Barrett gets to return back home to Canada, as he was born in Toronto. This was a bit of a head-scratching trade for the Knicks, as many Knicks fans were shocked and frustrated with Quickley being involved in the deal. Quickley was a solid guard to run the bench unit for the Knicks ever since he was drafted in 2020 and was on the All-Rookie team. Quickley’s role intensified last season, and as a result, he witnessed a career-high year and should have won Sixth Man of the Year.

Why the Trade Happened?

The reason Quickley was part of the trade was that he was a pending free agent and was looking for a contract similar to his former teammate Jalen Brunson‘s. Leon Rose simply did not want to give that large of a contract to a bench player. Also, Rose and the front office have been high on Anunoby for over a season, and they almost acquired him at the trade deadline last season.

Another reason the trade happened was it was time to part ways with Barrett. Recently, since returning to the lineup after a bout with migraines, he has been playing some bad basketball, with the exception of the Christmas Day win over the Milwaukee Bucks. Barrett was drafted third overall in 2019 to be a star and the number one option, but instead is an inconsistent third option.

How Does This Trade Benefit The Knicks?

The Knicks may have actually won this trade in both the short term and long term, as Anunoby is one of the best two-way wing players in the league with his solid defense and shooting ability. Anunoby is averaging 15.1 points per game this season, and he led the league in steals last season. Anunoby is a better player than Barrett, giving the Knicks better defense and more consistent scoring.

Also, the Knicks were not going to give Quickley the payday he wanted, so it was better to trade him and get value back for him. This trade also saves the Knicks a lot of money that they can use to bring in a superstar. Anunoby already said he is willing to take a pay cut for that to happen.

Achiuwa is a solid addition to the Knicks. He replaces Taj Gibson as the backup center to Isaiah Hartenstein with Jericho Sims injured and Mitchell Robinson out for the year. In his five games, Achiuwa has four steals and four blocks, impacting the defensive end.

Grade: B+

How Does This Trade Benefit The Raptors?

Similar to Quickley, the Raptors were not going to re-sign Anunoby, so they made the right move to trade him and get assets back. Barrett and Quickley were too solid additions to the team that can be young staples to build from for many years to come. A change of scenery was much needed for Barrett. He and Quickley now have a much more expanded role—especially Quickley, as he most likely replaces Dennis Schroder in the starting lineup.

Also, the second-round pick is going to be better as it is not the Knicks second-rounder but the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons second-rounder essentially is a late first-rounder due to the Pistons being one of the worst teams in basketball and currently on a 28-game losing streak.

Grade: C-

What the Future Holds For Both Teams

This trade will most likely ignite a rebuild, as the Raptors have already made Pascal Siakam available. Both teams will not be done making trades this season. However, their trajectories are different.

The Knicks will look to finally make their splash and acquire a true number-one superstar to the likes of Donovan Mitchell, Devin Booker, or Joel Embiid, depending on whoever is available. Jalen Brunson is playing like a superstar this year. However, he is most likely a 1a player. After this trade, the odds of the Knicks winning the Eastern Conference increased to +2,400.

On the other hand, the Raptors will look to start rebuilding their rebuild by getting younger, creating cap space, and acquiring draft capital. The Raptor’s next move should be dumping Siakam. A contending team certainly will be interested in Schroder as a veteran point guard. With a few more moves, the Raptors are setting themselves up for a bright future and a successful rebuild after hitting the reset button.

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Since then, though, the short-handed Cavaliers have put together a bit of a run. Not only that but after winning twice, they also lost their best player in, Mitchell. To put it briefly, since losing Garland and Mobley, they are 5-1, and since losing Mitchell, they are 3-1, including wins against the Houston Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks. How have they pulled this off, and who has stepped up?

The Key to Success

When ball-dominant stars go out, ball movement generally increases. This has been true for the Cavaliers as well. Without Garland and Mitchell, who are the best at getting their own shot, the ball is forced to move to get open shots. In the six games since Mobley and Garland have been out, they’ve beaten their average season assists of 26.2 every time. They often beat it by a lot, with 30+ assist games in four of the six. 

The ball moves quickly now, with only Caris LeVert comfortable dribbling the ball for any extended period. It’s great to see in regular-season games. The ball swings from side to side, sometimes multiple times per possession, in search of a better shot. It’d be great to see that implemented when Garland and Mitchell return, both of whom can gun it from deep. It’s not terribly likely, but hey, who knows?

Stepping Up

Kamil Krzackzynski/USA TODAY Sports

Jarrett Allen

Jarrett Allen is the only remaining of the Cavs’ core four these past few games. Allen has stepped up significantly, an often mentioned name in trade talks and seen as the least essential name by far. The offense often runs through him, and he has responded incredibly well. In the six-game run, he’s averaging 18.2 points and 12.5 boards on 66% shooting, with those shooting and rebounding numbers far above his career averages with no drop in efficiency.

His defense has stayed strong, too, doing an admirable job on Luka Doncic when they visited the Mavericks on Wednesday. He held him to 3/13 shooting when switched onto him in the second half, with many of those possessions coming on the perimeter. When everyone comes back, Allen should be a higher priority on offense, but that would hinder Mobley’s growth even further. Whether Mobley has offensive potential worth nurturing is a serious question, but that’s a question for another time. 

