Derrick Rose said the Knicks are now in the same “super team” category as the Warriors, according to NBA.com.
Rose actually was referring to what he believed other people have said about the Knicks, comparing them with the Warriors as teams that have built star-laden rosters. Rose did an interview with a small group of reporters in Las Vegas on Wednesday that was posted by NBA.com.
The Knicks acquired Rose in a trade with the Bulls this offseaon, then signed Joakim Noah, Courtney Lee and Brandon Jennings in free agency. The Warriors added Kevin Durant to a roster that already included All-Stars Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
Rose was asked what expectations should be for the Knicks, given their big-name veterans.
“They’re high. I mean, with these teams right now, they’re saying us and Golden State are the super teams, and they’re trying not to build that many super teams, and [commissioner] Adam Silver came out with the statement and this and that,” Rose said. “And the expectations, I think of us, we just want to win.
“Talking to Melo [Carmelo Anthony] and all the guys who’ve been around. You’ve got Brandon, who just signed for one year, he’s got to show why he’s there. I’ve got to show why I’m there. Joakim has to show why he’s there. Everybody’s trying to prove themselves.
“When you’ve got a group like that, it’s like, all right, I know everybody wants to do that, but we’re going to break this down as simple as possible, and try to win every game. I think winning takes care of every category, as far as being an athlete. You look at endorsements, being on the floor, almost everything — I think winning takes care of all that. And if you’re in the league, winning takes care of all the mistakes, or if you have any problems on teams.”
Throughout the question-and-answer session posted by NBA.com, Rose seemed upbeat about his new home.
“I’m going into a great market,” he said. “I’m going into a city where they love basketball — basketball is a culture there, and they love players that play hard. And I think I fit that.
“I think this is a huge opportunity for me, and I’m preparing myself right now.”
Rose said he would be comfortable in the triangle offense, as well as playing off the ball.
“Of course, when you think about the triangle you might think about an old-school type of way of playing basketball,” he said. “Not to say it is old school, but it helped certain teams and worked out for certain teams. With us, with all the pieces that we have, it kind of fits us almost to a T. Because you have Melo, you have [Kristaps Porzingis], who can post up a lot. If they were to put me in that position that would be my first time having an isolation at the elbow, or just having an isolation period. It can work that way.
“Then you think about the triangle for playoffs, the triangle for halfcourt basketball. I talked to Coach [Jeff Hornacek] and he was saying with the triangle he would have to vary the triangle to have a lot of pick-and-rolls in there at the top of the key or on the side. So it’s really whatever they decide to do, and I have to find my way around it. This is the first time I think the triangle will really ever have an athletic point guard in that position. So who knows? All I have to do is make sure my catch-and-shoot is pretty good with this team, and like I said, be prepared.”
As for playing off the ball, he said, “I’m a hooper, man. I feel like any hooper, you can find a way to get the job done. It doesn’t matter if I have the ball in my hands or not. I feel like if I’m out there, I’ll find out a way to get out the way or make it a positive while I’m on the floor. “
..... - Newsday