than getting here and understanding that they wanted me to help raise the young people they have already got here. “
Rose, whom the Knicks officially bought Monday in exchange for goalie Dennis Smith Jr. and Charlotte’s 2021 second-round pick, has played well in his first franchise game since leaving as a free agent at the end of the 2015-16 season. Rose left the field 5-for-9, including 2-for-3 from the 3-point range, to go with three assists and two running figures in 20:20 during court.
These minutes came exclusively with the Knicks debut guard, Immanuel Quickley, with whom Thibodeau associated Rose on the field. Thibodeau said after the game that he liked the look the pair put on together and indicated that it would be New York’s secondary ground in the future. He added that the player Rose in rotation, Austin Rivers, will now be a “situational” player.
“I think you see it often when you have several protection points on the floor, it gives you another ball manipulator, a secondary ball manipulator and you can probably include Alec (Burks) there as well,” Thibodeau said. “So he offers us three guys who can get out of dribbling and all three are very efficient in their choices. Their versatility allows them to blend in with both groups. So I think we’ll see some of that as we move forward as well. “
For Rose, this marks the third time in her career when she played under Thibodeau, her coach in Chicago from 2010 to 2015 and then again as part of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. When asked what makes them connect, Rose laughed and said he and his coach were a “weird couple” before talking about their shared love for the game.
“The synergy we have, I can’t explain,” Rose said. “We are a strange couple, but for some reason, we understand the game. And the closest thing I can probably say is that we are students of the game. We watch the game. We try to understand the game more and try to improve if not in every day, every week, every month, every two months, every year. There is always room for improvement and it is for the betterment of the team. Wherever I go, wherever he goes, we always try to win. “
After the transaction, there was some concern among Knicks fans that Rose would eat in the minutes when Quickley, the 25th pick in the November NBA draft, would play.
Quickley, who entered Tuesday’s game averaging 12 points as a rookie and shot 36.3% of the 3-point gap, was impressive in his rookie season. He showed flashes of the game to one of his idols, veteran goalkeeper Lou Williams, in terms of being a solid 3-point shooter who is also adept at making mistakes and hitting floats on the tape.
However, if Tuesday’s game was a clue, Quickley’s turning point is sure to move forward. And, in turn, Rose was effusive in praising the beginner. Since trading, he has said several times that he is excited to play with Quickley.
“It shouldn’t be too hard [playing] with him, “Rose said.” We are similar. It becomes a double team in the beginner’s year. Not too many beginners get that kind of attention. For him to see this type of early, it will only improve his game. The game will slow down more. And he listens. This is the greatest thing about him: He listens. With that, you always have room for improvement.
“It’s a dog. It’s a dog. I can’t explain it. You have to be a player to understand it. [If] we’re in a fight, I know he’s fighting. “
Eventually, however, Rose’s debut was marred by a late comeback from the Heat, who swept this series home and home with the Knicks pulling the same trick – escaping with a win due to better stretching – both on Sunday in New York and Tuesday night in Orlando.
After Jimmy Butler, who led Miami with 26 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists, missed 1 of 2 free throws with 6.2 seconds left, the Knicks looked good at equalizing, while the second-year goalie RJ Barrett caught the ball at the top of the key with Butler defending it and attacked the rim with his dominant left hand.
But Barrett’s attempt to score came out of front, and the Knicks fell for the seventh time in 10 games after a promising start to the season. They are level with the Heat in ninth place in the east and are only one game ahead of the Orlando Magic in 13th place.
“I looked really good,” said Barrett, who had 13 points and six rebounds but shot just 5 for 14 from the field. “The drawing is going to my strong hand … I have to finish them.”