Derrick Rose

Knicks Notes: Rose, Noah, Kuzminskas

November 24th, 2016 at 3:39pm CST by Luke Adams

After winning the NBA MVP award in 2011, Derrick Rose appeared in just 49 games over the next three seasons, raising questions about whether “vintage” Rose would even return. Although he has been healthier in recent years, the veteran point guard acknowledges that his so-called “vintage” self is probably a thing of the past.

“That vintage is gone, man,” Rose said on Tuesday, per Ian Begley of ESPN.com. “I told you the question should be: Can I hoop? It shouldn’t be like, ‘He’s playing like his old self.’ Like, if I can hoop, I can hoop. No matter if I did that when I was younger or now, I can play the game of basketball.”

While he may not vie for MVP awards again, Rose is happy with where he’s at now, telling Begley that he used to be “reckless” and that he’s picking his spots more carefully now. Rather than looking to “recreate past glory,” the Knicks’ starting point guard wants to make life easier for the team’s top scorers, Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis.

Here’s more out of New York:

After missing a pair of games with a flu-like illness, Joakim Noah appears set to return for Friday’s game against Charlotte. Mike Vorkunov of The New York Times writes that Noah is still finding his way with the Knicks after signing a four-year deal with the team this offseason, while Marc Berman of The New York Post takes a blunter approach, suggesting that it remains “open for debate” whether or not the Knicks even need Noah.
Most Knicks fans probably hadn’t heard of Mindaugas Kuzminskas until the club used its room exception to sign him over the summer, but the Lithuanian rookie has fought his way into New York’s rotation, as Berman details in a piece for the Post.
In another article for the Post, Berman takes a closer look at Porzingis’ continued development as he continues on a path toward stardom.

Atlantic Notes: Lin, Hornacek, Celtics

November 18th, 2016 at 5:22pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Nets signing of Jeremy Lin this offseason has led to improvement on the court as well as off in garnering increased fan support, Brian Lewis of The New York Post writes. “Fans seem to be very accepting, and not only accepting but are encouraged by the new culture, the grit with which the team plays and the hustle. And it’s leading to increased sales,’’ Brett Yormark, the CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, told Lewis. “They see the vision, see where this thing is going, and they’re happy with that direction.”

“That’s creating the groundswell. It’s not where it needs to be, but the sales numbers indicate it’s heading in the right direction,’’ Yormark continued. “We’re making real good progress. The culture [GM] Sean Marks and [coach] Kenny Atkinson brought started to resonate and we’re seeing it. And the team is validating that. You can see the team has bought in and is playing each game with commitment. And the fans are enjoying it.”

Here’s more from out of the Atlantic Division:

A number of in-season adjustments made by Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek are paying off for the club, notes Marc Berman of The New York Post. The scribe notes that the team’s defensive focus has been much improved since assistant coach Kurt Rambis was placed in charge of the defense and increasing Kristaps Porzingis‘ role on offense has made the team much tougher to defend.
Despite missing out on signing Kevin Durant this past offseason, the Celtics feel that the fact that the forward strongly considered joining the franchise speaks to the progress and growth of the team, Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald relays. When asked what Durant’s willingness to consider Boston meant, coach Brad Stevens said, “Hopefully it spoke to the fact that the progress is obvious, especially to those who are in it and studying it and evaluating it every day. To be candid, I’d just kind of prefer not to rehash all the recruiting part of it. But what I enjoy is thinking about how people best fit into our situation and how to explain that. The thing that I’m excited about from a general standpoint is that people see the progress and it’s appealing. It doesn’t mean everybody’s going to choose to be here, but, like, Al chose to be here because he saw the progress and it was appealing — on top of the tradition, the fans and everything else. I think you’ve got to have all that. You’ve got to have all that for it to be appealing.”
Knicks point guard Derrick Rose says he isn’t concerned about the appeal that was filed by the woman who accused the player and his friends of raping her, Berman writes in a separate piece. “I didn’t know about the appeal,’’ Rose said . “I’ll let my legal team deal with it. I didn’t expect to be sued in the first place but I’ll let my legal team deal with it.’’

