Veteran point guard Derrick Rose recently told reporters that as long as the Knicks keep winning, he’s fine with being out of the rotation — but that could change if they aren’t. The 15-13 Knicks have now won five straight games after head coach Tom Thibodeau replaced Rose’s minutes in favor of second-year guard Miles McBride — a stronger defensive player.
“I can’t complain when we’re winning games,” Rose said, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News (free account required). “If we were losing, I’d probably be mad. But we’re winning and playing basketball so I really can’t complain.”
Rose’s name has popped up a few times already in trade rumors, but he said that he hasn’t paid attention to the rumors – and likely won’t going forward — unless the Knicks start losing, per Bondy. Rose added that he’d prefer to stay with the Knicks.
Here are a few more notes from New York:
- Rose continues to mentor McBride despite their role reversal, writes Zach Braziller of The New York Post. Rose praised McBride’s attitude and work ethic, saying he has “no ego” and is “professional.” McBride says he’s grateful to have a veteran like Rose in his corner, Braziller notes. “I couldn’t have asked for a better vet. I’m just very thankful he’s been able to take me under his wing,” McBride said. “Derrick is a great person, on and off the court. I think that’s the most important thing. One of the best things I’ve learned from him was not to get too high, not to get too low, because things change quickly in this league.”
- The Knicks have only won 50-plus games once in the past 22 years — back in 2012/13 — and haven’t advanced past the second round of the playoffs since ’99/00. How can they break out of that cycle of mediocrity and emerge as a contender? Brian Wacker of The New York Post explores that topic ahead of the February trade deadline.
- Evan Fournier set a Knicks record for most three-pointers made in a season in ’21/22, but he hasn’t played at all in 15 consecutive games after Thibodeau pulled him from the rotation in November. Fournier’s former teammate with the Magic, Nikola Vucevic, still thinks the 30-year-old wing “has a very major place in the NBA,” Bondy writes in another story for The New York Daily News. “Absolutely. He has many skills. His shooting is great. He’s great in the two-man game. A very smart player. Players like him are very needed around the NBA,” Vucevic told Bondy. “Not to start anything or whatever, but I’m sure if it doesn’t happen with the Knicks, I’m sure it’ll happen somewhere else.”
- Louis Orr, an eight-year NBA veteran with the Pacers and Knicks, has passed away at age 64, according to The Associated Press. Orr averaged 9.7 points and 3.7 rebounds in his career from 1980-88, including six seasons with New York. He had a lengthy college and international coaching career after his playing days ended. We at Hoops Rumors send our condolences to his family and friends.
Watched the knicks vs Bulls game the other day.
Knicks are clearly the better side and they had to win in OT.
Randle was playing good, Brunson was going well, Barrett even made a couple early shots. Robinson won some key offensive rebounds and finished a couple lobs. You could see he clearly was more physical and won the paint over Vuce. When he wins that 1v1 battle he needs to continue to assert him dominance and have those big games. He only had 8 points going 4/8 and 10 rebounds but I think when I knows he is physically strong and can own that paint on guys he needs to be putting up closer to 15 and eventually 20 points on guys. Easiest pints your going to get is at the rim and if your big man knows he can put dual the other teams centre then it’s just going to make the game easier for your team to win.
Grimes was huge for them securing the win. He hit 2 really clutch threes probably the biggest shots of the game coming from Randle getting double and triple teamed in the paint. Glad he’s earned that starting spot and I think in the future he’s just going to continue getting better and better.
Lastly I thought the bench was really week and that’s what allowed the bulls back into the game.
Coby White and Dragic were having their way and Javonte Green just worked harder than anyone. The Knicks only play 4 guys off the bench in this case IQ, McBride, Sims and Hartenstein. I think in a ideal world instead of two guards, 2 bigs they play more versatile and experienced guys.
Just off the top imagine Jae Crowder there. Veteran 3 and D can play either forward spot. That’s much more ideal on a team trying to win games and make the playoffs. IQ made some really low IQ moves, particularly an early deep three which he missed then on the return play gave away a 4 point play on Dragic I believe. That not only cost his team a possession but the bulls got 4 points, 6 seconds later. Can’t have that in important must win games.
