Ian Begley, ESPN Staff Writer 8y

Derrick Rose: Knicks roster fits triangle 'to a T'

Yes, Derrick Rose made news by saying some people have referred to the New York Knicks as one of the NBA's "super teams." He also touched on several subjects that may have more relevance to the coming Knicks season in his recent interview with NBA.com.

Rose, the Knicks' new point guard, said he thinks the club’s personnel fits the triangle offense "to a T."

“Because you have [Carmelo Anthony], you have [Kristaps Porzingis], who can post up a lot. If they was 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,” Rose told NBA.com's Lang Whitaker.

Rose added that new coach Jeff Hornacek told him the Knicks would add “a lot of pick-and-rolls in there at the top of the key or on the side.” This would be a welcome change for some of the Knicks who played in the offense last season.

Some complained the offense was too slow and predictable last season, and Hornacek has also said he wants the Knicks to increase their pace. Rose should help in that area. New York has been in the bottom-third of the NBA in pace over the past two seasons.

“It's really whatever they decide to do, and I have to find my way around it,” Rose said of the Knicks’ offense. “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.”

To that end, Rose has worked out recently with Porzingis, Brandon Jennings and Sasha Vujacic alongside trainer Rob McClanaghan. Rose said one focus during summer workouts has been on his midrange jump shot, which may be available to him frequently in the triangle offense.

“That's an effective shot for me. A lot of people give it to me,” Rose said. “... In the NBA today, if you can't shoot there's no point in you even being on the floor. So this summer [for me] it's a ton of shots, getting up repetitions and conditioning, of course. You look at Cleveland and Golden State, the way they push the ball and play an up-tempo-type game -- you've got to be conditioned. And it's simple stuff, the fundamentals of the game -- footwork, dribbling, going back to the basics and really just sharpening everything so that when I'm on the floor I'm not thinking about it. I'm getting to my moves and getting to my spots without having to do a lot of dribbling. You look at Kobe [Bryant], he's getting to his spots with purpose. Get to the spots with purpose, putting the defense always on its heels.”

Phil talks Melo, Porzingis: In the latest edition of Charley Rosen's series of interviews with Knicks president Phil Jackson, which were conducted over the course of the season, Jackson offered an analysis of his players. The interview was conducted in mid-November.

The full interview can be found here, but here's part of what Jackson said about Anthony: "There’s no doubt that he’s playing hard on defense. He did a good job defending both Kobe and LeBron [James]. And Carmelo rebounds well in traffic. He’s definitely our front guy, and it’s Carmelo who has to lead us along the right path, and he’s getting more comfortable doing this. I’ve wanted him to take a bigger role in helping his teammates, and that’s exactly what he did in today’s game. Calling guys to get back on defense. Motioning for guys to make the proper moves on offense. Still, like everybody else, he needs to improve his reads on offense and move the ball quicker than he does. That’s because our offense is predicated on quick ball and player movement.” Jackson added that he'd like to see Anthony increase his attacks on the basket.

And here's part of what Jackson said at the time about Porzingis:"Why is such a good shooter missing so many shots? Because his shot selection is not always good. Because many of them are taken under the pressure of the shot clock running down. Because he’s often knocked off-balance when he spins and shoots. And because he’s shooting while he’s turning instead of turning, planting and then shooting. But I’m not at all worried about his low shooting percentages. As the season progresses and he gets more familiar and more comfortable, KP’s shots will start falling." Jackson added that he hoped the media attention paid to Porzingis would abate: "I wish they all would just let him play. As for me, I’m pleased with his progress, but I really don’t know how good this kid can be.”

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