Isaac Okoro

When given the chance to start, Isaac Okoro has been quite good. It’s been no different in this run, scoring 14 a game on 53/42/68 splits. Again, those are far beyond his career averages, and the three-point shooting is incredibly encouraging, considering it’s on a healthy five attempts per game. He looks like a very strong piece when starting. The problem is Okoro seems to play much worse coming off the bench, and there’s no room for him when everyone comes back. The recent stretch might increase his trade value, but losing a solid player like Okoro is a shame. 

Craig Porter Jr. 

Finally, Craig Porter Jr. has been an overall revelation this season. After showing a do-it-all game in the Summer League, he played great in the few minutes he got early in the season. J.B. Bickerstaff said he earned his place on the rotation before bafflingly banishing Porter Jr. into DNP land. He’s been forced to play Porter Jr. again, and he’s playing very well. In his 11 starts, he’s averaging 11/6/7, which are really nice numbers for an undrafted rookie. He plugs a lot of holes when he’s in and plays with high energy and intelligence. He has performed pretty well off the bench and earned his minutes again, even when the Cavaliers’ are at full strength. Of course, that was true before, too, but hopefully, this time it sticks.

It’s been a fantastic run for the injury-ridden Cavaliers. Coach Bickerstaff has proven excellent at getting a lot out of underdog squads, as seen in 2021-2022. There are still questions about whether he can take a great team to the top, but he’s definitely great at squeezing every last drop out of lesser talent. Unfortunately, that is a trait also shared with the infamous Doc Rivers. Not an amazing company to be in these days. Still, some real revelations have been made in these last few games, and the Cavs are reinserting themselves in the Eastern Conference conversation. 

Patrick Yen is a contributor on Back Sports Page. He has written for NBC, SB Nation, and a few more websites in his four-year sports journalism career. He has been the Back Sports Page beat writer for the Philadelphia 76ers and now the Cleveland Cavaliers. Patrick, a graduate from the Ohio State University, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but moved to Columbus, Ohio early in his life and has lived there ever since. You can find more of Patrick on Twitter @pyen117.

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FOCO, a powerhouse in the realm of officially licensed sports collectibles, has once again set the bar high with its latest announcement: the release of the highly anticipated Jayson Tatum Boston Celtics 2024 City Jersey Edition Bobblehead. As a frontrunner in crafting exquisite sports merchandise, FOCO continues to excite fans and collectors alike with their dedication to detail and innovation.

This limited-edition gem showcases the Celtics’ star player, Jayson Tatum, adorned in the dynamic 2024 Celtics City Edition uniform. Frozen in a dunking action pose, Tatum is captured mid-flight, a ball poised in his right hand, ready to unleash a thunderous slam over any challenger. This meticulously crafted bobblehead is not just a tribute to the player but an electrifying homage to the team and its legacy.

Standing proudly on a vivid green Celtics court base, Tatum’s figure is set against the iconic team name backdrop, invoking the essence of the Celtics’ storied history. A standout feature of this collectible is the prominent display of Jayson Tatum’s name on the front decal, accompanied by a plaque that holds special significance. Etched with “Springfield Mass, 1891,” it pays homage to Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, who birthed the sport in Springfield in the late 19th century.

This carefully curated bobblehead not only celebrates Tatum’s prowess on the court but also honors the roots and history of basketball itself, making it a must-have for ardent collectors and Celtics faithful alike. The thoughtful incorporation of details, from Tatum’s dunking pose to the acknowledgment of basketball’s birthplace, amplifies the significance of this limited-edition masterpiece.

FOCO doesn’t stop there, adding further excitement with the release of bobbleheads featuring other basketball sensations—Luka Dončić and Jalen Brunson—cementing their commitment to delivering diverse and captivating collectibles for sports enthusiasts.

For fans eager to elevate their collection or capture the essence of the Celtics’ legacy, the Jayson Tatum Boston Celtics 2024 City Jersey Edition Bobblehead stands as a testament to FOCO’s dedication to quality, innovation, and paying tribute to basketball’s rich history. Prepare to witness Tatum’s dunking prowess immortalized in this intricately designed collectible, capturing the essence of Celtics pride and basketball heritage in a stunning display.

As FOCO continues to redefine the landscape of sports collectibles, this limited-edition Jayson Tatum bobblehead serves as a shining example of their commitment to excellence, precision, and celebrating the sports legends who inspire us all.

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Just a while ago, the Warriors came off a wild win against the Boston Celtics. Curry, who delivered 20 points in the fourth quarter while also contributing in overtime, was the key player. Before his clutch moments, he found himself in foul trouble and spent most of the third quarter on the bench. He finished the game with 33 points, 6 3-pointers, and 6 assists.

Despite this win, there are still a lot of questions that need to be answered for the Warriors as the season moves on.

Klay Thompson Regression

It has been clear that shooting guard Klay Thompson has been regressing this year for the Warriors, which explains their recent struggles. Part of this is due to him just averaging 17.1 points a game while shooting 37.3 from the three-point field. His shots just seemed not to go in as much as they have in the past. However, he did start the season hot, shooting 40% from long distance through the first three games. Since then, Thompson’s shooting percentage has dropped significantly.

It may also be time to bring back the headband Thompson version to get him going again. His headband seems to bring him good luck when he wears them. Five years ago, he was able to set a single-game NBA record by making 14 3-pointers, surpassing teammate Curry, who had held the record two years previously. For the Warriors to reclaim their former glory, Thompson must regain his form.

