The Knicks can’t find Derrick Rose, and their year just blew up
By
Fred Kerber
January 9, 2017 | 8:13pm
Kyle O'Quinn after getting ejected
So when the night began, the biggest concern among myriad Knicks problems was an apparent over-reliance on individual talent and a drift away from team concepts, playing the right way. Players voiced that worry.
Well, No. 1 on the worry chart changed before the opening tap.
The Knicks were without Derrick Rose, and no one said why or how or anything. So if you wanted intrigue for Monday’s boo-laden 110-96 destruction by the Pelicans at the Garden, the Knicks’ eighth defeat in nine games, you certainly got it before the opening tip.
The Knicks started Brandon Jennings (20 points) at point guard and said only that Rose was not with the team. No other explanation was given.
The situation first surfaced on the Knicks’ PR department’s official Twitter account.
The team announced only: “Brandon Jennings is starting tonight versus @PelicansNBA – Derrick Rose is not with the team.”
Coach Jeff Hornacek had given no indication of Rose’s absence in his pregame press briefing. When asked if everyone would be available, the only exception he noted was forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas, who he said was sick all day.
Texts to Rose’s agent, B.J. Armstrong, went unanswered. Across social media, no one seemed to have an indication what was going on as some proclaiming knowledge of Knicks insiders’ thinking claimed they also were clueless. Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical
tweeted Rose was unhappy over his fourth-quarter benching in Milwaukee but that it was unclear if that displeasure was related to his absence. Wojnarowski cautioned Rose could have a legitimate excuse for his absence.
While the Rose mystery was by far the premium topic and worry entering the game, the Knicks problems on this frigid January evening were only starting.
After the tip, the biggest problem was Anthony Davis, who was utterly unstoppable, throwing in 40 points and grabbing 18 rebounds in 29 minutes.
More problems? Carmelo Anthony, who scored 18 points, 13 in the first quarter, when the Knicks started strong and faded, was ejected on two technical fouls at 2:35 of the third quarter, when the Knicks trailed by 19. Anthony was bounced in Atlanta on Dec. 28 for a Flagrant Foul 2 and was tossed in Boston on Nov. 11 on two technicals.
Then, just 79 seconds after the Knicks lost Anthony, Kyle O’Quinn was ejected for a Flagrant Foul 2 committed against Davis. Kristaps Porzingis was an offensive no-show — 3-of-13 shooting for nine points.
Davis, the league’s second-leading scorer, was driving ahead in transition, and O’Quinn gave him a shot from behind. Davis tumbled into the photographers on the baseline and rose with a noticeable limp. Health, of course, has been his biggest nemesis since joining the league in 2012. Being healthy this season has led to some unreal numbers.
“The health thing is a big part of it, but I thought he also worked so hard in the summer to add certain aspects to his game that he didn’t have. I think he’s a much more efficient post-up player now,” New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry said before the game. “He’s always been a really good mid-range shooter, and he’s gotten better in that category right there, and I think the thing we’ve tried to do is create space for him, and when he plays [with] space, I think he’s very effective.”
He showed that time and again Monday. The Knicks were blasted 31-15 in the third quarter, which they exited down 25 points, 91-66.
But even Davis’ sensational showing, plus the loss of two rotation players to technicals and a flagrant could not overshadow the biggest problem of the night, Rose’s absence.
Rose, obtained from the Bulls in an offseason trade, missed the bulk of training camp while tending to legal matters — a civil case against him following rape accusations. A jury found him not liable in the case. Rose’s understandable absence before the season led to many of the Knicks’ claims of unfamiliarity, a contention that teammates in recent days have labeled a lame excuse. But the Knicks on Monday were wishing that was their biggest problem.
I'm laughing at the Knick fans that now understand our frustration with him. I do feel bad for him because his game looks so outdated. Still can't shoot, not moving the ball, or finding open guys, not getting to the line, not playing D. But... He dunked in a game again.........