And-Ones: Rose, Wilson, Childress, Telfair

November 17th, 2016 at 10:40pm CST by Dana Gauruder

An appeal has been filed in the civil lawsuit that accused Knicks guard Derrick Rose and two of his friends of sexual assault, according to the Associated Press. A jury ruled against Rose’s ex-girlfriend, who was seeking $21.5MM over the alleged gang rape, the AP story continues. The appeal filed Thursday with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals claims that pertinent evidence was excluded and jury instructions were tainted, the AP report adds.

In other developments around the league:

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is joining a group of investors seeking to build an NBA and NHL arena in the city, Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com reports. Wilson wants to have an ownership stake if the NBA awards a franchise to the city or if a current team moves there, Kapadia adds. “I’ve told you guys I’ve been really authentic about wanting to own a team one day and being a part of something really special and doing that,” Wilson told Kapadia and other media members. “And even though I’m young, I definitely have a business mindset. And I want to be able to help people and give back and help change this community, continue to change this community for the better.”
Approximately 30 NBA scouts will be in attendance for this weekend’s National Prep Showcase in New Haven, Conn., Adam Zagoria of ZagsBlog.com writes. Shooting guard Hamidou Diallo, who is eligible for the 2017 draft, is the main attraction, Zagoria adds.
Former NBA player Josh Childress has agreed to a contract with San-en NeoPhoenix in the Japanese League, Emiliano Carchia of Sportando relays. Childress played in Australia the past two seasons, Carchia adds. The 33-year-old forward made his last NBA appearance in the 2013/14 season, when he played four games for the Pelicans franchise.
Ex-NBA guard Sebastian Telfair has signed a one-month deal in China as an injury replacement for another former NBA player, Dwight Buycks, international journalist David Pick tweets. Telfair, 31, made his last NBA appearance in 2014/15, when he saw action in 16 games with the Thunder.

Knicks Notes: Jackson, Anthony, Noah, Rose

November 16th, 2016 at 1:02pm CST by Arthur Hill

Knicks president Phil Jackson took to social media in an attempt to diffuse the reaction to his controversial comments regarding LeBron James, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post. Jackson has taken criticism for referring to James’ entourage as a “posse,” drawing reactions not only from James, but also from Knicks star Carmelo Anthony. Jackson re-tweeted a post from team advisor, Clarence Gaines, an African-American, who was promoting the “Posse Foundation,” which was set up to help black students succeed. Jackson refused to discuss the situation with reporters on Tuesday.

There’s more today out of New York:

Jackson’s statements were part of a continued effort to take the focus off the job he has done with the Knicks, contends Mike Vacarro of The New York Post. The writer called Jackson “petty” for focusing on James and Heat president Pat Riley in recent public comments and blasted Jackson for not talking to New York media since September 22nd.
Joakim Noah, one of the team’s prize offseason additions, will continue to start, but may not play much during fourth quarters, Berman writes in a separate piece. The Knicks have been more successful lately with coach Jeff Hornacek’s “small-ball” lineup that has Kristaps Porzingis playing center. Hornacek said Noah, who hasn’t scored in three games and is averaging just 4.3 points per contest, needs to become more “aggressive” on offense. “We don’t mind him taking the little mid-range shot, keeping teams honest if they’re going to stay back,’’ Hornacek said. “We want him to continue rolling to the basket, get low in the dunk area if guys penetrate and a big helps, he gets the dump and can just dunk it. If he stays outside, that’s what another team wants. We want for him to be more aggressive when he does get the ball around the basket.’’
Derrick Rose is seeking $70K in court costs related to his civil trial that concluded last month, according to ESPN. A woman’s $21.5MM suit alleging rape was rejected by a jury, and the law permits winners of civil trials to ask the court to have some of their costs covered by the losers.

Phil Jackson Talks Triangle, Rose, Noah, Opt-Out

November 14th, 2016 at 10:42am CST by Luke Adams

A report last week suggested that Knicks president Phil Jackson was unhappy with his team’s offense, having felt that the club should be using triangle sets more often. At the time that story surfaced, the Knicks’ defense was also a mess, prompting the team to assign Kurt Rambis exclusively to that side of the ball in an attempt to clean things up. Reports later in the week indicated that Rambis’ new assignment came from head coach Jeff Hornacek, but Jackson still seems a little more hands-on than most team presidents around the NBA.