He can keep the beard pic.twitter.com/74lkajbM8p

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) October 30, 2018

Not Enough Supporting Cast

In order to get back to winning ways, the Warriors need other players to step up. They cannot continue to rely on Stephen Curry daily. One of the players that need to step is forward Andrew Wiggins. This season, Wiggins has averaged a career-low 12.3 points per game while also shooting 42.0 % from the field, which is also low. The Warriors need him to return to the player he was two seasons ago.

Another player that needs to step for Golden State is center Kevon Looney. His numbers have dropped significantly this season on both the defensive and offensive sides. He has dropped from 9.3 rebounds to 7.0 and 7.9 points to 5.4. His field goal percentage has also dropped down to 56. Last season, Looney was a very impactful player among rotation regulars. He had the third-best net differential among the rotation. This year, he has the third-worst on the team, minus 9.2. It is obvious that Looney needs to step up his game to help the Warriors get to where they need.

Time To Get Younger Once Again

When the Warriors traded guard Jordan Poole for another guard named Chris Paul, they thought it would work out. The trade has been a bust for both sides. The Warriors just got significantly older, which explains their recent struggles. As a matter of fact, the Warriors are the third-oldest team in the NBA. The problem with this is that Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Chris Paul are all past their prime.

Paul, this season, is averaging a career-low 8.5 points. In addition to that, he is also shooting a career-low 39% from the field and 31% from long distance.

Overall, the Warriors need to step their game up. If no moves or changes are made to this organization, it’s fair to say their chances of missing the playoffs are likely. It’s up to them to save themselves from a failure season.

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Kawhi Leonard’s Resurgence

After a slow start to the season, Clippers superstar Kawhi Leonard has suddenly picked up his game, especially on the 6-game winning streak. During the season, Kawhi Leonard is quietly averaging around 24 points, six rebounds, and four assists. He is also shooting 51% on field goals, 44% on three-pointers, and 87% on free throws. What makes Leonard great is not only his offensive game but also his defensive game. He has started to look like the person who won Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back years. He has been more assertive on the defensive end, guarding the other team’s best player and making it tough for them to score. The opposing players are also having trouble just getting by him, as he is averaging almost two steals per game. He is playing at a high level as the best player on the team.

Leonard has been absent in the last three games with a hip injury. The Clippers have gone 1-2 with those games. The injury once again underscores how important health is to this team.

Russell Westbrook’s Move to the Bench

It was clearly obvious when the Clippers traded for James Harden that one of the big four had to come off the bench. After the 6-game losing streak, it was announced that Russell Westbrook decided to make the move to the bench. Ever since the move, he has played fairly well, even with his minutes and stats decreasing. His activity and energy off the bench have been key to why the Clippers have started to turn it around, doing really well rebounding and playmaking for his teammates. When looking back at it, this will be the move that helped the Clippers upstart their play on the court.

Can the Clippers Keep Up the Success?

With the Clippers starting to get it together, the question shifts to if they can keep it up. Clippers fans have been waiting for a long time to have something to root for. In the history of the Clippers organization, they have been to the Conference Finals once and have not made it past this level. Can this Clippers team be the first one to reach the finals and win? It will come down to the health of their star players, Leonard and Paul George. They have had issues staying healthy, but the sky’s the limit if they can stay healthy. We will also need to see if this play will translate to the Playoffs. If the big four can play their roles and build chemistry, they will be a tough team to eliminate if they make the Playoffs.

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Aaron Mata is a contributor on Back Sports Page. He is currently in his third year of college, attending George Mason University with the goal of graduating next year with a degree in Sports Management. 

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Similarly, more time could feel like a life sentence for a team that hasn’t appeared in the playoffs since the 2018-2019 season. Beyond that, the Pistons haven’t had a memorable last ten years in the association. The lack of playoff success has led to seven different head coaches (including one interim) in 14 seasons. For the newest head coach, Monty Williams, time seemed all but assured after his unprecedented contract agreement this past offseason. Even the basket full of high draft picks has made little difference in the trajectory of the Pistons’ organization. Since 2010, they have drafted in the top 15 ten times, with a streak of five straight first-round picks. 

Theoretically, the talent should be there. However, just by looking at the Pistons’ play, those players have faltered or been cast aside. Where does the blame fall? Plenty has been assigned to general manager Troy Weaver as the cause for all the dysfunction, but clearly, more is at play than just a bad GM. Is it possible that the issues are institutional and everything needs to be gutted? Whatever the case, as the calendar approaches February and the Pistons’ win total is an abomination, can anything be done to reboot this once-prestigious franchise? 

Player Evaluation and Development

The Efficiency Landscape. What Jumps Out? pic.twitter.com/PvlSyMpxjo

— Kirk Goldsberry (@kirkgoldsberry) December 22, 2023

Identifying the exact origin of the Pistons’ fall is a fruitless exercise because there is no clear place. It would be like figuring out where an avalanche started as it’s barreling down the mountain. That is to say that the lows keep getting lower. 

Perhaps not enough ground was covered on the Detroit front office in the introduction of this piece. In the recent history of the Pistons, the architect of a team on the brink of the wrong side of history is Troy Weaver. Weaver took over as the Pistons pointman before the 2020-2021 season. Equipped with cap space, draft picks, and a respected head coach in Dwane Casey, the team was better equipped than most to work through a rebuild. If we examine Weaver’s tenure, player acquisition and development is the place to start. So far, Weaver has accumulated a lot of first-round talent to the roster. 

