It's one of the worst-kept secrets in the NBA: Tom Thibodeau likes Derrick Rose. They're like a match made in hoops heaven. But despite this, Rose has been coming off the bench for the New York Knicks since getting acquired in a midseason trade with the Detroit Pistons.
But who are we to question Thibodeau, right? After all, he's only a former Coach of the Year. His decision to have Rose as a reliever has done wonders for the Knicks, and it was in full display once again on Sunday evening as the Knicks scored an impressive road win against the Los Angeles Clippers, 106-100.
With starting PG Elfrid Payton having a performance as good as Spy Kids 3D, Thibodeau brought in Rose early and, to use an incredibly lame pun, the Knicks quickly bloomed. He fired up the squad and finished with a team-high 25 points in 32 minutes, adding six rebounds and eight assists.
After the game, he was asked about his comfort level coming off the bench, and Rose deferred to Thibodeau's genius brain (via Marc Berman of the New York Post).
“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.’’
It's quite interesting that the 32-year-old Rose calls himself a newcomer. While other players like to exert themselves immediately when joining a new team, the veteran playmaker, as modest as usual, has embraced his role.
Besides, who are we to question Derrick Rose, right? After all, he's only a former MVP.
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