In an interview with ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan, Jackson addressed his reported displeasure with the club’s offensive sets, along with several other topics. The entire discussion is worth checking out, but here are a few highlights from the Knicks president:

On whether he’s frustrated with the lack of triangle sets in the Knicks’ offense:

“No. But when they run it, I want them to run it the right way. If you are going to do it, use your skills and run it the right way. I’m not frustrated at all. Derrick Rose missed three weeks of training camp (because of a civil trial). It’s totally understandable where we are as a ball club. We have guards that do a lot of stuff off the dribble. I want them to understand they can do things off the pass. It has to be a combination.”

On the decision to trade for Rose in the summer:

“Mike Conley was the best choice as a free agent, but he’s making $30MM a year. That’s almost insane. We saw that was going to happen. We had the opportunity to play with Derrick and see if he does have enough left in the tank — he’s 27 years old — before we have to get into that (free) agent market again. It gave us an opportunity to build a team around him, Carmelo [Anthony] and Kris[taps Porzingis].

“And, having experiences with Joakim [Noah] over the years, not only as a player with talent, but a guy who showed up at my door in Montana, he knows Derrick and he knows how to play with him. It gives us an advantage. Both are coming back into playing form.”

On whether he’ll exercise the opt-out clause in his contract after this season:

“I have not entertained that. I’m looking for this Knicks team to get back into a situation where they are competitive. Do I have to win a championship before I feel I’ve done the job I’ve been asked to do, which is to bring this group back to that competitive level? No, I don’t. We’re starting to make progress. I like a lot of the things we are doing here. But we’ve got more to do.

“The real issue with the opt out was simply my rationale regarding the (potential) lockout. If it was going to happen in December and everybody chose to walk away, there was no way I was going to sit in New York for three, four months when I didn’t have a job, because (the players) aren’t even allowed to show up to work.”

On the possibility of returning to the Lakers:

“They’re moving forward in the right direction. Luke [Walton] has them engaged, Brian [Shaw] is an associate head coach; they have a core group of guys that will get it done. It was never important to me to go back and be a part of that. Especially not now. I have this job, this commitment.”

Atlantic Notes: Rose, Brown, Marks, Celtics

November 13th, 2016 at 7:21pm CST by Arthur Hill

There are indications that Knicks point guard Derrick Rose is getting frustrated with his new team, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post. Rose, who was acquired from the Bulls in an offseason trade, had promised to wait 20 games to judge the team, but a 3-6 record and a dreadful defense are testing his patience. “Losing hurts, period,” Rose said. “I’ve never been a loser in my life. We got to figure ways out, we’re getting closer. We’re getting a lot closer, but the effort we have, we got to have that effort throughout the entire game.”

There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:

Sixers coach Brett Brown should be safe for the rest of the season, says Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders. In a video interview, Kennedy said Brown won’t have to be overly concerned about wins and losses until the first year that all the young players are healthy and the front office believes the team has a shot at the playoffs.
Nets GM Sean Marks deserves an A-plus for changing the culture in Brooklyn, according to NetsDaily. The web site grades every significant move that Marks has made since taking over the position in February. The conclusion is that Marks has the organization headed in the right direction and it might be much more attractive to free agents next summer.
Both draft-and-stash players that the Celtics picked up in this year’s draft are off to good starts overseas, writes A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE. Sixteenth pick Guerschon Yabusele is averaging 16.0 points and 9.4 rebounds for the unbeaten Shanghai Sharks, while 23rd pick Ante Zizic leads the Adriatic Basketball Association in scoring with 23 points per game and rebounding at 9.0. The Celtics wanted both players to spend a year overseas before being re-evaluated in the offseason.

Atlantic Notes: Poeltl, Rose, Noel, Olynyk

November 6th, 2016 at 6:05pm CST by Arthur Hill

Jakob Poeltl got his first NBA start tonight, but the Raptors rookie was already ahead of schedule, writes Ryan Wolstat of The Toronto Sun. The ninth pick in the NBA draft, Poeltl quickly moved up in the rotation after injuries to Jared Sullinger and Lucas Nogueira. A knee contusion to center Jonas Valanciunas pushed Poeltl into emergency starting duty, but the 7-footer has shown signs that he’s ready for the challenge. “How hard he plays, his physicality, how big his hands are once he gets the ball on his hands, his IQ is definitely there and the more experience he gets, the better he is going to be,” said teammate DeMar DeRozan. “He’s got that toughness when he’s out there playing, it’s great. That resilience and (he’s) willing to learn.”

