Derrick Rose showed flashes of athletic brilliance in New York’s dramatic 107-103 win Tuesday night against the visiting Portland Trail Blazers, but the former MVP cautions Knicks fans not to expect the D-Rose of old to show up anytime soon.
Rose, who had 18 points and sealed the victory with a step-back jumper, says he’s happy with the player he has become over the years.
The point guard’s teammates and coaches want him to remain aggressive on the offensive end, and not overthink his role.
Per ESPN:
“That vintage is gone, man,” Rose said late Tuesday night. “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.”
First, he drove past Damian Lillard in the second quarter and converted an other-worldly reverse layup. […] Afterward, Rose talked about the importance of having his legs under him for the fourth-quarter shot. That rhythm was hard to regain after Rose tore the ACL in his right knee in 2012 and twice tore the meniscus in his right knee (2014, 2015).
“I don’t think he would ever be the same Derrick Rose, coming down and dunking,” Carmelo Anthony said. “But he’ll be great at being a different type of player now. That’s kind of what he’s showing.”
