Derrick Rose still solid in Knicks return after surgery

Derrick Rose made an impact in small doses over two games for the Knicks, even with a reduced workload due to the addition of $104 million starting point guard Jalen Brunson.

After a season cut short by multiple ankle surgeries, Rose scored 11 of his 13 points in five minutes off the bench to close the first two quarters of Friday’s blowout win over the Pistons in the season opener at home. Knicks.

But the former league MVP is also his worst critic, as evidenced by his response when asked how comfortable he felt in his first two regular season appearances since last December.

« This too should pass. This is probably the worst you see me playing, » Rose said after recording 16 minutes in Friday’s win. try not to ruin the game by being out there and being too aggressive, just feeling who’s out there and who’s with me.

Led by Rose’s flurry and overall ball distribution (six assists) and Immanuel Quickley’s 20 points, the Knicks’ fast second unit outshot the Pistons’ top five reserves by 46 points (61-15).

Tom Thibodeau, who was also Rose’s former coach at Chicago and Minnesota, found the 15-year-old veteran’s play to be « tremendous, » though the three-time All-Star wasn’t as enthusiastic in his self- Evaluation.

« Like I said, that too will pass, » Rose repeated when asked to clarify what he meant by saying it was the « worst » he could play. “I can’t go too high, I can’t go too low. Even if things are rolling, it’s still my second game.

“I’m not trying to downplay my game, but I understand that I always have to get my timing, my jump shot, I always have to get my timing. I work all the time to get my timing. … I lack a bit of rhythm on certain tracks. But it will come the more I will play.

Thibodeau had implored Rose, 34, to drop nearly 20 pounds this offseason, and the three-time All-Star has responded to the request, even showing up shirtless at his first training camp press conference.

Rose had just 33 minutes in three preseason appearances, and he played 12 minutes (with four points) in the Knicks’ season-opening overtime loss at Memphis.

“I let Thibs dictate that. I didn’t talk to him about it at all,” said Rose, who made three of four 3-point attempts against the Pistons. « My job is just to be vocal and try to express what I see on the pitch. As for the minutes, I don’t care because of the saying, ‘if you stay ready, you won’t. don’t have to prepare. That’s my mindset. »

Brunson’s presence allows Thibodeau to slow down with Rose after the operation. The new starter has averaged 32 minutes in the first two games, with 32 points, 15 assists and zero turnovers entering Game 3 on Monday against the Magic at the Garden.

“My job is to pick up the pace. If not, take me out and put someone in who can do the job. I don’t worry about minutes, I never worry about minutes,” Rose said. “It’s what’s best for the team. It could be Deuce [second-year guard Miles McBride]. It may happen that I do not play. We do not care? As long as we win, I don’t care.

McBride didn’t come off the bench in the season opener and he was just three minutes behind in Friday’s blowout. Rose, Quickley, Cam Reddish, Obi Toppin and imported center Isaiah Hartenstein formed the highly productive second unit, with sophomore wing Quentin Grimes missing the first two games with a foot injury.

« We need that from our bench, » Thibodeau said after Friday’s game. « I think they played well together. They played well as a group, and that was the most enjoyable thing. … I like the way our bench played.