There’s more from the Atlantic Division:

Knicks newcomer Courtney Lee questioned the team’s defensive practice habits last week, and now his backcourt partner is blasting the game effort, relays Marc Berman of The New York Post. Derrick Rose cited poor communication on defense after New York let a 13-point lead get away in this afternoon’s loss to Utah. “I always said it’s our defense with our team that will spark everything,’’ Rose said. “Our defense is everything. Offensively we’re going to be fine. It’s definitely everybody being on a string, everybody communicating, everybody on the same page.’’ Lee claimed the Knicks are weak on defending pick-and-rolls because they only practice against the triangle.
Now that Sixers power forward Nerlens Noel is assured of being a restricted free agent next summer, he could be a tempting target for the Celtics, writes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. Washburn says the Boston front office has been fans of Noel for some time and likes the idea of pairing him with Al Horford.
The Celtics decided against giving an extension to Kelly Olynyk because they want to see if he can stay healthy for a whole season and if he responds to having a defined role, Washburn notes in the same piece.
The Celtics let R.J. Hunter go before the start of the season in part because of a crowded roster, but some of his former teammates in Boston believe he will develop as a sharpshooter if given the opportunity, Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald writes. Hunter signed with the Bulls in late October after the Celtics waived him. The 23-year-old appeared in 36 games for the Celtics last year and made several trips to the D-League.

Will Joseph contributed to this posting.

New York Notes: Rose, Noah, Lin, D-League

November 5th, 2016 at 9:08am CST by Arthur Hill

Derrick Rose wasn’t bothered by the boos he heard in Friday’s return to Chicago, writes Ian Begley of ESPN.com. The former MVP had 15 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds in his first game against the Bulls since a June trade that sent him to New York. Rose received a mixed reaction when he was introduced and was booed the first several times he touched the ball. “It was all fun, man. I love competing,” he said. “I love when the crowd is into it. I knew it was going to be some yells. I knew there was going to be some boos. I’m from here. I’m used to it. I’ve been getting it ever since I was in sixth grade, going on the West Side of Chicago and playing and me being a South Side. I’m used to it.”

There’s more this morning out of New York:

The homecoming was a little friendlier for Joakim Noah, relays Marc Berman of The New York Post. The former Bulls center, who signed with the Knicks in July for $72MM over four years, was cheered loudly during introductions. He responded with 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists in the 117-104 victory. “There was a lot of love in this building,’’ said Noah, who spent nine seasons in Chicago. “I wanted to keep my emotions in check in this building.’’
Nets guard Jeremy Lin said his experience with a cancer patient helped him get over any self-pity regarding his hamstring injury, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Lin tweaked the hamstring in Wednesday’s game and will be out of action for at least two weeks. That’s when doctors will re-evaluate the injury and determine when he might return. “At first, I was pretty upset. I was really upset,” Lin said. “I came back to my locker, and I wore those pink shoes that day for Ava [Lee, who is battling leukemia], and I immediately saw the shoes and started thinking about her, and I immediately ended my pity party. It could be a lot worse. I’m still blessed that I’m going to be back on the court.”
Long Island Nets head coach Ronald Nored understands that his top priority is developing players for the parent team, according to NetsDaily.com. The new franchise shares facilities with Brooklyn in Barclays Center and the HSS Training Center, so it will be easy to have a close working relationship. “Those assignments, that’s the No. 1 reason for the D-League,” Nored said Friday at the team’s media day. “We’re a resource for them. Also for the players to come down and get better. That’s our focus. Our guys know that. The guys in this gym, they know that. If guys were to be assigned to our team, we’re hear to help those guys grow and get better.”

Eastern Notes: Fournier, Noah, Johnson

November 4th, 2016 at 8:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

When the Knicks and the Bulls square off tonight, it will mark the first time Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose will play in Chicago since departing the franchise over the summer. Both players have expressed their happiness to be in New York this season and Noah agreed with his former team’s decision to break up its longtime core, Ian Begley of ESPN.com relays. “I think it was time for change,” Noah said. “There’s no question about that. It seems like this is a happy group, enjoy being around one another. That’s good. That’s what it’s all about, that’s how it should be.”