That list doesn’t include the previous regime selections of Luke Kennard and Sekou Dembouya, in addition to second-round picks Saddiq Bey and Bruce Brown, whom Weaver ultimately traded. Whether or not their contributions while on the Pistons were worthy enough, their play since does reflect poorly on the talent evaluation process. After all, accumulating draft capital and previous high lottery selections sounds responsible for a rebuilding team, but the internal process has to change when a handful haven’t panned out. 

Monty Python And Puzzling Pistons 

Detroit's pursuit of history continues.

The Pistons are just four losses away from tying the longest streak in NBA history.#NBA | #DetroitBasketball pic.twitter.com/xh8w3CIRFQ

— Basketball Reference (@bball_ref) December 19, 2023

Was Monty Williams worth the $78 million contract he was offered this last offseason? That depends on your belief in his influence in the Phoenix Suns NBA Finals run. Williams ‘ Suns teams were floundering before adding Chris Paul (minus an eight-game stretch in the Bubble). Williams never could crack the code with the Suns, but roster turmoil and new ownership spelled bad news for Williams to stay longer. After he was let go, many tasty coaching opportunities were available. The Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, and Philadelphia 76ers, to name a few. Williams settled on the Pistons surely due to the lucrative contract and contract security. In addition, Williams has seemingly latched onto the young and developing teams to sturdy. However, it had looked as though Williams had been in enough contending situations over recent years that he would seek out one of those upper-echelon teams.

What’s most concerning with his coaching job this year is not that the team is 2-27. After all, the Pistons are supposed to be bad this year. The troubling part is that the Pistons cannot compete in any games, even against other bottom-tier squads. Capped off by a defeat to the understaffed Utah Jazz team, the Pistons have fallen to the Washington Wizards and Memphis Grizzlies on their disastrous stretch. 

While trying to find answers defensively, the Pistons currently rank last in three-point makes and attempts, a sign that they are behind the modern NBA. It also makes it hard for them to go on runs with a sizeable three-point disparity. Most would like to see a sense of urgency (and imagination) on defense from Williams. However, the performances ultimately fall on the players to buy in. So far, that hasn’t happened. 

What’s Next?

It’s unlikely that Monty Williams will be dismissed after the season. Time is on his side for at least another season. The same can’t be said for Troy Weaver, whose fate is almost certainly termination if not because the Pistons will need to have a scapegoat. The trade deadline in February will also serve as a time for Detroit to prepare for the future. The Pistons’ decision-makers need to identify that their process isn’t working. Therefore, doing what they have done for the past four years, once again this season, would be frivolous. It’s easier said than done, but the Pistons need to look at teams like the Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic as examples for rebuilds. Until then, all the Pistons fans can hope for is that their losing streak doesn’t set an all-time record.

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The post The Losing Has Become Toxic For The Pistons appeared first on Back Sports Page.

It Starts at the Point of Attack

When General Manager Landry Fields traded for Dejounte Murray last offseason, many Hawks fans were excited about the possibility of a great perimeter defender next to Young. Murray’s defensive calling card has always been his keen eye for picking off passes, leading to easy transition buckets for his squad. He brings that to Atlanta, as the Hawks rank fifth in the league in steals with 8.5 per game.

Many fans outside of Atlanta may know Murray as a great point-of-attack (POA) defender; unfortunately, he has not showcased that ability regularly with the Hawks. Murray often guards the opposition’s perimeter scorer with little success on most nights. The front office might have misevaluated Murray’s POA defense while he was on the San Antonio Spurs.

Young’s defense has always been a negative talking point throughout his career. However, this year, he is changing that narrative. Young is engaged defensively, averaging a career-high 1.3 steals per game and playing stable POA defense. However, he is still not a great defender, and with Murray’s POA struggles against paint penetrators, the Hawks give up the most rim attacks in the league. This puts a lot of responsibility on Onyeka Okongwu and Clint Capela, resulting in foul trouble for both centers.

The Impact of Jalen Johson

In games where Jalen Johnson starts and plays 30 minutes, Atlanta boasts an 8-5 record. However, after he suffered a wrist fracture on Nov. 25 in Washington, D.C., the Hawks have only been 4-8 in the 12 games since the incident. It is no secret that Johnson is crucial to the Hawks and their strategy on both ends of the floor.

At 6 feet 9 inches, Johnson is the only player in the main rotation who is above average in height for his position. The Hawks critically miss his defensive rebounding. Capela, who was diagnosed with a bone bruise on Dec. 17, has been a force on the boards, even playing through the injury. But if he misses any significant time, Atlanta will suffer mightily on the glass. Capela did not play against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Dec. 16, and they dominated the Hawks 49-34 in the rebounding department. Jarrett Allen took advantage of the Hawks’ small lineup, totaling 25 points and 14 rebounds.

The Importance of a Strong Backline

One of Johnson’s best defensive qualities is his ability to cover up some mistakes from the perimeter defense. His length and athleticism allow him to recover quickly if he is out of position or rotate over to deny an easy look at the rim. Outside of the centers, no one else on the roster has this ability.

