Derrick Rose took advantage of the first start of his season at point guard at first possession.
Rose started the knicks’ burst of 140 points by ripping to the basket and turning a left runner off the glass. The Knicks never stopped scoring in the first game Elfrid Payton missed this season.
Will this be the passing of the point guard torch or just a one night stand? Rose scored 18 points and made his first six shots in the Knicks’ 140-121 victory over the terrible Kings on Thursday in the festive Garden.
Remember when Rose came on board? Tom Thibodeau’s first remarks were that Rose would be ‘initially’ off the couch.
Payton was left with a sore hamstring and Rose, who was taken over this month, was anointed as a starter – his first Knicks start since the 2016-17 season, when he was first on the team.
Although Rose has started 32,618 games in his career, he had a 25-minute limit with Detroit before the trade.
“It’s not difficult,” said Rose before the game. It’s basketball. It’s still basketball, bro. Giving boys the ball where they want the ball. Thibs will give us a great place to be prepared in certain situations and my job is to just push the ball, so just put pressure when I can and just play my game. I don’t think I need to think about it. I have been a starter for most of my career. So it shouldn’t be too difficult. ”
Former Knicks coach David Fizdale will always wonder what last season would have been like if Payton hadn’t strained his hamstring in the fifth game of the season. By the time Payton returned after an 18-game absence, Fizdale was 4-18 and was fired after Payton’s first rusty match back.
It was very different for Payton in his second season as Knick. He was an ironman and played in the first 32 games before Thursday.
Payton made a decision on playing time, but called it quits after taking a handful of free throws an hour before the tip. He averages 12.4 points, 3.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds on 44.1 percent shooting.
Payton’s hamstring played in the game against Golden State on Tuesday. He’s been enduring – and effective – putting out screams for rookie Immanuel Quickley to start for him before Rose arrived.
“In terms of Elfrid’s value to the team, we’ve seen it,” said Thibodeau. “His strengths are unlike some of the other guys – his size, his ability to guard the ball and his ability to show off, they are invaluable to use. He has had a very good season. ”