The center touched upon the 2015/16 season, which was a frustrating one for the player all around, Begley adds. “I look back on it, I was definitely frustrated,” Noah said. “There was definitely a lot of adversity going on there. I can look back at it and see where things went wrong. It’s not about blaming one person. Everybody in that locker room is good people. It’s just [expletive] happens. It’s a locker room. At the end of the day the things I remember the most are good memories from everybody. I have no hard feelings towards anybody.”

Here’s more from the East:

Cavs shooting guard J.R. Smith noted that during his prolonged free agency this offseason he played a round of golf with Celtics executive Danny Ainge, Chris Forsberg of ESPN.com relays. Despite Boston having interest in potentially signing the veteran scorer, Smith said their chatter was mostly golf-related, Forberg adds. “We talked about [Smith’s free-agent status], but mainly we kept it to golf and stuff like that,” Smith said. “I told him I would let my agent handle all of that stuff. So it was great to play golf with him.” Boston ultimately signed Gerald Green to a one-year, minimum salary deal to fill out the team’s wing rotation.
Evan Fournier, who signed a five-year, $85MM deal this summer to remain with the Magic, says the contract isn’t making him feel added pressure to perform this season, notes Brian Schmitz of The Orlando Sentinel. “When I start the game, I’m not like, ‘If I don’t score 25, we’re not going to win the game.’ I want to be aggressive, of course, because when I’m aggressive and can create a little more. It’s good for the team,” Fournier told the scribe. “The contract didn’t change anything. The biggest difference is playing the 2 [shooting guard] and not the 3 [small forward]. That’s the biggest difference.”
Second-year player Stanley Johnson is struggling thus far this campaign and the Pistons‘ coaching staff is trying to position the swingman to adapt to being an all-around player with one strength first — then progressing to other areas, writes Rod Beard of The Detroit News. “He has been a primary scorer his whole life and it’s tough for him to not play that way,” coach/executive Stan Van Gundy said. “Right now, that’s not the best way to play. I’m not trying to hold the guy back or limit him. What I’ve tried to point out to him is his development. The guy I’ve tried to use as an example with him who came in the league the same way is Jimmy Butler.”

Atlantic Notes: Rose, Crowder, Nets, Thomas

November 4th, 2016 at 8:57am CST by Luke Adams

One former MVP faced his old team for the first time on Thursday night, as Kevin Durant led the Warriors to a win over the Thunder, and Friday’s schedule has another such reunion on tap, with Derrick Rose‘s Knicks set to face the Bulls for the first time this season. It will be a bittersweet return for Rose and Joakim Noah, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News, who observes that the new-look Bulls are off to a much better start than the retooled Knicks.

Meanwhile, Rose spoke to Sam Smith of Bulls.com about not knowing what to expect upon his return to Chicago, adding that he’s anticipating a “couple of boos here and there.” According to the Knicks’ starting point guard, his primary regret stemming from his time with the Bulls is that he wasn’t able to lead the team to a title. “I had so many visions of winning a championship there,” Rose said.

As the Chicago native returns home, let’s check in on a few more items from around the Atlantic division…

Jae Crowder is now expected to be out for two weeks due to a sprained left ankle, per Celtics head coach Brad Stevens (link via Jay King of MassLive.com). Crowder’s absence likely won’t lead to a roster move for Boston, but it figures to result in increased roles for offseason additions like Jaylen Brown and Gerald Green for a couple weeks.
As we noted on Thursday, Nets point guard Jeremy Lin will be sidelined for at least two weeks with a strained hamstring. Fred Kerber of The New York Post takes a look at which players should be counted on to pick up the slack for Brooklyn during that time.
In a piece for ESPN.com, Chris Forsberg details the unlikely path Isaiah Thomas took to become a potential franchise player for the Celtics, including a look back at the 2015 trade deadline, when a trade from Phoenix caught the young guard by surprise. “My agent was like, ‘There might be something, but it’s like a 10% chance,'” Thomas said, referring to a conversation he had shortly before that 2015 deadline. “And he didn’t even bring up Boston.”

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