A defensive backline of De’Andre Hunter, Saddiq Bey, Garrison Mathews, and Wesley Matthews does not have the range or size needed to deliver in Atlanta’s scheme. Head Coach Quin Snyder wants Capela and Okongwu high on the screen to stop the ball handler from turning the corner. This acts as a temporary boost to the POA defense. The responsibility then falls on the backline to cut off the pass to the roll man or make it tough for him to score. Even though Hunter is strong and a good defender, the backline lacks the ranginess and height to bother a center diving to the rim. Allen’s game against the Hawks illustrates this perfectly. Without Johnson, Snyder has to get creative with his rotations and adjust the defensive plan accordingly to compete with bigger teams.

Two Centers Can Co-Exist

Snyder started Okongwu at power forward with Capela against the Toronto Raptors on Dec. 15 to combat Toronto’s size advantage. Hunter sat out this contest with a sore knee, which moved Bey to small forward. It was Okongwu’s first start at power forward in the NBA, and it paid off. The Hawks blew out Toronto 125-104, with Capela putting up 18 points and 15 boards, while Okongwu totaled 14 points and 11 rebounds.

With this specific lineup, the Hawks moved more into drop coverage than sending the big high on the screen. This worked against the Raptors because they do not have elite guard scoring. Atlanta cut off easy paths to the rim and forced Toronto into their weakness- shooting. The Raptors only shot 10-31 from beyond the arc. However, drop coverage will not work against teams with elite guards due to the freedom and space it gives good scores.

Since Hunter returned to action, Snyder has not used this lineup, but Okongwu and Capela still share some rotation minutes on the court together. As long as Johnson remains sidelined, Hawks fans should expect to see Okongwu play more power-forward minutes.

The Waiting Game

Atlanta eagerly awaits the upcoming results from Johnson’s wrist re-evaluation within the next week. Young is arguably playing the best basketball of his career, putting up five straight 30-point, 10-assist games. He is shooting almost 38% from downtown and averaging a career-high 11 assists. If Johnson’s return gives Atlanta a boost defensively, the Hawks can still go on a run to get back in contention for a playoff seed with 46 games remaining.

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Michael Kobrinsky is a writer for Back Sports Page. He studied communication and journalism at North Carolina State University and graduated in May of 2023. Michael lives in Atlanta, GA, and primarily writes basketball content for Back Sports Page. Outside of a career in writing, you can find him playing golf, basketball, and video games. Follow Michael on Twitter: https://twitter.com/pinwizard300.

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On April 28th, 2012, Derrick Rose fell.

The raucous Chicago crowd’s cheers and jeers quickly turned to silent thoughts and prayers as the point guard writhed in pain on the baseline. Did that really just happen? Our best player injures himself in the final 90 seconds of a playoff game where victory was guaranteed? The Bulls would finish the last minute of the game en route to a win over the 76ers, but that wasn’t the story making the front page. Derrick Rose had torn his ACL and would miss the foreseeable future. Immediate questions swirled the youngster and his playing career. Where does this leave the Bulls? Is he too injury prone to be a centerpiece of a franchise? With how explosive he plays the game, would he ever be the same?

Humble Beginnings

Michael J. Lebrecht/SI

It’s Saturday, March 17th, 2007. Simeon Academy, a public school on the south-side of the Chicago, secures its second straight basketball state championship. Donning his soon-to-be-retired number 25 jersey, Simeon’s Derrick Rose has finished off his high school career on the highest of notes. Rose was raised without a father in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, where he confided in his mother Brenda and three older brothers. However, his upbringing did little to change the obvious: Derrick Rose could ball. He gained national attention soon after enrolling at Simeon, showcasing his otherworldly athleticism and prowess as both a scoring and playmaking point guard. Rose would finish his time at Simeon with three All-American selections and was named Illinois’ 2007 Mr. Basketball. Soon after, he announced his commitment to the University of Memphis, then led by coach John Calipari, to continue his basketball career.

You all know where the story goes from here. The freshman Rose finds immediate success at Memphis, averaging 15 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds per game. He receives votes for the Cousy and Wooden awards and is named to the All-American third team. Most importantly, the Rose-led Memphis Tigers cruise to an all-time NCAA record 38 wins, only marred by a loss in the national championship to Kansas. 

America was enamored with Rose all season. Calling him explosive was almost an understatement, the pure speed and unmatched leaping ability of Rose made his acrobatic finishes around the rack almost unstoppable. The term “man among boys” often gets thrown around for the brutes of the game, bullying others with their sheer size and strength. Yet I think Rose, standing at only 6’3’’ and weighing 200 pounds, gave us a new example of a man amongst boys. Defenders were left in the dust and could only observe from the ground whenever Rose slashed through opponents and soared to the basket. Needless to say, NBA scouts had this kid at the top of their draft boards all year. Rose chose to forgo his remaining eligibility at Memphis to declare for the NBA draft.

Back to Chicago and First Impressions

M. Spencer Green/AP Photo

The day of the 2008 NBA Draft lottery arrives. With Rose projected to go number one to almost any team that wins the right to select first, the night felt a lot like the Derrick Rose sweepstakes. And with how storybook his college career concluded, many felt that they saw how the night would go already. The Chicago Bulls only had a 1.7% chance of winning the number one selection and the right to draft their hometown hero. Nevertheless, the first ping pong ball out of the machine had the Bulls logo on it, and Chicago’s NBA team was going to bring Derrick Rose Home.