I think the FO needs to back Thibs and make a roster move before the deadline. Fouriner and DRose both aren’t doing anything besides costing you money, Reddish has a trade market, both Toppin and IQ only have a season and a half left on their deals too.
Just some names I’d keep eyes on James Wiseman, Jae Crowder, OG Anunoby, Gary Trent Jr, Robert Covington, Josh Richardson, Doug McDermott and Harrison Barnes.
Just some ideas
1. JRich and Doug McDermott for Fouriner, Reddish and IQ.
2. Fouriner, Reddish and IQ for Trent Jr and Birch
3. IQ and Reddish for Crowder
I don’t get their vendetta against using reddish
He’s got efficient shooting and he’s not been great defensively, and on an expiring contract and by the sounds of it he wants out now
The FO needs to help Thibs by trading one of Mitch, Hart, or Sims—as you said playing a three man traditional center rotation in this league is tough.
I’d take a flier on Trent at that price. Get a little more size in the rotation and my versatility on the wing (and of course more shooting).
I still think Thibs needs to give some run to a small ball rotation w Randle at the 5 (a la LAL last season w Bron). Even if they suck defensively as a second unit I think they’d be better than the twin towers of Sims and Hart
Number 1 is legit.
Kudos to Thibs for finally giving the youth some run.
Nothing has changed on that front, other than your false narrative (re Thibs and young players) being exposed. Or, rather, more definitively exposed, as the facts have never supported it.
What teams in the league that aren’t hapless have given more collective minutes to 4 young players drafted around the spots that Quickley, Grimes, McBride and Sims were drafted than Thibs has given to those guys-? If you can’t name about half the teams, then your narrative falls. On a brief look, I’m not sure you’ll get any.
Thibs coaches. That’s it. The uncoached (babysat) team many want doesn’t win games or develop players. But they do draft higher.
“Thibs coaches, that’s it.” – brilliant insight, do you have anymore jewels, master?
Question: Do you have some middle management position in the Rose administration by any chance?
Because your ‘narrative’ – if I can call a series of pompous overgeneralizations a narrative – is consistently that this FO is doing a good job and if anyone disagrees then they’re inevitably a “2k-er”.
Yet my ‘narrative’ – whether it was IQ outperforming Payton two years ago, or Obi playing above his weight this season – has consistently been nuanced and generally backed up statistically (by contrast, I’ve said this season IQ should be playing LESS, because his production has slipped significantly, which you conveniently seem to gloss over).
Your comments, by contrast, seem to be backed up by little more than an inflated ego that frankly has no place on a generally juvenile NBA message board.
Because in the real world if you came to me with that nonsense, that mediocrity is somehow aCCtuaLLy good, I’d fire you on the spot. “Thibs coaches”, true. “Knicks are still mediocre”, also true. “Mediocrity shouldn’t be celebrated”, false to you, true to me.
@b69 – I was referring only to the narrative suggested in your initial prior post (that Thibs doesn’t play young players); that is not backed statistically, as indicated. If we discussed other narratives, and I believe we have, I didn’t know my opinions or presentation were so offensive to you. OK, they are what they are, but at least now I know.
Thibs’ coaches = Thibs is assessing his players, assigning roles/minutes based on that assessment and what he deems gives the team the best chance of success, and then holding them accountable. I’ve heard no other definition of coaching by anyone who’s done it, but perhaps you have and I was unclear. That’s it = Young guys, old guys, it doesn’t matter to him.
My opinion of the FO’s performance overall has never been anything but mixed. I root for Rose because I fear the alternative (as any informed Knick fan would). But it didn’t stop me from being critical of Toppin’s drafting, Fournier-Bullock and even RJ’s extension (though I like RJ). Sorry, but I know too much about the team building process, to just call any less than optimal result a mistake.
