Tom Thibodeau On Derrick Rose: “You Put Derrick Rose In A Big Game, Good Things Are Going To Happen”
Derrick Rose is a player that has been through a lot of obstacles throughout his career. Despite the fact that he is the youngest player to have won the MVP award, his career has been a long story of “what if” as he has been plagued with numerous injuries throughout his career. However, there is no doubt among anyone in the league that Derrick Rose is doing great things, and that has been showing during these latter stages of the New York Knicks season.
Coach Tom Thibodeau has been a coach that has been present throughout Derrick Rose’s career. Most people know that Rose played under Thibodeau during his time on the Bulls. After that, he helped Derrick Rose revive his career in Minnesota, and now fate has once again brought them together on the New York Knicks. Coach Tom Thibodeau has recently commented on Derrick Rose and how his game has evolved with the New York Knicks.
If you look at any times in his career where Derrick Rose has been healthy, he’s been one of the best players in the league, “no doubt”. I have a comfort level with him, and he has a comfort level with me.
But Derrick it’s a great story, because a lot of guys thought he would walk away… To sit out one season with an injury is difficult. To have to go through that 3 consecutive years and then to still have the wherewithal to get to the other side, and push through and be the player that he is today… he’s been phenomenal for us.
He’s probably doing it more now with his knowledge of the game and how to manage his body. Early on in his career,like most young guys they’re doing it more on athleticism and their talent, but he’s got the whole package going now… You put Derrick Rose in a big game, good things are going to happen.
There is no doubt that Derrick Rose can still perform at a high level when the team needs him to, and he has been known as a clutch player in the league for a long time. You don’t just win the MVP award if you’re not Great. Derrick Rose has done well in New York, and many fans would like to see him return next season. Sometimes, all a player needs is someone who believes in them, and Thibodeau has been that coach for Derrick Rose.
Derrick Rose carries Knicks to sensational win over Clippers with playoffs in sight
The Knicks usually struggle when Julius Randle struggles. But not when Derrick Rose plays like an MVP — and not when they get 3-point marksmanship from Reggie Bullock.
In the final regular-season home game for the Clippers, the Knicks spoiled the Sunday-matinee party with a resounding and sensational 106-100 victory before 2,578 relatively passive fans at Staples Center.
The victory means the magic number to solidify a Top 6 finish and clinch their first playoff berth since 2013 is two. With four games to play, the Knicks (38-30) moved three games ahead of seventh-place Boston.
With the Celtics playing before them Tuesday night, the Knicks could take the court against the Lakers knowing a win would end the seven-year playoff drought and end any notion of being in the play-in event.
Coming off the bench for a struggling Elfrid Payton, Rose carried the Knicks (38-30) on his shoulders with a spectacular first half. Rose finished with 25 points and eight assists in 31 minutes.
The Knicks fans on hand made their presence felt — making it as loud after a Knicks bucket as when the Clippers scored. The polite atmosphere was a far cry from the cauldron the Knicks faced in Phoenix on Friday when they played before an NBA season-high 8,063 fans and collapsed in the final period.
When Sunday’s game was over, Knicks president Leon Rose congratulated every player as they came off the court, then punched the air toward a throng of cheering Knicks fans.
“The heart of the team has been special,’’ a fired-up Tom Thibodeau said. “The challenge for us was to be hungry and don’t change now. We’re learning a lot from this trip and all season long as the season progressed. The toughness to win on the road and playing against these teams is telling us a lot.’’
Indeed, the Knicks were beaten handily by the Clippers at the Garden on Jan. 31, but that was before Derrick Rose’s arrival.
“The big thing is everybody has been doubting this team all along,’’ Thibodeau said, feeling his oats. “We knew going on the trip we had been playing good basketball but we were going to have to take it up as the season ends.’’
In continuing his marvelous season as the Knicks starting-shooting-guard-nobody-knows-about, Reggie Bullock, once a Clippers’ draft pick, poured in 24 points, making 5 of 11 3-pointers.
“He’s our unsung hero,’’ Thibodeau said.
Though he made three big baskets down the stretch, Randle finished with just 14 points, on 7 of 19 shooting, and committed four turnovers. He also had 14 rebounds. It showed the Knicks could win even on a day Randle wasn’t dominant.
“It just shows our growth over the course of the year,’’ said Randle, who heard “M-V-P’’ chants late. “I think in the beginning of the year we thought we could compete with anybody as long as we stay to our principles and stay together as a team. And now we feel like we can beat anybody.’’