Surprising absolutely nobody, Rose came hot out of the gate. He was the first Bulls draftee since MJ himself to score in double digits in his first ten games. Tack on three Rookie of the Month recognitions, a Skills Challenge trophy during all-star weekend, and an eventual playoff berth, and Rose absolutely ran away with the Rookie of the Year honors. Matched up against the defending champion Boston Celtics, D-Rose notched 36 points in Game 1, tying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s rookie record. The Bulls took the Celtics all the way to seven games, but lost in Boston to conclude the series. Rose would use the momentum from his rookie season to boost his game in year 2, receiving his first all-star selection. Averages of 21 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds per game propelled the Bulls to another playoff bid. Another first round exit was met with optimism, however. The Bulls front office was stacking up the roster to build around Rose and take a step forward in the 2010-2011 season. Was Rose capable of leading a championship caliber team? Could the hometown kid be the one to bring the Bulls back?

MVP

Spoiler alert: this is the year where everyone became a D-Rose diehard. In 81 games, Rose averaged 25 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds a night. He notched 30+ points in 23 contests, even topping the 40 mark twice. With 23 double-doubles along with his first career triple double, the stat sheet was sure to be stuffed with the name D. Rose every night the Bulls laced ‘em up. Rose was announced as an all-star starter at point guard to no one’s surprise. As the regular season wound down, an undefeated April was capitalized with a nationally televised game against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, where Rose dazzled the crowd with high-flying dunks and savvy playmaking. Even Knicks’ coach Mike D’Antoni had to admit he was in the presence of greatness, remarking “His athletic ability is ridiculous. He’s come farther, quicker, faster than anyone expected; he’s playing at a level that not many people play.” (I told you everyone was a D-Rose fan!) The Bulls finished with a 62-20 record and captured the top seed in the East. At the center of it all was Rose himself, who at 22 years old became the youngest league MVP of all time. The kid from the south side of Chicago was now the face of the franchise he grew up rooting for.

The LeBron James led Miami Heat would vanquish Chicago’s title hopes in the conference finals. Rose had disappointed in the playoffs somewhat, shooting only 39% from the floor and under 25% from deep. Fans had no reason to panic though, the Bulls were bringing back their core guys and Rose was about to cash in on a 5-year maximum contract extension.

The Injuries Begin

As the 2011-2012 season kicked off, the Bulls kept on rolling. Rose missed some time due to some minor injuries, but that didn’t stop the point guard from another all-star selection and some MVP votes in the lockout-shortened season. A minor decrease in offensive production didn’t prevent Rose from guiding the Bulls to another finish as the top dog in the Eastern Conference. All momentum was on Chicago’s side heading into their first round matchup against the 76ers. But as we all know, that would all turn completely upside down on that fateful day, April 28th, 2012. 

Rose would sit out the entire next season much to the dismay of Chicago’s fanbase. With the Bulls making it all the way to the conference semifinals without him, many were questioning why he wouldn’t come back to help contend for a title. Regardless, Rose would return in November of 2013 but shot under 30% from the field while committing almost 6 turnovers in his first three games.

Things kept spiraling from there. Later that month, Rose would tear the meniscus in his right knee, the opposite knee from his ACL tear. The unthinkable had happened again – Derrick Rose would miss the rest of the season. After all of his setbacks, many were dismissing the former MVP as an injury prone guard who could no longer lead his team to contention. In the past three years, fans had seen him take the court less than 50 times, and was more often seen sitting quietly on the sidelines in a suit. Still, Rose was only 25 years old and had many more potential year of solid basketball ahead of him. The Bulls would stick with their guy and wait until he was 100% ready to take the floor again.

Rose Returns

Rose returned to basketball right as the NBA kicked off the 2014 regular season. Playing on some games on minutes restrictions and sitting out others as a precaution, Rose made an impact for the Bulls, albeit a smaller one than he used to. The highs were equally met by the lows: an increase in his scoring and assists was marred by a below average efficiency. In January he hit a game-winning stepback jumper against the Warriors, making up for his 13 for 33 shooting performance and career-high eleven turnovers. Yet another torn meniscus would keep him out for the majority of the late regular season, but the breaking out of Jimmy Butler as a superstar helped propel the Bulls to another playoff berth. 

For the first time since he tore his ACL on his home court in 2012, Derrick Rose would suit up for the playoffs. And to those watching him play, it looked as though that injury never happened. D-Rose averaged 21.5 points in the first round, notching a vintage performance with a 34 point Game 3. In Game 3 against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round, Rose hit the now-iconic bank shot at the buzzer where he finished with 30 points in the 99-96 victory. The Bulls now led the series 2-1, and the premise of a championship run was becoming more and more realistic. But despite Rose’s 31 points and clutch layup to tie the game in the final seconds, a LeBron James corner jumpshot tied up the series for the Cavaliers. With the momentum shifted, the Bulls fell in Games 5 and 6, a heartbreaking end to what felt like Rose’s first real season back playing. 

No Longer Seeing Red

Adding to his already long injury history, Rose began the season wearing a mask after a fracture to his orbital bone in his face. That sums up what it felt like to watch D-Rose play at this point. We all still saw the 6’3’’ guard that we adored for years, but something wasn’t quite the same. Flashes of his past brilliance resembling his MVP campaign came at times. But it was unsustainable for more than that. Nick Friedell admitted that “whatever the reason, Rose evolved into a different player – glimpses of brilliance were still there on certain nights, but the virtuoso performances were not”. The Bulls front office, recognizing that Derrick Rose’s best days were behind him, dealt their former franchise centerpiece to the New York Knicks. It was reported that Rose cried upon hearing the news from his agent.

