Knicks guard Derrick Rose downplayed the ankle injury he suffered during the team’s preseason win over Washington on Saturday, as relayed by Marc Berman of the New York Post. Rose was dealing with the injury throughout the fourth quarter and left for the locker room with one minute remaining.
“It’s nothing serious at all, but if I kept playing I probably would’ve made it worse,’’ Rose said. “I think I probably did it myself. It’s the second game — all this is new, moving around, Thibs training camps are different. I just have to take my time. I’m getting older. I tweaked it but didn’t twist it all the way. Thibs understood [when I took myself out].’’
Rose is expected to serve as the team’s backup point guard behind Kemba Walker this season. He played a key role in the team’s success last season, averaging 14.9 points, 4.2 assists and 26.8 minutes per game in 35 contests.
There’s more from the Eastern Conference tonight:
- Caleb Martin and Cody Martin are set to collide when the Heat play the Hornets on Monday, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel notes. The Martin twins spent the first two seasons of their careers with Charlotte, but Caleb inked a two-way deal with Miami last month.
- Bulls guard Lonzo Ball has been the team’s best shooter so far this preseason, Sam Smith of NBA.com writes. Ball shot 7-of-11 (63%) from three-point range in his first two contests, something that could become an important development due to Chicago’s roster. Alongside teammates such as Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic, Ball may find himself playing more off the ball than usual this season.
- Sixers guard Shake Milton sustained an ankle injury when he stepped on Andre Drummond‘s foot today, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes. According to Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice (Twitter link), Milton suffered a sprained ankle and will undergo further testing. He’ll miss tomorrow’s game against Brooklyn.
Read a story about Kemba in Boston. Saying he was always a lead guard. Who ran offense was primary ball handler. And in Boston with them really sharing playmaking duties. He never really fit in. Also the injuries didn’t help. Think there is truth to that. Cause on Knicks we need a lead guard to run offense. Initiate it and play off it. He can be more himself in NY. Therefore a better fit. I tend to believe this. We need a leader at PG. He can be the initiator on a Knicks team. And be more a dominant play maker. Like he was in Charlotte. Walker and Fournier Bring plenty offense. To a team that sorely needed it. I’m liking what I see so far. Buckets have been a lot easier to get so far. Our bench also provides offense. Toppin and Quickley have looked great. Our depth will be a strength this yr. Funny to watch Thibs. He’s just never happy on sidelines. It’s shaping up to be a good year. NYK
Lonzo should go for 10 ast a gm. And second team All Defense. He does that. Bulls will have a good year.
Would Lonzo have played for the same salary in NOLA? I don’t recall the read on that, just that the deal went down fast.
Thibs manages last year 1st unit backcourt (Rose, Burks..Quickley) as this year 2nd unit… Didn’t see a lot of mix of everybody till then and What the closing 5 could be