New York Knicks point guard Derrick Rose's first meeting against former head coach Tom Thibodeau didn't go according to Derrick Rose's plan. It was supposed to be a performance worth remembering. Instead he got benched late in the game between the New York Knicks and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night and did not return.
During the game, which the New York Knicks won 106-104, Derrick Rose got into foul trouble in the third quarter. He went back in the fourth period and got a little out of control. Derrick Rose took a wild hook shot and missed badly.
The Knicks were up by 5 points at that time. That prompted New York Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek to bench Derrick Rose for the final 3:58. In the past few games, Derrick Rose has been playing well especially during close games. That's why the benching caught everybody by surprise including Derrick Rose.
At that time Derrick Rose was on the court with another point guard in Brandon Jennings. With both Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings on the court, the Minnesota Timberwolves made a run that cut a 17 point deficit into 4. Derrick Rose was subbed out in favor of defensive player Justin Holiday instead of Brandon Jennings.
"That's something you'll have to ask Coach Jeff Hornacek,'' Derick Rose said of the benching. "I'm just doing whatever Coach asks me to do, go in whenever he tells me. As far as him keeping me out there or letting me be out there, that's something you'll probably have to ask him.''
Both Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings are playing for new contract extensions. That's why both players want to close out games. Which gives Jeff Hornacek a bit of a problem of who to play late in games especially if both Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings are playing well.
In Wednesday night's game, Brandon Jennings finished the game with 12 points and 7 assists. He was, however, scoreless in the fourth quarter. Derrick Rose on the other hand finished with 11 points, 2 assists and 2 turnovers. Comparing their plus-minus in that game, Derrick Rose was a minus- 9 while Brandon Jennings was a plus-8.
Derrick Rose's benching raises the question about whether the New York Knicks are still willing to offer Derrick Rose a contract extension. Derrick Rose is eligible to sign a three-year, $75 million extension on Dec. 22. It has been previously reported that the New York Knicks are not ruling out offering Derrick Rose an extension.
Given the New York Knicks dire need of a point guard that would lead them in the long run, the New York Knicks would have to choose between Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings or they should look for other options elsewhere.