I don’t confuse mediocrity with being good, but I also don’t confuse it with being bad (can’t believe any Knick fan does). I also understand that while mediocre is not good, it almost always contains within it components of good, bad and mediocre, and failure to recognize and distinguish what is what usually precludes success.
Yes, absolutely, I believe I know more about about team building than most of the people on this board. But I don’t ask anyone else to believe it. In any event, what is more arrogant, that belief of mine, or people on this board believing they know more about coaching that one of the most successful coaches of his era?
That’s fair, and in retrospect my reply was admittedly a tad (perhaps more than…) harsh.
To be clear, your prior posts aren’t offensive to me. Divergent, perhaps, but overall I respect your opinion on this board. Maybe I took your post as more of an attack than it was intended, and for that I apologize.
Yet we’re probably closer in opinion than it maybe seems on first glance, as my opinion of the FO has also been thoroughly mixed (although perhaps for different reasons). I try to be as nuanced as possible in my posts, so the idea that I was posing some kind of blank slate false narrative, admittedly, rubbed me the wrong way.
Somewhat ironic, because an hour or so before I saw your reply I was doing a deep dive into the Knicks’ stats for the year and thinking to myself … “Maybe they should keep Randle…”
In any case, again, apologies for any offense taken.
No issues on my end. I think, ideally, one of Randle or Toppin would be moved by the deadline. Offensively, I can see a preference for Toppin’s lower beta, lower maintenance game. But Toppin, even at his best, would be a drop off defensively and big drop off on the boards.
@butt – agreed. And it’s showing to be successful. I’m sure the FO kindly mentioned that they didn’t draft the kids to see them play during practice. And I’m sure the FO also realizes they made some mistakes on signings that shouldn’t have happened, starting with Fournier.
What are they Knucks waiting for show Fournier the doorier.
Where are all the haters now. Knicks not even playing well. It’s their D that’s gotten them here.
Randle has been playing like an all star last 8 gms. Hope he gets traded.
Mitch – 24 yrs old
RJ – 22 yrs old
Grimes – 22 yrs old
Quickley – 23 yrs old
Sims – 23 yrs old
McBride – 22 yrs old
Toppin – 24 yrs old
You really should read more. Before talking
Thibs only changed the lineup and started playing more of the youth when his back was against the wall and all over the media he was a Deadman walking about to get fired. I honestly feel the front office made him play certain players who would never seen the light of day with his tired stubborn act. These moves have saved his Knick tenure and defensively the Knicks are locked in. Also as much as people have complained about Randall he is ballin and him and Jalen Brunson are both playing at All Star levels and we can possibly have two All Stars when it is said and done. I still think we need to make a trade for a lights out shooting wing or another bonafide star but the way this team is playing they will be a dangerous first round match up for any team in the East.
He drafted them and developed them. Learn the gm. You have earn it with Thibs. And they did. When a player goes down. That’s when it’s your shot. Next man up. Sims, Obi, Grimes all did that. But you have to be ready.
Knicks still not ready for next step. Not a Randle guy at all. I believe they will go after a star in a trade. And make another trade by deadline. Not a fan of Thibs offense either. But it would run better with Obi starting. I’m sure of it.
Knicks D is coming around. Cause we got healthy centers. Last yr Noel and Mitch were out. All three are playing now. Hartenstein is a great rebounder. That is part of team D. We have been out rebounding teams. Randle has to go …… IMO he’s holding this team back. And if Thibs don’t get it. Then he will be gone too.
RIP Luis Orr ….. great college career. And a Knick for life. You did good man.
It was so cool to see Chicago show love to Rose. Especially with his kids and family there. Very classy. Bulls have to retire his number. He gave everything to Bulls. Now mentoring McBride. Just a class act is Mr Rose.
At this point, I see no reason to trade anyone immediately. If a deal for Fournier &/or Rose works, then pull the trigger. But, all 3 players have remained professional throughout the incessant trade rumors. Even expressed wanting to STAY with the team through demotion. Thibs finally got the damn memo, players know their roles & the defense has been cleaned up. Now that we’ve figured a few things out, let’s focus on this CONSISTENCY EVERY GAME. LFG KNICKS