We saw much of the same from Rose in 2017 with New York. He averaged solid numbers and had some sporadic breakout performances, but that was the extent of it. The relationship between him and the Knicks began to sour behind the scenes. In January, Rose flew home to Chicago to see his mom and was fined for not notifying the team. He became more vocal towards his disapproval of coach Jeff Hornacek’s offensive scheme. And once again, a torn meniscus in April held him out of games and put him back in the operating room for the fourth time in his 9 years of NBA service. The Knicks failed to come close to playoff contention, and Rose was signed by the Cavaliers in free agency for less than a tenth of what he made on his prior deal. 

No one deserves this kind of farewell. The young kid who burst onto the scene so quickly seemed to be slowly deteriorating in a long, drawn-out fashion right before our very eyes. It was more than just a player regressing to so many. An MVP winner who was the face of his hometown franchise and universally admired was now relegated to a small role on teams where it wasn’t even definitive that his presence really mattered. Another injury to his ankle in November of 2017 eventually led Rose to leave the team temporarily to question whether he desired to continue playing basketball at all. The Cavaliers eventually dealt him to the Utah Jazz in February and Rose was immediately waived. After what he overcame just to be able to be in this position, could this really be the end of the line for Derrick?

Career Revival

That question remained unanswered until a month later, when some old friends came calling. The Minnesota Timberwolves signed Rose for the rest of the season, reuniting him with coach Tom Thibodeau and his Bulls teammates Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson. The Timberwolves used Rose’s veteran presence to help solidify their spot in the playoffs. Despite the early exit, Rose contributed off the bench against James Harden and the top-seeded Houston Rockets. Minnesota decided to bring Rose back for another year. In return, he would gift the Timberwolves and the NBA as a whole to one of the greatest comeback stories ever told.

Halloween night, 2018. Derrick Rose gets his first start of the season with the T-Wolves against the Utah Jazz. And little did anyone know, it would arguably be his best. A 30-year old Rose scored his career high of 50 points and secured the 128-125 victory with a block on Utah’s final shot. Rose was immediately mobbed by his Minnesota teammates as MVP chants erupted from the crowd. He was understandably emotional in his postgame interview, fighting back tears when asked what this moment meant to him, responding “Everything. I worked my [expletive] off”. His longtime coach Tom Thibadou told the media that Rose is is among the most mentally tough people he had come across. There are very few games that I personally can remember where I was at when I watched them. Most are nail-biter playoff matchups or ridiculous buzzer-beaters to win it. This game was neither of those. We all collectively saw the culmination of a man’s perseverance over a tumultuous career filled with crushing injuries and heartbreaking setbacks. The man once dubbed the ‘Windy City Assassin’ turned back the clock to his all-star days in Chi-Town. It didn’t matter whether you were a Bulls fan, a Timberwolves fan, or even a fan of the game at all. Seeing the veteran Rose overcome all of what he’s been through to once again shine under the bright lights made us all fans of him for life. 

Minnesota struggled the rest of the way and would miss the playoffs, but the best story of the year had already been told. Rose averaged 18 points per game on 48% shooting, the best efficiency he’s had since his second season. He returned to Chicago in December and received MVP chants from the opposing Windy City crowd after recording 24 points and 8 dimes in the blowout win. Rose would have a similarly impressive season with Detroit the next season, although injuries continued to limit consistent time on the court. He’d get traded back to the Knicks in the middle of the 2020-2021 season where he’d get signed to a 3-year, $43 million contract, a much more reasonable contract for a former MVP. He now is on the Memphis Grizzlies roster for the 2023-24 season. Injuries have continued to hold him out at times, but teams still have him around for his newfound role as a mentor to the young guys on his team. Stars like Jimmy Butler and Julius Randle have previously praised Rose’s leadership skills and have used his wisdom to lead their own teams. In whatever way he can, Rose has found a way to positively contribute at all stages of his career. Derrick Rose’s impact on the modern NBA cannot be understated.

On April 28th, 2012, Derrick Rose fell. He seemed to fall time and time again, leaving us to wonder if he’d ever be what he once was. He even questioned it himself. So many times in his life, he’s had all odds stacked against him. And yet every single time Derrick fell, Derrick rose.

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Next week on Untapped Potential: baseball! Check out last week’s edition on former NFL wide receiver Josh Gordon. Stay tuned to Back Sports Page for more coverage and in-depth features on all things sports.

Andy Diederich is a contributor on Back Sports Page. He received a degree from The Ohio State University and now resides in Chicago, covering the Bulls and all things NBA. You can find Andy on Instagram at @tryspellingdiederich and on Twitter at @ndyDiederich.

The post Untapped Potential: Derrick Rose appeared first on Back Sports Page.

Pace

Troy Wayrynen/USA TODAY Sports

Looking at the team numbers, not much. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff wanted to play with more pace and space this season, and to his credit, their pace has increased from dead last the previous season to 20th this time around. Unfortunately, though, the pace has not helped to score at all, in efficiency or in raw points. They are scoring 110.8 PPG (25th out of 30th) this year, and they scored 112.3 last year, which was also 25th in the league. In terms of rating, they’ve plummeted from 116.1 (9th) to 111.8 (22nd). 