The Knicks assured themselves of a .500 trip on this six-game Western swing that was so feared. The Knicks — 3-2 on the trip — finish it off in the same arena versus the Lakers.
“We know in the fourth quarter the intensity is going to be different,’’ said RJ Barrett, who bounced back from his inbounds snafu in Phoenix to score 18 points with a big block late on Paul George. “Derrick Rose did a helluva job in the first half. Bullock, he stepped up huge all game. Ju’ wasn’t shooting it well all night, then he comes up clutch with big shots at the end. Collectively as a unit, we did a great job.’’
The game’s biggest shot came when Bullock drilled a corner 3 to increase the Knicks lead to 79-69 late in the third and he turned toward the Clippers’ bench.
The high-powered Clippers were nearly held to under 100 points. Superstar Kawhi Leonard, a potential 2021 free agent, scored 29 points but on just 9 of 26 shooting.
“They just wore us down with their defense, their physicality,’’ Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said.
Rose entered the game 5:19 in for the struggling Payton, who finished with two points and guided the Knicks into a 10-0 hole to start. Rose came on and scored 19 points in the first half — making 9 of 10 shots. He was hitting on pull-ups, floaters and getting all the way to the rim. In the fourth quarter, he banged in two big 3-pointers.
While Rose is playing starter’s minutes, it seems Thibodeau could give a harder look at the starting position with the playoffs upcoming. Thibodeau went out of his way to praise Payton’s pressure defense to start the second half, so he still seems stuck.
Asked if he’s still comfortable coming off the bench, Rose said, “Whatever the team needs. I’m the newcomer. I let Thibs worry about that. So I don’t know when I’m coming in, I don’t know when I’m coming out. But I just got to make sure I prep myself before I go into games.’’
Awards and accomplishments
NBA
- NBA Most Valuable Player: 2011
- NBA All-Star Selection: 2010, 2011, 2012
- All-NBA First Team: 2011
- NBA Rookie of the Year: 2009
- NBA All-Rookie First Team: 2009
- Skills Challenge Champion: 2009
- Conference Rookie of the Month: November, December, March
- Conference Player of the Month: April 2010, March 2011
College
- Freshman year (2007–08)
- NCAA Tournament All-Final Four Team
- NCAA Tournament South Region MVP
- NABC 3rd Team All-American
- NABC All-District 7 First Team
- All-Conference USA First Team
- Conference USA Freshman of the Year
- Conference USA All Freshman Team 1st Team
- Sporting News All-Freshman Team
- Conference USA Player of the Week for games between December 17 through the 23rd
- 2K Sports College Hoops Classic MVP
- 2K Sports College Hoops Classic All-Tournament Team
High school
- Senior year (2006–07)
- Class AA State Championship
- Class AA Tournament MVP
- Illinois Mr. Basketball 2007
- 2007 McDonald’s All-American
- USA Today 2007 All-USA First Team
- 2007 First-team Parade All-American
- EA Sports 2007 All-American First Team
- All State Illinois 2007
- MaxPreps.com All-America First Team
- Slam Magazine 2007 First Team
- MidStateHoops.com 2007 Class AA Player of the Year
- Junior year (2005–06)
- Class AA State Championship
- Class AA Tournament MVP
- 2006 Parade All-American Fourth Team
- All State Illinois 2006
- EA Sports 2006 All-American Second Team
- Sophomore year (2004–05)
- 2005 Parade All-American Third Team
- Chicago Sun-Times All-Area
Endorsements
Rose was the cover athlete of NBA 2K13 alongside fellow NBA players Kevin Durant and Blake Griffin.
Rose was the lone cover athlete for the 2K Sports Downloadable Content game, NBA 2K10 Draft Combine, which was released on Xbox Live Arcade for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation Network for the PlayStation 3.
Rose is a part-owner and spokesman for the Chicago-based Giordano’s Pizzeria.
In 2008, Rose signed a shoe deal with Adidas for $1 million per year. He has also signed with Wilson Sporting Goods. Other endorsement deals include Skullcandy headphones, Powerade, Force Factor sports drinks and a suburban Chicago Nissan dealership. In May 2018, it was announced that the Adidas D Rose 9’s would be released in July 2018.
In 2011, Rose was estimated by Crain’s Chicago Business to earn $1.5–$2.5 million annually in endorsements, ranking just outside the top 10 NBA players in that category. In 2012, it was reported that Rose signed a contract extension with Adidas, worth $185 million over 14 years