Bickerstaff specifically called out transition opportunities as a point of emphasis, and that has increased appreciably. They went from 25th in opportunities to 12th and increased from 24th in transition points to 12th as well. As for Evan Mobley leading those increased transitions… that hasn’t really happened, as his numbers have stayed the same. 

Space

Even with the additions of Georges Niang and Max Strus, they are taking and making essentially the exact same amount of threes as last year and, in fact are shooting a worse percentage as a team. Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Caris LeVert are far below last year’s marks. Niang is 5% worse than his career average. Only Max Strus is shooting his normal splits, and even then, it’s not an incredible number at 38%. Those percentages correcting upwards should help the overall offense, but last year’s LeVert and Garland might have been outliers themselves. 

Still, it was expected that that amount would and should increase with the extra shooting brought on, and the fact that it hasn’t is concerning.

Growth

David Richard/USA TODAY Sports

The Cavaliers are a young team, and continued growth was supposed to get them over the hump, along with offseason additions. So far, though, that hasn’t really occurred. The Garland-Mobley duo, who should have the most room to get better, have stagnated so far this year. They are posting identical or worse numbers from last season. Garland has fewer points and assists with more turnovers on worse three-point shooting. Meanwhile, Mobley’s offense has remained the same, but he is slightly more efficient and has an extra board. Profile-wise, though, even more of his shots are coming at the rim than before, when many were hoping he would be able to expand his range. 

Isaac Okoro and LeVert have both had strong spurts this season, but again injuries have made it impossible to see if they are flashes in the pan or legit improvement. One young bright spot has been Craig Porter Jr., who has some fantastic games filling in with all the injuries. He’s had his minutes cut recently despite Bickerstaff’s comments, but between this season and the Summer League, Porter looks like a gem.

Hotseat

Bickerstaff’s play calling has been questionable to say the least, and if he’s not getting growth out of the young guys, it’s reasonable for his seat to be quite hot right now. The lack of improvement on offense despite the offseason emphasis is worrying. On the other hand, it’s still early. They are playing with two new guys that are taking a lot of minutes. Trying to install a new offensive philosophy that takes time. The three-point shooting might also be due for a correction. Combined with the fact that they’ve had injuries to everyone besides Strus so far, it’s not unreasonable to wait and see if things turn around.

Patrick Yen is a contributor on Back Sports Page.  He has written for NBC, SB Nation, and a few more websites in his four-year sports journalism career. He has been the Back Sports Page beat writer for the Philadelphia 76ers and now the Cleveland Cavaliers. Patrick, a graduate of Ohio State University, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but moved to Columbus, Ohio, early in his life and has lived there ever since. You can find more of Patrick on Twitter @pyen117.

The post The Cavaliers Offense At The Quarter Mark appeared first on Back Sports Page.

Despite their slow start to the season, the New York Knicks have finally found their own pace in the last couple of games. Expected to be a top-three team, they now hold the fifth position in the Eastern Conference with a 12-7 record. Considering the last couple of games have been against teams with records below .500. The team is currently coming off a tough loss where they were eliminated by the Milwaukee Bucks while playing in the In-Season Tournament. While this run means a good sign of what is to come, things get tough in December. From Dec. 5-30, their next eight opponents all have records above .500, including the Milwaukee Bucks. If the Knicks can continue the trend they have going so far, it may be time to come back to the conversation of extending Tom Thibodeau for the longer term.

The next couple of games could determine the direction the team might head, so it may be interesting to see if the Knicks have found their long-term coach based on their performance.

Find A Way To Improve Against Decent Teams

It is clear the Knicks struggle against teams with better records than them. They lost seven games, including two against the Los Angeles Clippers in James Harden’s debut and a game against the Miami Heat, who blew an 18-point lead with 10 minutes left in regulation. That’s the thing about being a good basketball. It’s not just about dominating weaker teams but stronger ones as well. New York has not yet shown that they’re capable of doing that. Something has to change if the Knicks want to improve moving forward. December does not get any easier for this team. Eight of the games during that month are against teams with better records than the Knicks. With that being said, this month would be crucial for the team trying to find a way to dominate once again.

Show More Consistency With The Shooting

Not enough players have been consistent enough with their shots. One of these players is guard Quentin Grimes, who’s been struggling for most of the season. Thus far, Grimes is just averaging just 5.8 points per game. What’s even worst is that he is not making enough shot-making plays when the opportunity presents itself. He is just shooting 35.9 from the field. As the season continues, I expect improvement from him.

Josh Hart, who was acquired by the Knicks last year, hasn’t found his rhythm either. He did turned out to be a fan favorite last year because of his impact on the team. Nothing as of yet this year hasn’t been impressive. Tom Thibodeau handed him a role change, leading to that. Lately, Hart has not received a lot on the ball but has been given more time in the power forward position.  Moving forward, the Knicks need to change this if they want to see more consistent shooting from their role players.

Give More Playing Time To The Young Stars

Yes, giving more playing to the young stars is crucial if the Knicks want to win games. One player who deserves more playing time is guard Immanuel Quickley. This season as of yet we haven’t seen much action much from yet. Currently, he has been coming off the bench as a 6th man role. The Knicks are much better on the court when he’s not in the bench. In addition, Quickley is just averaging 24 minutes a night. Something has to change because the Knicks can easily take off when a young talent like Quickley is on the court.

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